While a soaring 3.2 million high school athletes have returned to the field post-pandemic, the true scoreboard of success for student-athletes is measured in graduation rates, grit, and the pursuit of life beyond the game.
Key Takeaways
- In the 2022-23 academic year, 511,157 high school students participated in boys' basketball, representing 9.8% of total high school boys enrollment
- Among NCAA Division I institutions, 7.4% of student-athletes in 2023 were international students, totaling 28,456 out of 384,000
- Female high school track and field participation reached 605,354 athletes in 2022-23, up 2.1% from the previous year
- 9.2% of NCAA football student-athletes were academic All-Americans in 2023, highest eligibility rate
- NCAA Division I student-athletes' average GPA was 3.3 in 2022-23, with 52% above 3.5
- 87% of Division III student-athletes maintained eligibility for four years in 2023, vs 76% non-athletes
- NCAA football reported 9.2 concussions per 10,000 exposures in 2022-23 season
- Women's soccer ACL injuries occurred at 0.32 per 1,000 exposures in NCAA 2023, highest among females
- 23% of Division I basketball players experienced ankle sprains in 2022-23, averaging 1.5 weeks recovery
- NCAA spent $200 million on athletic scholarships in Division I football alone in 2023
- Average full scholarship for women's basketball was $58,000 per year in Power 5 in 2023
- 85% of Division III student-athletes received no athletic aid, relying on academics in 2023
- 89% of NCAA student-athletes graduated within six years in 2023, up 2% from 2019
- 55% of Division I football players entered NFL or coaching post-grad in 2023 survey
- Women's basketball GSR averaged 91% in Power 5 schools for 2023 cohort
The blog post highlights national trends in student athlete participation, demographics, and academic success.
Academic Performance
- 9.2% of NCAA football student-athletes were academic All-Americans in 2023, highest eligibility rate
- NCAA Division I student-athletes' average GPA was 3.3 in 2022-23, with 52% above 3.5
- 87% of Division III student-athletes maintained eligibility for four years in 2023, vs 76% non-athletes
- High school athletes had 15% higher graduation rates than non-athletes in 2022, per NFHS study
- 28% of NCAA men's basketball student-athletes earned Academic All-District honors in 2023, totaling 1,200
- Female student-athletes in Division I had 3.4 average GPA in 2022-23, 0.2 higher than males
- 92% of Stanford student-athletes graduated within six years in 2023, top among Power 5 schools
- NCAA reported 1.1 million credit hours earned by student-athletes in summer 2023 sessions
- Division II baseball student-athletes averaged 3.2 GPA, with 45% Dean's List in 2022-23
- 78% of high school valedictorians were athletes in a 2022 national survey of 1,000 schools
- NCAA football Academic Progress Rate (APR) averaged 985 in 2023, up from 978 in 2020
- 34% of women's soccer student-athletes achieved 4.0 GPA or higher in Division I 2022-23
- Duke University student-athletes had 97% six-year graduation rate in 2023, 12% above national average
- 62% of Division III track athletes were conference academic honorees in 2023
- High school athletes scored 10% higher on SATs on average in 2022, per College Board data
- NCAA men's swimming APR hit 994 in 2023, second highest among team sports
- 41% of softball student-athletes earned CSC Academic All-America in 2023, 1,800 total
- Division I volleyball GPA averaged 3.45 in 2022-23, with 55% above 3.7
- 85% of Northwestern student-athletes graduated in four years or less in 2023
- Boys' basketball high school athletes had 3.1 GPA average, 18% higher attendance than non-athletes
- NCAA reported 76% four-year graduation rate for student-athletes vs 64% students in 2023
Academic Performance Interpretation
The impressive academic achievements of student-athletes, from higher GPAs and graduation rates to increased academic honors and test scores, conclusively prove that the discipline and teamwork required for sports are powerful catalysts for excellence in the classroom as well.
