William Carey University Athletics

William Carey competes in NAIA Division I, which sits between NCAA Division I powerhouses and smaller Division III programs, offering athletic scholarships while maintaining a more manageable scale. The Crusaders field 20 varsity sports with 309 total athletes, meaning about 17% of the 1,818 students participate in varsity athletics. The university distributes $3.7 million in athletic scholarships across its programs. William Carey competes in the Southern States Athletic Conference alongside schools like Mobile and Faulkner. The school has built a reputation for competitive baseball and softball programs over the years. With nearly one in five students playing varsity sports, athletics form a significant part of campus culture, though the atmosphere remains more intimate than major college sports venues.