Reference · Data · Updated 2026-09-12
School Mascot Statistics 2026
100 statistics, each traced to the body that produced it, with a date and a link. How many schools have a mascot, which mascots are most common, which states ban Native American mascots, what a mascot change costs, and what a costume sells for.
Key takeaways
The 14 numbers most people come here for
- 17,622 17,622 regular public high schools operated in the US in 2023-24, plus 15,858 middle schools and 51,654 elementary schools. NCES Common Core of Data, Table 4, 2023-24
- 19,943 19,943 high schools belong to the 51 state associations of the National Federation of State High School Associations, the closest thing to a count of US high schools with athletic programs. NFHS, 2026
- 1,419 1,419 US high schools are the Eagles, 6.8% of the 20,883 team names in the 2015-16 Clell Wade Coaches Directory, making Eagles the most common high school mascot in the country. Zeitler, Names: A Journal of Onomastics 66(4), 2018
- 37% 37% of all US high schools use one of the 10 most common team names, and the top 20 names cover 53% of schools. Zeitler, Names: A Journal of Onomastics 66(4), 2018
- 55.7% 55.73% of US high schools (11,638) have an animal team name; humans are second at 33.26% (6,945), then objects and weather at 4.87%, deities and spirits at 3.37%, and mythological creatures at 2.05%. Zeitler, Names: A Journal of Onomastics 66(4), 2018
- 20.2% 20.2% of US high schools (4,219) use a cat: Tigers (965), Panthers (840), Wildcats (687), Lions (626), and other big cats. Zeitler, Names: A Journal of Onomastics 66(4), 2018
- 1,908 1,908 K-12 schools in 1,021 districts had Native-themed mascots as of February 10, 2021: Indians (793 schools), Warriors with Native imagery (417), Braves (207), Chiefs (181), and Redskins (95). National Congress of American Indians, National School Mascot Tracking Database, 2021
- 68 68 schools changed a Native-themed mascot in calendar year 2020, the year the Washington NFL team dropped its name. National Congress of American Indians, 2021
- $25,000 a month Colorado fines a public school $25,000 for each month it keeps an American Indian mascot after June 1, 2022. Colorado General Assembly, SB21-116, 2021
- 55 About 55 New York districts had to eliminate Indigenous mascots by June 30, 2025 under the Board of Regents rule adopted April 18, 2023, or face removal of school officers and withholding of state aid. New York State School Boards Association, 2023
- $5.3 million Washington districts spent $5,299,752 of a $5.3 million state appropriation on HB 1356 mascot changes in fiscal 2023 across 27 districts, after $798,589 across 22 districts in fiscal 2022. Washington Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction, 2023
- 49% 49% of 1,021 Native Americans from 148 tribes found the Redskins name offensive; 67% of those who often take part in tribal cultural practices, 57% of those who strongly identify as Native, and 60% of young people did. Fryberg et al., Social Psychological and Personality Science, 2020
- $6,000 to $10,000+ Custom mascot costumes from Olympus Mascots cost $6,000 to $10,000 and beyond: basic builds $6,000 to $8,000, common builds $8,000 to $10,000, complex characters above $10,000. Olympus Mascots, 2026
- 10+ years A custom mascot costume can last upwards of a decade with proper care; one Florida manatee mascot built in 2001 was retired after 23 years. Olympus Mascots, 2026
How many schools in the US have a mascot?
No agency counts mascots directly, but nearly every one of the 17,622 regular public high schools fields teams, and the NFHS serves 19,943 member high schools, so the working answer is that almost every US high school has a team name and mascot. Elementary and middle schools have no national count.
- 99,297
99,297 public elementary and secondary schools were operating in the US in 2023-24, of which 90,461 are regular schools.
NCES Common Core of Data, Table 1 · 2023-24 · nces.ed.gov
- 17,622
17,622 regular public high schools operated in the US in 2023-24, plus 15,858 middle schools and 51,654 elementary schools.
NCES Common Core of Data, Table 4 · 2023-24 · nces.ed.gov
- 23,810
23,810 public secondary and high schools existed in 2022-23 under the broader Digest definition, which includes junior high, alternative, and vocational secondary schools.
NCES Digest of Education Statistics, Table 216.10 · 2022-23 · nces.ed.gov
- 30,553
30,553 private elementary and secondary schools enrolled 5.1 million students in 2023-24; 3,677 of them are secondary or high schools.
NCES Private School Universe Survey, 2023-24 First Look · 2023-24 · ies.ed.gov
- 19,943
19,943 high schools belong to the 51 state associations of the National Federation of State High School Associations, the closest thing to a count of US high schools with athletic programs.
NFHS · 2026 · nfhs.org
- 18,690
18,690 US high schools sponsor boys basketball and 18,208 sponsor girls basketball, the most widely fielded sport, so at least that many schools have a team name to put on a jersey.
NFHS Athletics Participation Survey · 2024-25 · a-us.storyblok.com
- 14,269
14,269 high schools sponsor 11-player football, with 1,029,588 boys playing, the largest single boys sport.
NFHS Athletics Participation Survey · 2024-25 · a-us.storyblok.com
- 8.27 million
8,266,244 students played high school sports in 2024-25, a record, up 203,942 from 2023-24 (4,726,648 boys and 3,539,596 girls).
NFHS · 2024-25 · nfhs.org
- No count
No federal agency, state association, or academic study has counted mascots at the 51,654 public elementary and 15,858 public middle schools; the only national mascot data is for high schools.
