Aspiring professional athletes often wonder how likely they are to make it to the pros. While the chances depend on a variety of factors, including the athlete’s skill level, dedication, and luck, one of the best indicators of an athlete’s chances of making it to the professional level is the level of competition they play at. Of all NCAA Division I athletes, what percentage go on to play professionally?
Overview of Division I Athletics
Division I is the highest level of competition in the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA). It is the most competitive division and is made up of the most talented athletes. There are currently 326 Division I Universities in the United States and Canada, and they are the only universities eligible to participate in the NCAA Men’s and Women’s Basketball tournaments.
Division I universities are typically large schools with high levels of funding and resources. Many of the best college athletes in the country are recruited to compete at this level of competition. These athletes are often among the most physically talented and well-prepared in the nation.
Chances of Going Pro
The chances of an NCAA Division I athlete making it to the professional level vary greatly depending on the sport. Football and basketball are the two most popular sports in the NCAA, and they also have the highest rates of professional athletes.
According to the NCAA, approximately 1.6% of all NCAA football players go on to play professionally. Of those, about 1.2% make it to the NFL, while the remaining 0.4% go to either the Canadian Football League or other professional leagues.
The NCAA also reports that about 1.2% of all NCAA basketball players go on to play professionally. This is broken down into 1% making it to the NBA and 0.2% going to other professional leagues.
Other Sports
For other sports, such as baseball, softball, soccer, and volleyball, the percentages of Division I athletes going pro is much lower. The NCAA reports that only 0.5% of all Division I baseball players go on to play professionally. This is broken down into 0.4% making it to Major League Baseball (MLB), and 0.1% going to other professional leagues.
For softball, the NCAA reports that only 0.3% of all Division I players go on to play professionally. Of those, 0.2% make it to the National Pro Fastpitch (NPF), and 0.1% go to other professional leagues.
For soccer, the NCAA reports that only 0.1% of all Division I players go on to play professionally. Of those, 0.1% make it to Major League Soccer (MLS), and 0.0% go to other professional leagues.
Finally, for volleyball, the NCAA reports that only 0.02% of all Division I players go on to play professionally. Of those, 0.01% make it to the Professional Volleyball League (PVL), and 0.01% go to other professional leagues.
Overall, the chances of a Division I athlete making it to the professional level are quite slim. The chances vary greatly depending on the sport, and even the best athletes have slim odds of making it to the pros.
Conclusion
The chances of an NCAA Division I athlete making it to the professional level vary greatly depending on the sport. Football and basketball have the highest rates, with 1.6% and 1.2%, respectively, going on to play professionally. For other sports, such as baseball, softball, soccer, and volleyball, the percentages are much lower, ranging from 0.02% to 0.5%. Overall, the chances of a Division I athlete making it to the professional level are quite slim, and even the best athletes have slim odds of making it to the pros.