Like many elements of a college student’s life, sports and physical activities are tied to trends.
In the early 2000s, young adults led the way in out-of-the-box fitness fads, including Zumba dance fitness and Quidditch—now called quadball. Nowadays, college students are more drawn to Pilates, hot yoga and rock climbing, but lately one trend dominates all: pickleball.
The Sports and Fitness Industry Association (SFIA) found that pickleball is the fastest-growing sport in America, with the number of players growing 233 percent in three years; every age group has seen increased participation. Young adults (ages 25–35) now make up the largest share of participants at 2.3 million players, according to SFIA.
Behind the trend: Mark Chang, an associate professor at SUNY Brockport, is currently researching young people’s interest in pickleball. Chang’s initial screening survey of students from SUNY Brockport found multiple factors motivate participation.
“They want to master some kind of skill, they want to win some kind of game and they want to be connected and engage socially,” Chang said.
One of the reasons pickleball is so popular is because it’s relatively easy to engage in, featuring a smaller court than tennis, low-budget equipment and simple rules. Pickleball is most often played in doubles and doesn’t require high levels of exertion, making it a social and low-intensity sport.
Students who have experience playing tennis, racquetball or similar sports are also more likely to play because of the similarities, Chang said.
Social media may play a role in driving student participation because it gives them a connection point with other peers online, Chang said, but students more commonly cited goals like maintaining health, learning something new and having fun with friends.
Funding fun: As demand grows, colleges are building pickleball courts to accommodate student preferences and encourage them to be physically active. The University of the Pacific was the first college to open a pickleball and padel complex in 2024.
In the last 12 months, Arkansas Tech University, Eastern Mennonite University, Eastern Illinois University, Columbus State University, Wright State University, Penn State University, Duke University, Troy University, the University of Alabama, Tulane University and Baylor University have all announced plans to open, create or renovate spaces to accommodate pickleball players.
Alabama spent $1.6 million to put in 10 new pickleball courts at the tennis facility, which the vice president of student life Steven Hood told AL.com was in response to recreation trends.
“These courts appeal to a broad demographic, even some of our students who may not be as familiar with fitness and recreation,” Hood said. “It’s a great opportunity to connect and engage students promoting physical activity.”
Nationally, the number of pickleball courts has also exploded, growing 55 percent year-over-year in 2024. As of this year, the USA Pickleball court location database identifies 15,910 courts.
Most campuses with pickleball courts provide racquets and balls at no cost to students, faculty or staff through recreation offices.
Survey Says
A 2023 Student Voice survey by Inside Higher Ed and College Pulse found 57 percent of college students want to work on getting more exercise and 43 percent want to spend more time outside.
When asked how their campus could improve, 23 percent of students said their campus wellness facilities or wellness class offerings could be better. By comparison, 27 percent said their college wellness facilities were satisfactory and 26 percent said fitness class offerings were also done well.
Promoting student success: Pickleball offers several opportunities for student well-being on campus. Pickleball club membership unites students of similar interests, providing a space for physical activity and community belonging and connection.
USA Pickleball lists 212 collegiate pickleball clubs across the country, from the University of Alaska Fairbanks to Colby College in Maine and Florida’s University of Miami, and almost every state in between. As of 2024, the University of Florida had over 400 members in its pickleball club, up from 200 in 2022. Cornell University launched a student pickleball club in 2024, which has 200 pickleballers participating each week.
Students can also profit financially from their involvement in pickleball. After winning the collegiate pickleball championship, the University of Virginia’s pickleball club evolved into a five-person student-run business to manage name, image and likeness deals. Students at Utah Tech University can also receive scholarships for competing in pickleball tournaments or holding a leadership position in the club.
Additionally, pickleball spaces have driven student interest in recreational facilities at some institutions. Whittier College had its inaugural intramural pickleball season this past fall, adding to the college’s four other intramural sports, as well as a staff-versus-student kickball game. Columbus State University leaders hope involvement in pickleball translates to student participation in intramural sports leagues or tournaments.
Campus pickleball tournaments also promote community engagement. The University of Southern Indiana’s Alumni Pickleball Tournament introduced students to mentors, encouraging engagement on campus.
