NCAA Spotlights Growing Participation of Native American Student-Athletes

As we celebrate the rich heritage and contributions of Native American student-athletes, the NCAA proudly recognizes their significant impact on college sports. 

These athletes not only excel in their respective sports but also represent a growing segment of the NCAA community, with a remarkable 31% increase in participation over the past decade.

Below is a snapshot of some figures from the NCAA demographics dashboard on Native American student-athletes in the NCAA. 

1. Growth in Native American student-athlete participation: In 2023-24, the number of Native American student-athletes across the NCAA reached 2,315, representing a 31% increase (550 athletes) from the 2013-14 academic year. This greatly outpaces the overall student-athlete growth during that time of 16% in championship and emerging sports. 
2. Divisional breakdown of Native American student-athletes in 2023-24:
   • Division I: 544.
   • Division II: 981. 
   • Division III: 790. 
3. Sports with most Native American student-athletes in 2023-24:
   • Football: 407.
   • Baseball: 187.
   • Softball: 169.
4. Sports with the highest percentage of Native American student-athlete participation in 2023-24:
   • Softball: 0.78% (169 athletes).
   • Men's wrestling: 0.64% (56 athletes).
   • Women's basketball: 0.62% (103 athletes).

Data note: All data referring to Native American student-athletes includes American Indian/Alaska Native student-athletes, per NCAA Demographics research reported by each NCAA school.