University of the District of Columbia Athletics

The Firebirds compete in NCAA Division II, which sits between the scholarship-heavy spectacle of Division I and the purely recreational Division III level. With 110 total athletes across 10 varsity sports, just 3.6% of UDC's 3,080 students participate in intercollegiate athletics. The school distributes $1,857,429 in athletic scholarships annually. UDC competes in the East Coast Conference alongside other regional schools. As DC's only public university, the Firebirds don't have the deep athletic traditions of larger state schools, but they provide opportunities for student-athletes to compete at a meaningful level while pursuing their degrees. The athletic program reflects the university's broader mission of serving the local community with accessible education and extracurricular opportunities.