NCAA Shows Growth for Hispanic/Latino Athletes

INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA (September 19, 2024) – The NCAA released a snapshot of figures showing the growth in participation of Hispanic/Latino college athletes, in conjunction with Hispanic Heritage Month from September 15 to October 15. There has been a 70% increase in Hispanic/Latino participation over the past decade, according to the NCAA.

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.

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. 

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%

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)

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)

Top Sports by Hispanic/Latino Participation in 2022-23

Men’s sports:

1. Soccer: 4,142 Hispanic/Latino student-athletes
2. Football: 3,614
3. Baseball: 3,174
4. Outdoor Track and Field: 2,053
5. Indoor Track and Field: 1,683

Women’s sports:

1. Soccer: 2,750 Hispanic/Latino student-athletes
2. Softball: 2,157
3. Outdoor Track and Field: 1,868
4. Indoor Track and Field: 1,548
5. Volleyball: 1,181

Sports with the Highest Percentage of Hispanic/Latino Athletes in 2022-23

Men’s sports (Percentage of total participation):

1. Soccer: 15.3%
2. Volleyball: 10.9%
3. Wrestling: 9.5%
4. Water polo: 8.6%
5. Cross country: 8.3%

Women’s sports (Percentage of total participation):

1. Wrestling: 18.9%
2. Water polo: 13.1%
3. Softball: 10.0%
4. Soccer: 9.2%
5. Rifle: 8.6%

Divisional Breakdown of Hispanic/Latino Participation (2022-23)

Men’s sports:

Division I:

1. Soccer: 12.6%
2. Wrestling: 10.5%
3. Baseball: 8.6%

Division II:

1. Soccer: 17.6%
2. Volleyball: 17.1%
3. Cross Country: 9.8%

Division III:

1. Rifle: 23.3%
2. Soccer: 15.2%
3. Water Polo: 12.9%

Women’s sports:

Division I:

1. Wrestling: 33.3%
2. Softball: 12.1%
3. Water Polo: 12.0%

Division II:

1. Wrestling: 17.2%
2. Water Polo: 15.1%
3. Soccer: 10.6%

Division III:

1. Wrestling: 19.3%
2. Water Polo: 14.5%
3. Acrobatics and Tumbling: 10.9%

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.