Dillard University Athletics

Dillard competes in the NAIA, which offers athletic scholarships but operates at a smaller scale than major Division I programs. The Bleu Devils field 9 varsity sports with 197 total athletes, meaning about 18% of the 1,111 students participate in athletics. The university distributes $1,759,494 in athletic scholarships annually. Dillard's sports culture reflects the school's intimate size, where games feel more like community gatherings than major spectacles. The athletic program emphasizes student-athlete development alongside academic success. As a historically black university in New Orleans, Dillard maintains a crosstown rivalry with Xavier University of Louisiana. The relatively high percentage of student-athletes creates strong team bonds and school spirit across campus.