Colorado Mesa University ranked No. 1 for student athletic participation in the state, according to a Colorado 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 Colorado Mesa University students taking part in athletic programs was 632 – 421 men and 211 women – representing the largest contingent of student athletes in Colorado.
In all, there are 6,630 students – 3,892 men and 2,738 women – playing on athletic teams at 22 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 | Colorado Mesa University | NCAA Division II with football | 7,252 | 421 | 211 | 632 |
2 | Adams State University | NCAA Division II with football | 1,623 | 358 | 214 | 572 |
3 | Colorado State University-Pueblo | NCAA Division II with football | 3,391 | 352 | 155 | 507 |
4 | Colorado School of Mines | NCAA Division II with football | 4,359 | 344 | 134 | 478 |
5 | Western State Colorado University | NCAA Division II with football | 1,900 | 252 | 159 | 411 |
6 | University of Northern Colorado | NCAA Division I-FCS | 8,242 | 231 | 155 | 386 |
7 | Colorado State University-
Fort Collins | NCAA Division I-FBS | 21,211 | 199 | 170 | 369 |
8 | University of Colorado
Boulder | NCAA Division I-FBS | 25,692 | 205 | 154 | 359 |
9 | University of Denver | NCAA Division I without football | 5,478 | 192 | 157 | 349 |
10 | Colorado College | NCAA Division III without football | 2,084 | 171 | 148 | 319 |
11 | Fort Lewis College | NCAA Division II with football | 3,137 | 175 | 140 | 315 |
12 | University of Colorado Colorado Springs | NCAA Division II without football | 7,932 | 152 | 147 | 299 |
13 | Otero Junior College | NJCAA Division I | 548 | 130 | 99 | 229 |
14 | Colorado Christian University | NCAA Division II without football | 1,734 | 115 | 109 | 224 |
15 | Regis University | NCAA Division II without football | 2,359 | 98 | 120 | 218 |
16 | Metropolitan State University
of Denver | NCAA Division II without football | 12,352 | 101 | 108 | 209 |
17 | Northeastern Junior College | NJCAA Division I | 899 | 117 | 74 | 191 |
18 | Trinidad State Junior College | NJCAA Division I | 709 | 78 | 73 | 151 |
19 | Lamar Community College | NJCAA Division I | 357 | 79 | 70 | 149 |
20 | Colorado Northwestern Community College | NJCAA Division I | 477 | 67 | 61 | 128 |
21 | Johnson & Wales University-Denver | NAIA Division II | 1,141 | 50 | 77 | 127 |
22 | Colorado Mountain College | Other | 1,599 | 5 | 3 | 8 |