Dickinson State University Athletics

Dickinson State competes in NAIA, which sits between Division I powerhouses and smaller Division III programs with moderate athletic scholarships and regional competition. The Blue Hawks field 18 varsity sports with 362 total athletes, meaning about 33% of the 1,108-student body participates in athletics. The school distributes $1,276,465 in athletic scholarships across its teams. As a member of the North Star Athletic Association, Dickinson State has built respectable programs despite its remote western North Dakota location. The high percentage of student-athletes creates a tight-knit athletic culture where games draw solid campus support. Football and basketball traditionally anchor the athletic program, though the school's agricultural roots mean outdoor sports fit naturally into campus life. The 13:1 student-faculty ratio extends to personalized coaching attention for athletes balancing academics with competition.