American University Athletics

American University competes in NCAA Division I, which means serious athletic competition with full scholarships and recruitment, though the Eagles don't draw massive crowds like football powerhouses. The school fields 12 varsity teams and awards $7.4 million in athletic scholarships to 305 student-athletes. That works out to about 4% of the 7,593 students playing varsity sports. AU plays in the Patriot League, a conference known for balancing academics with athletics. The Eagles share a heated crosstown rivalry with George Washington University, making those matchups particularly intense for DC bragging rights. While AU isn't known as a sports school, Division I status means students can watch competitive basketball and other sports without the time commitment of playing themselves.