You’re interested in playing college baseball, but what are your chances of making it to the next level? While many tout national probability as gospel, it turns out your odds of playing at the next level vary greatly depending on where you live.
If you live in North Carolina and are wondering what percentage of high school graduates from your state play at each college level and where they are playing, you’ve come to the right place. In this article, we team up with our friends at College Baseball Insights to provide you with state-level overview of your chances to play at the next level.
You can see an overview of our resources, methodology, and limitations on our College Baseball Participation Overview Main Page, as well find overviews on other states and regions.
North Carolina by the Numbers
In the table below, you’ll see how many high school players from North Carolina are playing at each level of college baseball, the probability of playing at each college level, and how North Carolina compares nationally and to other states in the Southeast Region. You can see the complete Southwest breakdown HERE.
Where Are They Playing?
North Carolina Players by Division (1,738)
Image and data credit: College Baseball Insights
The Breakdown
North Carolina is another Southeastern state that is helping to bring up the regional averages. It’s overall college baseball participation rate of 16.63% is good for 3rd in the region, right behind Georgia and well above the national average of 12.58%. As a bordering state with the Mid-Atlantic region to its north, it’s interesting that North Carolina seems to have some influence from its Mid-Atlantic neighbors. The Tar Heel state is best in the Southeast Region at sending players to the D3 level (3.37%). While that rate would be last in the Mid-Atlantic, it’s far superior to the dismal probability of the southeast (1.52%). In fact, only one other state has a D3 participation rate above 2%. North Carolina is also above regional and national averages for the D1 (4.3%, 1st in the region), D2 (3.59, 4th in the region), and JUCO (4.35%, 4th in region) levels. It rounds out its strong levels by being the top state in the region at sending players to the USCAA level (.32%, 1st in region). At the NAIA level, North Carolina is dead last in the region and well-below national average with a 0.53% participation rate.
North Carolina’s solid baseball pipeline to the majority of college baseball levels isn’t surprising given its proximity to states with great baseball options. Players wanting to stay in-state also have 52 college programs to explore. The state has 18 D1, 9 D2, 7 D3, 2 NAIA, and 14 JUCO programs. Most states with comparable high school participation have far fewer in-state options.
Want to see additional states and regional breakdowns? Find them HERE.
Limitations
This article was written with data and insights from 3rd party sources, College Baseball Insights and NFHS High School Participation Data. Data and insights are subject to revision and/or change. We’ve attempted to display as accurate a picture as possible with the information that is available. Readers should be aware that college baseball roster data is fluid and changes throughout the year. Every attempt is made to reconcile data and keep up with changes, but this article may not reflect the changes or updates from 3rd parties. Insights cannot account for gap year programs, misreported roster information, or other inaccuracies which may slightly alter the numbers and percentages used in this article. Insights are subject to change and are based on best available information.
