Life After College Athletics?

I'm a pretty serious athlete, planning on continuing in college. But what happens after that? Where do most college athletes end up after graduation? Is going pro a common path or not?

Most college athletes, even at the Division I level, won't go pro in their chosen sport. The NCAA estimates that just a small fraction of college athletes make it professionally; for instance, only 1.6% of college football players get drafted into the NFL and only 0.8% and 1.2% of men's and women's basketball players, respectively, go on to play in the NBA/WNBA.

What happens to the rest? Well, they pursue careers in a wide variety of fields, much like the rest of their graduating classmates. College sports infuse participants with valuable skills such as leadership, teamwork, time management and resilience in the face of adversity. These are all highly desirable traits that translate well into a variety of professions. Thus, many former college athletes find success in business, healthcare, education, and more.

Moreover, a number of athletes tend to stay involved in sports, even if not as competitors. Some become coaches at the high school or college level, others go into sports management or marketing, and some might become personal trainers or physical therapists.

Still, others could pursue paths related to their major or fields that they're passionate about outside of sports. For example, they might go into law, engineering, graphic design, etc. College athletes, like all students, have unique interests and career goals, and depending on their individual circumstances, may choose to follow any number of paths after graduation.

While going pro is not the norm, it's important for any athlete to have a plan for a career outside of their sport. If you're thinking about competing in college, consider looking at schools that can support both your athletic goals and your academic/career interests.