As Hispanic Heritage Month is celebrated from Sept. 15 to Oct. 15, the NCAA proudly recognizes the significant contributions of Hispanic/Latino student-athletes. They not only excel in their respective sports but also represent a growing segment of the NCAA community, with a remarkable 70% increase in participation over the past decade.
Below is a snapshot of some figures from NCAA research's demographics dashboard and sports sponsorship and participation rates dashboard that show the type of growth that has occurred for Hispanic/Latino student-athletes.
1. Growth in Hispanic/Latino Student-Athlete Participation
In 2022-23, the number of Hispanic/Latino student-athletes across the NCAA reached 34,526, representing a 70% increase from the 2012-13 academic year.
2. Sports with the Largest Yearly Percentage Increases in Hispanic/Latino Student-Athlete Participation (2021-22 to 2022-23)
Men's sports:
- Golf: 17.9%.
- Tennis: 6.2%.
- Indoor track and field: 5.8%.
Women's sports:
- Acrobatics and tumbling: 39.6%.
- Rugby: 31.3%.
- Wrestling: 21.8%.
3. Five-Year Growth Trends in Hispanic/Latino Student-Athlete Participation (2017-18 to 2022-23)
Men's sports:
- Volleyball: 50% increase.
- Wrestling: 40% increase.
- Lacrosse: 39% increase.
Women's sports:
- Wrestling: 2,800% increase (from 5 athletes to 145).
- Ice Hockey: 100% increase (from 25 athletes to 50).
- Rugby: 70% increase (from 37 athletes to 63).
4. 10-Year Growth Trends in Hispanic/Latino Student-Athlete Participation (2012-13 to 2022-23)
Men's sports:
- Lacrosse: 188% increase.
- Wrestling: 115% increase.
- Volleyball: 95% increase.
Women's sports:
- Wrestling: 1,108% increase (from 12 to 145).
- Rugby: 950% increase (from 6 to 63).
- Beach volleyball: 370% increase (from 20 to 94).
5. Top Sports by Hispanic/Latino Participation in 2022-23
Men's sports:
- Men's soccer: 4,142 Hispanic/Latino student-athletes.
- Football: 3,614.
- Baseball: 3,174.
- Men's outdoor track and field: 2,053.
- Men's indoor track and field: 1,683.
Women's sports:
- Women's soccer: 2,750 Hispanic/Latino student-athletes.
- Softball: 2,157.
- Women's outdoor track and field: 1,868.
- Women's indoor track and field: 1,548.
- Women's volleyball: 1,181.
6. Sports with the Highest Percentage of Hispanic/Latino Athletes in 2022-23
Men's sports (Percentage of total participation):
- Soccer: 15.3%.
- Volleyball: 10.9%.
- Wrestling: 9.5%.
- Water polo: 8.6%.
- Cross country: 8.3%.
Women's sports (Percentage of total participation):
- Wrestling: 18.9%.
- Water polo: 13.1%.
- Softball: 10.0%.
- Soccer: 9.2%.
- Rifle: 8.6%.
7. Divisional Breakdown of Hispanic/Latino Participation (2022-23)
Men's sports:
- Division I:
- Soccer: 12.6%.
- Wrestling: 10.5%.
- Baseball: 8.6%.
- Division II:
- Soccer: 17.6%.
- Volleyball: 17.1%.
- Cross country: 9.8%.
- Division III:
- Rifle: 23.3%.
- Soccer: 15.2%.
- Water polo: 12.9%.
Women's sports:
- Division I:
- Wrestling: 33.3%.
- Softball: 12.1%.
- Water polo: 12.0%.
- Division II:
- Wrestling: 17.2%.
- Water polo: 15.1%.
- Soccer: 10.6%.
- Division III:
- Wrestling: 19.3%.
- Water polo: 14.5%.
- Acrobatics and tumbling: 10.9%.
8. Graduation Success Rates for Hispanic/Latino Student-Athletes
In the latest 2023 Division I Graduation Success Rates data, Hispanic/Latino student-athletes continued to excel academically. In the 2023 Four-Cohort Division I Graduation Success Rates, Hispanic/Latino student-athletes came in at 88%, an increase of 24 percentage points from the first year of GSR data in 2002 and 9 percentage points since 2013.
