High Country Times

In 2022, 2.8% of Watauga County students played sports on collegiate teams, according to the U.S. Department of Education.

The county’s only university was represented by 270 men and 215 women who played for one or more sports teams in 2022. This does not include students playing intramural sports.

Watauga County paid a total of $5,740,415 in athletically-related financial aid during 2022.

Data shows that football was the most popular sport played, followed by soccer, and baseball.

Students who play sports often have higher graduation rates than non-athletes. More female than male athletes graduate.

The average institutional gift aid for student-athletes is $17,000, with 80% of them receive some kind of academic grant or need-based scholarship.

Institution	Total Enrollment	Student-athletes Enrollment	Student-athletes ratio
Appalachian State University	17,381	485	35.8