Let us know about the Total college athletes in this article…!
College athletes are the term used for the students who participate in athletic competitions offered by the college or university. A student-athlete plays a dual role as both student and a young athlete and fulfills their responsibilities. They attend the classes and also participate in competitions. Currently, nearly half- million student-athletes participate in their colleges and schools in the United States. More than 480,000 student-athletes compete as NCAA (National Collegiate Athletic Association) athletes. Students interested in athletes always look for a better opportunity to understand their chance of making it to the next level. Among college athletes, the most common question that floats on the internet is about the percentage of college athletes or the total number of college athletes in the United States. Including both men and women, the total percentage of the athletes is over 7 % in college.
How Many Total College Athletes Are There?
Number Of College Athletes
Colleges and universities offer a variety of courses and programs for students in academics, humanitarian, athletic, and social pursuits. Athletics is one of the most popular extracurricular activities, and all the colleges and universities try to take it higher. College sports organized in different divisions get sanctioned under the disciplines of the NCAA, the largest college sports organization in the United States. Today there are more than 460,000 NCAA college athletes. There are three divisions of the college, Division I, Division II, and Division III. All these divisions of schools and colleges enrol a different number of students.
Division I
Division I college enrolls the most number of students yearly. They are the largest budgeted college which offers a wide array of academic, sports programs, and athletics scholarships. There are 346 colleges and universities under this division with around 173,500 student-athletes participating. In total, 53 percent of student-athletes receive some level of athletics aid.
Division II
The colleges and universities under this division provide various growth opportunities through academics and high-level athletics programs in the United States. Most athletic participants are first-generation college students. There are 300 colleges and universities under this division with around 109,100 student-athlete participants. In total, 56 percent of student-athletes receive some level of athletics aid.
Division III
The colleges and universities under division III focus on the integrated environment for academic success while it offers competitive athletics opportunities. There are 450 colleges and universities under this division with around 183,500 student-athlete participants. In total, 75 percent of student-athletes receive some level of academic grant.
NAIA
The National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) consists of more than 250 private and small schools. Around 60,000 student-athletes participate at NAIA colleges in different sports. Today, NAIA is considered as competitive as NCAA.
Junior Colleges
After the three Division colleges and NAIA, comes the junior college. Compared to the three NCAA and NAIA schools, recruiting athletes from junior colleges is easier. In junior colleges, 60,000 student-athletes participate in 28 different sports. Many athletes prefer junior college for the best path to get a four-year college roster in sports.
Percentage Of College Athletes In A Higher Round
There are just over seven percent of athletes who play sports in college, including both men and women athletes. That means only one out of every 13 high school athletes plays for a higher round. When it comes to the highest level or Division 1, only 1.8 percent of men and women athletes play this level. That means only one athlete out of every 57 high school athletes only plays for the Division 1 level.
Percentage of college athletes playing for the high level in different sports
Football
In America, the craze for football is at the next level. The good news is all the colleges encourage football and football athletes. The odds of getting more next-level football players are slightly higher than in other sports. In football, the percentage of college athletes who play for the next level is 9 percent. 2.8 percent of them play for Athletes Division I level. That means one out of every 11 players makes it to the next level, and one out of every 36 high school athletes only plays for the Division 1 level.
@NOTE: Most sports have an equivalent number of players for men and women both, except football.
Basketball
Basketball is one of the sports that gets a bit longer for playing at the collegiate level. In basketball, the percentage of men athletes who play for the next level is 5.7 percent, and only 2.8 percent of men play for the Division I level. The percentage of women athletes who play for the next level is 6.5 percent, and only 1.1 percent of them play for the Division I level. Less number of athletes play basketball in college compared to football. Most athletes prefer to play internationally than play in college.
Lacrosse
Lacrosse is one of the easy playing sports that men and women athletes prefer to play in college. In this game for men, only one athlete out of every seven chances plays in the high school, and only one in 36 chances to play in the Division 1 level. When it comes to women, the percentage is the same: only one athlete out of every seven chances to play in the high school, and only one in 36 chances to play in the Division 1 level.
Ice Hockey
Ice hockey gives the best chance to women athletes. It is the sport that athletes prefer to play in college competitions. Mostly women athletes play these sports in college. One in six college women play hockey, and one in 24 chances to play Division I.
Conclusion
A student-athlete plays a dual role as both student and a young athlete. In the United States, around eight million students currently participate in college. Every year more than 480,000 athletes compete as NCAA athletes. Football, basketball, ice hockey, baseball, golf, cross country, lacrosse, soccer, swimming, volleyball, water polo, tennis, wrestling, and track and field are the sports that college athletes play.
Frequently Asked Question
Q) What is a college athlete?
A- college athletes are full-time or o\past time students of college or university who play sports and take part in competitive sports programs.
Q) What percent of college athletics play basketball in the college?
A- Around 5.7 % of men and 6.5 % of women athletes play basketball in college.
Q) What is the full form of NCAA?
A- National Collegiate Athletic Association is the full form of the NCAA.
