University of Science and Arts of Oklahoma Athletics

The Drovers compete in NAIA athletics, which sits between NCAA Division I and Division III with moderate scholarships and regional competition. With 219 athletes out of 896 total students, roughly 24% of the campus participates in varsity sports. The athletic department distributes $2.6 million in scholarships across 11 sports programs. This creates a significant athletic presence on the small campus where nearly one in four students competes at the varsity level. The NAIA structure allows USAO to offer meaningful athletic scholarships while maintaining the intimate atmosphere of a liberal arts college. Sports serve as a major campus unifier given the high participation rate. The Drovers benefit from the concentrated athletic culture that emerges when a quarter of students are varsity competitors.