Arizona State University-Tempe ranked No. 1 for student athletic participation in the state, according to an Arizona Business Daily analysis of college sports participation.
The U.S. Department of Education Office of Postsecondary Education collects athletics data annually from all institutions with intercollegiate athletics programs that receive funding through federal financial aid programs. Data for 2016 – the latest year available – includes more than 2,000 schools nationwide.
The number of Arizona State University-Tempe students taking part in athletic programs was 608 – 328 men and 280 women – representing the largest contingent of student athletes in Arizona.
In all, there are 5,287 students – 3,242 men and 2,045 women – playing on athletic teams at 23 colleges and universities in the state.
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Colleges with the most student athletes
Rank | School | Division | Total Undergraduates | Male Student Athletes | Female Student Athletes | Total Number of Student Athletes |
1 | Arizona State University-Tempe | NCAA Division I-FBS | 38,761 | 328 | 280 | 608 |
2 | University of Arizona | NCAA Division I-FBS | 29,049 | 258 | 207 | 465 |
3 | Arizona Christian University | NAIA Division I | 651 | 274 | 140 | 414 |
4 | Mesa Community College | NJCAA Division II | 5,883 | 270 | 127 | 397 |
5 | Grand Canyon University | NCAA Division I without football | 14,542 | 200 | 193 | 393 |
6 | Pima Community College | NJCAA Division I | 7,476 | 255 | 112 | 367 |
7 | Northern Arizona University | NCAA Division I-FCS | 21,490 | 183 | 150 | 333 |
8 | Glendale Community College | NJCAA Division II | 5,546 | 209 | 76 | 285 |
9 | Central Arizona College | NJCAA Division I | 1,732 | 121 | 94 | 215 |
10 | Scottsdale Community
College | Other | 2,342 | 153 | 59 | 212 |
11 | Arizona Western College | NJCAA Division I | 2,163 | 145 | 65 | 210 |
12 | Phoenix College | NJCAA Division II | 2,846 | 148 | 60 | 208 |
13 | Eastern Arizona College | NJCAA Division I | 1,969 | 137 | 48 | 185 |
14 | Paradise Valley Community College | NJCAA Division II | 2,185 | 111 | 71 | 182 |
15 | Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University-Prescott | NAIA Division I | 2,255 | 77 | 90 | 167 |
16 | Chandler-Gilbert Community College | NJCAA Division II | 3,625 | 86 | 66 | 152 |
17 | South Mountain Community College | NJCAA Division II | 1,213 | 84 | 61 | 145 |
18 | GateWay Community College | NJCAA Division II | 1,265 | 52 | 41 | 93 |
19 | Cochise County Community College District | NJCAA Division I | 1,626 | 47 | 38 | 85 |
20 | Yavapai College | NJCAA Division I | 1,694 | 54 | 30 | 84 |
21 | Dine College | Other | 851 | 23 | 18 | 41 |
22 | Estrella Mountain Community College | NJCAA Division I | 2,897 | 14 | 10 | 24 |
23 | Tohono O'Odham Community College | NJCAA Division II | 103 | 13 | 9 | 22 |