What are your chances of competing in sports in college? The NCAA, which is the main organization that sanctions collegiate athletics in the United States, has updated its table of information about the number of athletes participating on teams at their member institutions.
The data below come from the 2024-25 school year. They show the number of high school students who participated on their school teams and how many athletes participated on their college teams during the year, estimating the percentage of high school athletes who go on to compete at the NCAA level.
The NCAA breaks down the information by Division.
This table does not include athletes participating on teams at NAIA-member schools or in junior colleges.
Men’s Sports
|
Men’s Teams |
High School Participants |
NCAA Participants |
Overall % HS to NCAA |
% HS to NCAA D1 |
% HS to NCAA D2 |
% HS to NCAA D3 |
|
Baseball |
472,598 |
41,580 |
8.8% |
2.7% |
2.6% |
3.5% |
|
Basketball |
540,704 |
19,617 |
3.6% |
1.1% |
1.1% |
1.5% |
|
Cross Country |
241,565 |
15,425 |
6.4% |
2.2% |
1.8% |
2.4% |
|
Football |
1,029,588 |
83,794 |
8.1% |
3.4% |
2.1% |
2.6% |
|
Golf |
162,357 |
8,818 |
5.4% |
1.8% |
1.5% |
2.1% |
|
Ice Hockey |
32,253 |
4,558 |
14.1% |
5.2% |
0.9% |
8.0% |
|
Lacrosse |
113,696 |
16,691 |
14.7% |
3.4% |
3.3% |
7.9% |
|
Soccer |
484,908 |
28,746 |
5.9% |
1.4% |
1.7% |
2.8% |
|
Swimming & Diving |
119,102 |
10,131 |
8.5% |
3.3% |
1.5% |
3.7% |
|
Tennis |
158,667 |
7,473 |
4.7% |
1.5% |
1.0% |
2.1% |
|
Track & Field |
644,235 |
34,747 |
5.4% |
1.9% |
1.5% |
2.0% |
|
Volleyball |
95,972 |
3,478 |
3.6% |
0.6% |
0.9% |
2.2% |
|
Water Polo |
21,756 |
1,245 |
5.7% |
3.3% |
0.8% |
1.6% |
|
Wrestling |
300,214 |
9,056 |
3.0% |
0.9% |
0.8% |
1.3% |
Women’s Sports
|
Women’s Teams |
High School Participants |
NCAA Participants |
Overall % HS to NCAA |
% HS to NCAA D1 |
% HS to NCAA D2 |
% HS to NCAA D3 |
|
Basketball |
356,240 |
16,823 |
4.7% |
1.4% |
1.9% |
1.9% |
|
Cross Country |
191,733 |
15,396 |
8.0% |
3.3% |
2.7% |
2.7% |
|
Field Hockey |
50,764 |
6,610 |
13.0% |
3.9% |
7.2% |
7.2% |
|
Golf |
85,385 |
5,861 |
6.9% |
2.7% |
2.3% |
2.3% |
|
Ice Hockey |
9,589 |
3,074 |
32.1% |
9.3% |
20.7% |
20.7% |
|
Lacrosse |
99,292 |
13,906 |
14.0% |
4.4% |
6.3% |
6.3% |
|
Soccer |
393,048 |
31,200 |
7.9% |
2.8% |
3.0% |
3.0% |
|
Softball |
338,315 |
21,916 |
6.5% |
2.1% |
2.5% |
2.5% |
|
Swimming & Diving |
138,303 |
12,998 |
9.4% |
4.2% |
3.6% |
3.6% |
|
Tennis |
204,721 |
8,137 |
4.0% |
1.4% |
1.7% |
1.7% |
|
Track & Field |
513,808 |
33,519 |
6.5% |
2.8% |
2.0% |
2.0% |
|
Volleyball |
492,799 |
19,810 |
4.0% |
1.3% |
1.6% |
1.6% |
|
Water Polo |
18,023 |
1,333 |
7.4% |
4.5% |
1.7% |
1.7% |
Sources: High school figures from the 2024-25 High School Athletics Participation Survey conducted by the National Federation of State High School Associations; data from club teams not included. College numbers from the NCAA 2024-25 Sports Sponsorship and Participation Rates Report. These college numbers account for participation in college athletics at NCAA-member schools only.
Last Updated: July 5, 2026