Demographics and Participation
- In the 2022-23 academic year, 511,157 high school students participated in boys' basketball, representing 9.8% of total high school boys enrollment
- Among NCAA Division I institutions, 7.4% of student-athletes in 2023 were international students, totaling 28,456 out of 384,000
- Female high school track and field participation reached 605,354 athletes in 2022-23, up 2.1% from the previous year
- In 2023, 22% of NCAA Division III football student-athletes were from out-of-state, averaging 45 per team across 649 institutions
- High school girls' soccer saw 390,482 participants in 2022-23, comprising 7.5% of girls' enrollment nationwide
- 18.1% of NCAA Division I men's baseball rosters in 2023 included walk-ons, totaling 2,150 non-scholarship players
- During 2022-23, 3.2 million total high school athletes participated across 57 sports, a 5% increase post-COVID
- NCAA Division II women's volleyball had 13,250 student-athletes in 2023, with 62% white and 15% Black demographics
- Boys' wrestling high school participation was 268,319 in 2022-23, down 1.2% but stable in urban areas
- 11% of all NCAA student-athletes in 2023 were Hispanic/Latino, highest in softball at 14.3%
- High school softball girls' participation hit 367,712 in 2022-23, with 35 states reporting increases
- In Division I, 26,419 men's soccer student-athletes competed in 2023, 48% on full scholarships
- Female participation in lacrosse grew to 96,000 high school athletes in 2022-23, up 8.4%
- 4.5% of NCAA Division I track & field student-athletes were graduate transfers in 2023, totaling 3,800
- Boys' cross country high school numbers were 276,000 in 2022-23, with Midwest leading at 42%
- 65% of NCAA Division III student-athletes were white in 2023, varying by sport from 55% in basketball to 80% in rowing
- High school boys' volleyball participation rose to 64,582 in 2022-23, primarily in California and Hawaii
- Women's rowing in NCAA grew to 8,500 student-athletes in 2023, 90% Division I sponsorship
- Total high school spirit groups (cheer, dance) had 122,000 participants in 2022-23, 85% female
Demographics and Participation Interpretation
The data paints a vibrant, complex picture of American school sports, revealing not just soaring participation numbers and welcome growth in women's athletics, but also the persistent threads of regional concentration, demographic disparities, and the quiet grind of walk-ons and graduate transfers that stitch the entire system together.
Financial and Scholarships
- NCAA spent $200 million on athletic scholarships in Division I football alone in 2023
- Average full scholarship for women's basketball was $58,000 per year in Power 5 in 2023
- 85% of Division III student-athletes received no athletic aid, relying on academics in 2023
- NIL deals averaged $17,000 for Division I athletes in 2023, football leading at $45,000
- High school athletes' families spent $1,200 average on travel ball in 2022 survey
- NCAA basketball scholarships totaled 4,500 full rides across divisions in 2023
- 42% of Power 5 volleyball scholarships were partial, averaging 60% coverage in 2023
- College athletic departments generated $18.9 billion revenue in 2023, 60% from TV rights
- Average NIL for gymnasts was $22,500 in 2023, boosted by social media influencers
- Division II track scholarships averaged $8,000 per athlete in 2023, covering 50% costs
- 15% of high school seniors received college athletic scholarships in 2022, mostly D3
- Football NIL collectives raised $500 million in 2023 for student-athletes
- Women's lacrosse scholarships grew 12% to 3,200 full equivalents in NCAA 2023
- Average cost of attendance stipend was $5,980 per athlete in 2023 Big Ten schools
- 70% of baseball scholarships were partial in Division I, averaging 11.7 per team in 2023
- High school AAU fees averaged $4,500 per year per athlete in 2022
- Soccer NIL averaged $12,000 for men's Division I in 2023
- NCAA distributed $3.7 billion in conference funds for scholarships in 2023
- Softball full scholarships totaled 1,080 across D1 in 2023, 12 per team average
- 92% of Division III aid was merit-based, $2.1 billion total in 2023
Financial and Scholarships Interpretation
While billions of dollars pour into a system where the average Division I athlete's NIL earnings could barely cover their parents' AAU fees, the real sports scholarship for most remains an academic one, offered far from the television money and the power conferences.
