American University offers hundreds of different undergraduate and graduate programs, and Eagle athletes are involved in over 100 of them. From business administration to studio art, athletes take part in all that the University has to offer.
As of Spring 2025, American University has 285 student-athletes across 14 athletic programs. Out of the 285 student-athletes, a whopping 64, or 22 percent, are studying in a business program.
Some haters may say that these athletes are taking the easy way out, but, in reality the Kogod School of Business is one of the most well-renowned business schools in the area.
“A larger proportion of athletes typically choose business because of the similarities between business and sports: competitiveness, emphasis on teamwork and clear metrics for winning and losing,” Kogod Dean David Marchick said.
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Outside of Kogod, there are a significant number of athletes studying in other areas for which the University is best known.
International studies and political science both make up a large chunk of what athletes major in, with 25 athletes and 16 athletes in both fields of study, respectively.
This somewhat correlates with the student body as a whole, where around 13 percent of all students’ main area of study is political science.
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All our lives we are taught to have a backup plan. As a kid, when I told my teachers that I wanted to be a professional baseball player when I grew up, they always told me I needed a backup plan. For these athletes who are skilled enough to actually live out their dreams, through college at least, what they study is their backup plan.
While some athletes at American may find themselves playing their sport professionally, many of them come to American knowing that the experience they get off the court will have significant value to their careers after graduating.
“Nothing tops seeing a student-athlete get an interesting internship or go on to great success after they graduate,” Marchick said.
Athletics, however, are not completely unrelated to finding success after graduating.
One benefit of playing sports in college is the physical aspect. When you get to the level of college athletics, you get access to resources that teach you how to properly take care of your body. From going to the gym to watching your nutrition, health is a significant part of sports that can be utilized even off the field.
Another great part of playing sports in college is the connections that can be built between athletes. Sports foster a close-knit community where teammates spend so much time together, which allows students to become close. Having those connections can be huge as people look for jobs or opportunities in the future.
“The community helps graduating students get connected with networking and professional professionals in the field of interest that they have,” former American men’s basketball player and Kogod ‘25 graduate Lincoln Ball said.
Being an athlete is just another added benefit of being a college student. Like many students who are involved in programs around campus, being an athlete adds to the college experience.
It is different in the way it provides experiences, mentoring and discipline that you do not see in other activities on campus. This is not to say athletics is the only taxing thing students can do, it is just a different kind of tax.
This article was edited by Matthias Jaylen Sandoval, Penelope Jennings and Walker Whalen. Copy editing done by Sabine Kanter-Huchting, Avery Grossman, Ryan Sieve and Ava Stuzin.
