These Louisiana colleges have the most student athletes

Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College ranked No. 1 for student athletic participation in the state, according to a Watchdog 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 the state.

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

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