Hispanic Heritage Month: Celebrating the Impact of Hispanic/Latino Student-Athletes

As Hispanic Heritage Month is celebrated from Sept. 15 to Oct. 15, the NCAA proudly recognizes the significant contributions of Hispanic/Latinostudent-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'sdemographics dashboardandsports sponsorship and participation rates dashboardthat show the type of growth that has occurred for Hispanic/Latinostudent-athletes.

1. Growth in Hispanic/LatinoStudent-Athlete Participation

In 2022-23, the number of Hispanic/Latinostudent-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/LatinoStudent-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/LatinoStudent-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/LatinoStudent-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/LatinoParticipation in 2022-23

Men's sports:

1. Men's soccer: 4,142 Hispanic/Latinostudent-athletes.
2. Football: 3,614.
3. Baseball: 3,174.
4. Men's outdoor track and field: 2,053.
5. Men's indoor track and field: 1,683.

Women's sports:

1. Women's soccer: 2,750 Hispanic/Latinostudent-athletes.
2. Softball: 2,157.
3. Women's outdoor track and field: 1,868.
4. Women's indoor track and field: 1,548.
5. Women's volleyball: 1,181.

6. Sports with the Highest Percentage of Hispanic/LatinoAthletes 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%.

7. Divisional Breakdown of Hispanic/LatinoParticipation (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/LatinoStudent-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/Latinostudent-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.