University of California-San Diego Athletics

UCSD competes in NCAA Division II, which means sports are more serious than Division III but not as intense as Division I. With 552 total athletes across 21 varsity sports out of 33,787 students, only about 1.6% of the student body plays varsity athletics. The Tritons compete in the Big West Conference and receive $5.2 million in athletic scholarships. UCSD is better known for producing future doctors and engineers than professional athletes. The school's rivals include UCLA and UC Berkeley, though those matchups happen more in academic rankings than on the field. Students who want big-time college sports with packed stadiums and ESPN coverage should look elsewhere. UCSD athletics are competitive but take a backseat to the university's research mission and academic focus.