Wayland Baptist University Athletics

Wayland Baptist competes in NAIA athletics, which sits between Division I powerhouses and Division III recreational sports programs. NAIA schools offer athletic scholarships but have smaller budgets and less national attention than major college sports. With 526 total athletes out of 2,090 students, about 25% of the student body plays varsity sports, making athletics a major part of campus life. The Pioneers field teams in 16 different sports and award $3,078,160 in athletic scholarships each year. The school competes in the Sooner Athletic Conference and has historically been strong in basketball and track and field. For a small Baptist university in rural Texas, Wayland Baptist punches above its weight in athletics, and games provide important social events for the tight-knit campus community.