What Percentage of Athletes Play College Sports?

A new study looks at the percentage of high school athletes who go on to play college sports.
The study found that less than two percent of high school athletes go on to play college sports.

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NCAA Statistics

According to the NCAA, about two percent of high school athletes go on to play college sports. Of that two percent, even fewer go on to play professional sports. So, if your goal is to become a professional athlete, your odds are pretty slim.

Number of athletes

The NCAA reports that there are nearly 480,000 student athletes competing in college sports across the United States. That’s a lot of athletes! But how does that number compare to the overall number of college students? The most recent data from the National Center for Education Statistics shows that there are more than 20 million students attending college in the U.S. That means that less than 2.5% of all college students are also athletes.

Number of athletes receiving scholarships

The National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) is a nonprofit organization that regulates student athletes from over 1,268 North American institutions and conferences. The NCAA also organizes the athletic programs of many colleges and universities in the United States and Canada, and helps more than 480,000 college student-athletes who compete annually in college sports.

In order to be eligible for an NCAA scholarship, you must meet the academic and amateurism criteria outlined by the organization. Once you have been deemed eligible, you can then compete for a spot on a team. It is important to note that not all athletes who meet the eligibility requirements will receive a scholarship – only those who are considered to be the best players in their sport.

According to recent data, there are approximately 1.5 million NCAA student-athletes competing in 23 different sports across 3 divisions. Of those 1.5 million athletes, only about 2% will go on to play professional sports. This leaves the remaining 98% of athletes who will need to find another way to finance their education once their collegiate career comes to an end.

While scholarships are not guaranteed, they do provide students with some much-needed financial assistance. Students who are fortunate enough to receive scholarships often have a lower out-of-pocket cost for their education, as well as some additional perks such as priority registration and access to exclusive facilities.

Average amount of scholarship money

In order to play NCAA Division I or II sports, you have to register with the NCAA Eligibility Center to make sure you are academically eligible.

There are different academic requirements for different Divisions and sports. For example, to play Division I baseball, you need a slightly higher GPA in core courses than you would need to play Division II soccer.

If you meet the academic requirements, great! The next step is figuring out how you will pay for school.

While some student-athletes are lucky enough to receive full scholarships that cover tuition and living expenses, the majority of athletes only receive a partial scholarship. In fact, less than 2% of high school athletes receive a full scholarship to play college sports.

The average amount of scholarship money awarded to NCAA Division I athletes is $13,831 per year. For NCAA Division II athletes, it is $9,642 per year.

Of course, these numbers vary depending on the sport and division in which you compete. For example, the average amount of money awarded to Division I football players is $23,204 per year while the average for Division II golfers is $5,949 per year.

Reasons for Playing College Sports

Many athletes choose to play college sports because they want to continue their athletic career while also getting an education. College sports can offer athletes a chance to compete at a higher level than they would be able to if they only played at the club or high school level. College sports can also provide athletes with scholarships that can help pay for their education.

For the love of the game

Sure, playing college sports comes with its share of perks. College athletes get to enjoy first-rate facilities, travel to fun locations for away games, and receive free or discounted tuition and access to other school benefits. But there’s more to it than that. For many athletes, the biggest draw of playing college sports is the opportunity to continue doing what they love at a high level of competition.

Whether they’re gunning for an NCAA Division I title, looking to make a name for themselves in Division II or III, or hoping to earn a spot on a junior college team, student-athletes want to keep playing the sports they love while getting a quality education. And that’s why so many of them choose to compete at the collegiate level.

To get a degree

One of the most common reasons athletes choose to play college sports is to get a degree. In fact, according to the National College Players Association, over 80% of college athletes are on scholarship for their academic achievements, not their athletic ability.

Athletes who want to play professionally often choose to go to college first so they can improve their skills and increase their chances of being drafted by a professional team. Playing college sports can also help athletes land endorsement deals and sponsorships.

To prepare for professional career

Many high-level athletes choose to play college sports with the intention of continuing their career at a professional level. College provides them with an opportunity to develop their skills further and gain experience playing at a high level of competition.

Some athletes may not be able to immediately join a professional team after graduating from high school, so college provides them with the chance to continue playing while they wait for an opportunity to turn pro. Additionally, playing college sports can help athletes develop relationships with coaches and other industry professionals who can help them advance their career.

Reasons for Not Playing College Sports

While the percentage of athletes who play college sports has increased over the years, there are still many athletes who choose not to play. There are a number of reasons why athletes may choose not to play college sports. Some athletes may not be able to handle the time commitment, while others may not be able to meet the eligibility requirements. Others may simply not be interested in playing college sports.

Cost of tuition

The high cost of tuition is one of the main reasons why athletes do not play college sports. According to a report by the National College Players Association, the average cost of attendance for a Division I athlete was $22,026 for the 2017-18 school year. This is more than twice the amount that non-athletes paid in tuition and fees.

In addition to tuition, athletes also have to pay for their room and board, books, and other expenses. These costs can add up quickly, making it difficult for athletes to afford college.

Another reason why athletes do not play college sports is because they do not want to risk injury. College athletes are often injured during their playing careers, and these injuries can have a lasting impact on their health. In some cases, athletes are forced to retire from college sports because of their injuries.

Finally, many athletes do not want to commit to playing college sports because they want to focus on their studies. College athletics can be time-consuming and distracting from academics. For some athletes, it is simply not worth the effort required to balance academics and athletics.

Time commitment

Playing a sport in college is a huge time commitment. In order to be successful, student-athletes have to be willing to dedicate the time necessary to excel both on and off the field of play.

Many athletes choose not to play in college because they simply don’t have the time. Participating in a sport requires a lot of practice, and most athletes also have to contend with traveling for games and competitions. This can often mean missing out on class time, social activities, and even work opportunities. For some athletes, the time commitment is simply too high.

Other athletes may have the time to commit to a college team, but they may not be willing to make the sacrifices necessary to achieve success. Student-athletes often have to maintain strict diets, follow rigorous training schedules, and miss out on important life events in order to stay competitive. Some athletes simply don’t want to make these sacrifices and would rather focus on other things.

Risk of injury

One of the biggest reasons why athletes don’t play college sports is the risk of injury. A report from the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) showed that 21 percent of all athletes who participated in Division I college sports suffered some kind of injury during the 2017-2018 academic year. That’s a pretty significant number, and it’s one that gives a lot of athletes pause when considering whether or not to play college sports.

Injury risk is even higher in certain sports. For example, the NCAA report found that 43 percent of all men’s ice hockey players were injured during the 2017-2018 season. That was the highest injury rate of any sport included in the report. Other high-risk sports included football (36 percent), wrestling (34 percent), and lacrosse (30 percent).

There are a number of reasons why the risk of injury is so high in college sports. One is that athletes are competing at a higher level than they did in high school. Another is that they’re often playing more games and practicing more than they did in high school. And finally, college athletes are often under a lot of pressure to perform at their best, which can lead to them pushing themselves harder than they should and increasing their risk of injury.