(NewsNation) — En garde! More colleges in the United States are adding fencing to their sports rosters.
As colleges have cut some programs due to funding, others — such as Fairleigh Dickinson University in New Jersey and Arcadia University in Pennsylvania — are adding fencing teams, and the national governing body aims to add five college programs by the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.
The niche sport isn’t a moneymaker for schools like football or basketball, so why has it become appealing to colleges? Lower expenses.
The sport is a low-cost option for schools as it doesn’t require its own facility, and a head coach can serve both men’s and women’s teams. Additionally, it often attracts student-athletes from wealthier backgrounds who are less likely to need financial assistance from the school, boosting the alumni donor base.
“You’re really trying to work hard to recruit students who have the capacity to pay,” Brian Granata, associate vice president of athletics at Arcadia University, told Bloomberg. Arcadia doesn’t offer athletic scholarships, so its athletes often come from higher-income backgrounds.
Phil Andrews, chief executive officer of USA Fencing, told the outlet the organization has ramped up its messaging to schools in an effort to boost the sport.
Around 45 colleges and universities in the U.S. have NCAA-level fencing teams.