Pine Belt Times

In 2022, 6.1% of Forrest County students played sports on collegiate teams, according to the U.S. Department of Education.

The county’s universities were represented by 381 men and 276 women who played for one or more sports teams in 2022. This does not include students playing intramural sports.

The largest number of students per institution in Forrest County (358) played for University of Southern Mississippi during this period.

Forrest County paid a total of $8,025,025 in athletically-related financial aid during 2022.

Data shows that football was the most popular sport played, followed by soccer, track and field.

Students who play sports often have higher graduation rates than non-athletes. More female than male athletes graduate.

The average institutional gift aid for student-athletes is $17,000, with 80% of them receive some kind of academic grant or need-based scholarship.

Institution	Total Enrollment	Student-athletes Enrollment	Student-athletes ratio
University of Southern Mississippi	9,016	358	25.2
William Carey University	1,730	299	5.8