BRIDGEPORT, Pa. — NCAA Research , which conducts national research for National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) members on many topics including academic performance, student-athlete well-being, finance and diversity issues, released a graph showing the percentage of growth among international student-athletes in Division I athletics from 2013-to-2018.
In men’s competition, water polo experienced a 10% jump as 20% of competitors in 2018 were international students, compared to 10% in 2013. It marks the third highest jump behind only fencing and soccer which both experienced increases of 12%. Overall, men’s water polo experienced the fifth highest number of international student-athletes in 2018 at 20%, trailing tennis (63%), ice hockey (36%), soccer (34%) and golf (21%).
Women’s water polo experienced a 4% increase from 12% in 2013 to 16% in 2018. The increase marks the sixth largest behind field hockey (11%), tennis (11%), golf (8%), rowing (6%) and basketball (5%) as women’s water polo recorded the seventh most international students in 2018 behind tennis (62%), ice hockey (42%), golf (31%), field hockey (30%), fencing (17%) and rowing (17%).
