The college that has the most student athletes in the Pelican State is LSU (Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College), according to a Watchdog.org 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 Louisiana State students taking part in athletic programs was 465 – 251 men and 214 women – representing the largest contingent of student athletes in Louisiana.
In all, there are 5,590 students – 3,370 men and 2,220 women – playing on athletic teams at 25 colleges and universities in Louisiana.
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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 | Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College | NCAA Division I-FBS | 23,036 | 251 | 214 | 465 |
| 2 | University of Louisiana at Lafayette |
NCAA Division I-FBS | 12,859 | 249 | 152 | 401 |
| 3 | McNeese State University | NCAA Division I-FCS | 5,444 | 245 | 141 | 386 |
| 4 | University of Louisiana at Monroe | NCAA Division I-FBS | 5,149 | 214 | 144 | 358 |
| 5 | Northwestern State University of Louisiana | NCAA Division I-FCS | 5,182 | 224 | 132 | 356 |
| 6 | Southeastern Louisiana University |
NCAA Division I-FCS | 9,010 | 221 | 119 | 340 |
| 7 | Louisiana State University- Alexandria |
NAIA Division I | 1,776 | 213 | 102 | 315 |
| 8 | Louisiana Tech University | NCAA Division I-FBS | 7,434 | 187 | 128 | 315 |
| 9 | Southern University and A & M College | NCAA Division I-FCS | 4,328 | 191 | 121 | 312 |
| 10 | Louisiana College | NCAA Division III with football | 830 | 221 | 86 | 307 |
| 11 | Tulane University of Louisiana | NCAA Division I-FBS | 6,487 | 171 | 130 | 301 |
| 12 | Nicholls State University | NCAA Division I-FCS | 4,585 | 185 | 113 | 298 |
| 13 | Grambling State University | NCAA Division I-FCS | 3,597 | 125 | 92 | 217 |
| 14 | Centenary College of Louisiana | NCAA Division III without football | 473 | 112 | 101 | 213 |
| 15 | Loyola University New Orleans | NAIA Division I | 2,274 | 94 | 80 | 174 |
| 16 | University of New Orleans | NCAA Division I without football | 4,644 | 83 | 72 | 155 |
| 17 | Xavier University of Louisiana | NAIA Division I | 2,120 | 37 | 63 | 100 |
| 18 | Louisiana State University- Shreveport |
NAIA Division I | 1,651 | 74 | 24 | 98 |
| 19 | Bossier Parish Community College |
NJCAA Division I | 3,504 | 60 | 33 | 93 |
| 20 | Louisiana State University- Eunice |
NJCAA Division II | 1,386 | 44 | 41 | 85 |
| 21 | Baton Rouge Community College |
NJCAA Division I | 3,714 | 51 | 29 | 80 |
| 22 | Delgado Community College | NJCAA Division I | 5,404 | 53 | 18 | 71 |
| 23 | Dillard University | NAIA Division I | 1,179 | 28 | 41 | 69 |
| 24 | Southern University at New Orleans | NAIA Division I | 1,371 | 23 | 32 | 55 |
| 25 | Southern University at Shreveport |
NJCAA Division I | 1,760 | 14 | 12 | 26 |
Source: U.S. Department of Education Office of Postsecondary Education
This article was first published by Watchdog.org.
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