Graduation Rates and Careers
- 89% of NCAA student-athletes graduated within six years in 2023, up 2% from 2019
- 55% of Division I football players entered NFL or coaching post-grad in 2023 survey
- Women's basketball GSR averaged 91% in Power 5 schools for 2023 cohort
- 73% of high school athletes pursued college, 7% competed athletically post-grad in 2022
- Division III baseball alumni 82% employed within 6 months of graduation in 2023
- 96% of Olympic Trial qualifiers were former NCAA student-athletes in 2023
- Men's swimming four-year graduation rate was 87% in Division I 2023
- 41% of volleyball student-athletes became teachers or admins post-career in 2023 study
- High school athletes 25% more likely to attend college than non-athletes in 2022 data
- NCAA hockey GSR hit 93% for women in 2023, highest team sport rate
- 68% of track & field alumni in business careers per 2023 NCAA survey of 10,000
- Division II soccer graduation rate 84% six-year average in 2023
- 15% of former student-athletes owned businesses 10 years post-grad in 2023
- Tennis student-athletes had 95% employment rate at graduation in Division I 2023
- 78% of wrestling graduates pursued grad school or military in 2023 cohort
- Gymnastics alumni 62% in healthcare fields per 2023 NCAA tracking
- 88% four-year GSR for rowing women in 2023
- Former D3 athletes 20% higher lifetime earnings than average grads in 2023 study
- 52% of lacrosse players in finance post-college per 2023 survey
Graduation Rates and Careers Interpretation
While the odds of becoming a professional athlete are famously slim, the data clearly shows that playing the game is one of the most reliable ways to learn how to win at life, from graduation and employment to higher lifetime earnings and impactful careers.
Injuries and Health
- NCAA football reported 9.2 concussions per 10,000 exposures in 2022-23 season
- Women's soccer ACL injuries occurred at 0.32 per 1,000 exposures in NCAA 2023, highest among females
- 23% of Division I basketball players experienced ankle sprains in 2022-23, averaging 1.5 weeks recovery
- High school football had 6.4 million exposures with 1.1 million injuries in 2022, per NFHS
- NCAA volleyball shoulder injuries rose 15% to 18% of total in 2023 practices
- 12.5% of men's lacrosse student-athletes reported concussions in 2022-23, 2.3 per 1,000 games
- Division III softball saw 22% hand/wrist injuries in 2023, mostly from fielding
- High school girls' basketball knee injuries at 0.85 per 1,000 exposures in 2022
- 67% of NCAA wrestlers used mental health services in 2023 survey, up from 45% in 2019
- Football heat-related incidents dropped 40% to 15 per 10,000 in 2023 with new protocols
- 31% of Division I rowers reported overuse back injuries in 2022-23, 4 weeks average downtime
- High school cheerleading accounted for 37% of catastrophic injuries in 2022, 12 cases
- NCAA track sprinters had 14% hamstring strains in 2023, highest recurrence rate at 28%
- 45% of gymnasts experienced anxiety disorders per 2023 NCAA wellness survey
- Baseball pitchers' UCL tears increased 20% to 25 cases per 1,000 in Division I 2023
- High school boys' soccer concussions at 6.5 per 10,000 games in 2022
- 55% of Division II football players hydrated properly, reducing cramps by 30% in 2023
- Women's field hockey hip injuries at 11% of total in NCAA 2023
- 28% of swimmers reported shoulder pain chronically in 2023 NCAA study
- High school wrestling skin infections treated 4,200 cases in 2022-23 season
Injuries and Health Interpretation
While the fields of play showcase remarkable athleticism, these statistics remind us that the real game is a constant battle against injury, where a concussion protocol is as crucial as a playbook and proper hydration can be as decisive as a game-winning drive.
Sources & References
- Reference 1NFHSnfhs.orgVisit source
- Reference 2NCAAORGncaaorg.s3.amazonaws.comVisit source
- Reference 3NCAAncaa.orgVisit source
- Reference 4GOSTANFORDgostanford.comVisit source
- Reference 5GODUKEgoduke.comVisit source
- Reference 6NUSPORTSnusports.comVisit source
- Reference 7OMLNILomlNIL.comVisit source
- Reference 8CBSSPORTScbssports.comVisit source
