Central State University Athletics

Central State competes in NCAA Division II, which offers athletic scholarships but maintains a balance between competition and academics. The Marauders field teams in seven varsity sports with 259 total athletes, meaning about 7.6% of the 3,412 students participate in varsity athletics. The university competes in the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference alongside other historically Black colleges and universities. Central State distributes $670,375 in athletic scholarships across its programs. The Marauders have a particularly strong tradition in track and field, having produced several Olympians and professional athletes over the decades. The rural Wilberforce campus creates a tight-knit athletic community where games draw solid local support. As an HBCU with deep athletic heritage, Central State takes pride in developing student-athletes who excel both on the field and in the classroom.