School Branding Agency review of sources · 2026 · nces.ed.gov
Stated as a gap so nobody mistakes high school figures for K-8 figures.
What is the most common school mascot in the United States?
Eagles. The only national academic count found 1,419 Eagles among 20,883 US high school team names, ahead of Tigers (931), Panthers (840), and Bulldogs (836), and Eagles also lead the MascotDB database of more than 50,000 teams.
- 1,419
1,419 US high schools are the Eagles, 6.8% of the 20,883 team names in the 2015-16 Clell Wade Coaches Directory, making Eagles the most common high school mascot in the country.
Zeitler, Names: A Journal of Onomastics 66(4) · 2018 · ans-names.pitt.edu
Sample: 20,853 schools open in 2015-16, plus 30 distinct girls team names.
- Top 10
The 10 most common US high school team names are Eagles (1,419), Tigers (931), Panthers (840), Bulldogs (836), Knights (705), Warriors (701), Wildcats (687), Lions (626), Cougars (509), and Hawks (454).
Zeitler, Names: A Journal of Onomastics 66(4) · 2018 · ans-names.pitt.edu
- 40%
40% of US high schools (8,350) have a team name that alliterates or rhymes with the school name, such as the Bend Gate Gators.
Zeitler, Names: A Journal of Onomastics 66(4) · 2018 · ans-names.pitt.edu
- 1,888
Eagles appear 1,888 times in the MascotDB database of more than 50,000 US and Canadian high school, college, and pro teams, ahead of Tigers (1,518), Bulldogs (1,310), Panthers (1,266), and Wildcats (1,150).
MascotDB, Most Popular report · 2026 · mascotdb.com
Counts active and inactive teams at every level, so it is not a clean count of US high schools.
- 894
894 teams in MascotDB are or were the Indians, the 7th most common name in the database, ahead of Lions, Knights, and Cougars.
MascotDB, Most Popular report · 2026 · mascotdb.com
What share of school mascots are animals?
A little over half. 55.7% of US high school team names are animals, 33.3% are people, and cats alone account for 1 in 5 schools.
- 36.4%
36.43% of human team names (2,530 schools) describe people trained to fight: Warriors, Knights, Raiders, Spartans, Trojans, and Vikings.
Zeitler, Names: A Journal of Onomastics 66(4) · 2018 · ans-names.pitt.edu
- 121 of 345
121 of the 345 NCAA Division I schools (35%) have an animal mascot, and animals are the top category in exactly 25 states; human mascots lead in 17.
Grand Canyon University analysis of NCAA Division I · 2018 · gcu.edu
- Over half
More than half of Minnesota high school mascots are animals, by MinnPost's count of Minnesota State High School League member schools.
MinnPost analysis of MSHSL data · 2018 · minnpost.com
Which mascot is most common in each state?
Eagles top every state with a verified count except South Dakota, where Tigers lead: Michigan (48 Eagles), Texas (151), Florida (55), Tennessee (25), Minnesota (24), and Washington (22).
- 48
48 of Michigan's 754 MHSAA member high schools are the Eagles, followed by Panthers (28), Bulldogs (26), Vikings (23), and Wildcats (22); the state has 221 distinct nicknames and 127 schools with a one-of-a-kind name.
Michigan High School Athletic Association · 2025 · mhsaa.com
- 151
151 of 1,633 Texas high schools (9.2%) are the Eagles, then Bulldogs (101), Tigers (78), Lions (75), and Panthers (71), across 246 different mascot names.
MaxPreps database count, Texas · 2012 · maxpreps.com
Oldest state count on this page; no newer verified statewide count exists.
- 55
55 of 682 Florida high schools (8.1%) are the Eagles, then Panthers (31), Lions (29), Bulldogs (26), Tigers (25), and Warriors (25), across 168 mascot names.
MaxPreps database count, Florida · 2012 · maxpreps.com
- 25
25 of 403 Tennessee high schools are the Eagles, then Tigers (24), Wildcats (20), Bulldogs (14), and Warriors (14).
MaxPreps database count, Tennessee · 2012 · maxpreps.com
- 24
24 Minnesota high schools are the Eagles and 23 are the Tigers, then Panthers (17), Cardinals (13), and Lions (12).
MinnPost analysis of MSHSL data · 2018 · minnpost.com
- 22
22 of 383 Washington high schools are the Eagles, then Bulldogs, Tigers, and Vikings (13 each), across 144 mascot names.
MaxPreps database count, Washington · 2012 · maxpreps.com
- 12
12 of 176 South Dakota high schools are the Tigers, one of the few states where Eagles (4) are not first; Raiders (7) are second.
MaxPreps database count, South Dakota · 2012 · maxpreps.com
What are the most common college mascots?
Bulldogs (14 schools) and Tigers (13) lead NCAA Division I, followed by Eagles (11), Bears (9), Wildcats (9), and Panthers (8).
- 14
14 of the 345 NCAA Division I schools are the Bulldogs, the most common Division I nickname, with Tigers second at 13.
Grand Canyon University analysis of NCAA Division I · 2018 · gcu.edu
- Top 6
The six most used NCAA Division I nicknames are Bulldogs (14), Tigers (13), Eagles (11), Bears (9), Wildcats (9), and Panthers (8), not counting variants such as Golden Eagles.
Bleacher Report count of Division I programs · 2018 · bleacherreport.com
- 5,916
5,916 postsecondary Title IV institutions operated in the US in 2020-21, the pool from which college mascots are drawn.
NCES Digest of Education Statistics, Table 105.50 · 2020-21 · nces.ed.gov
How many schools still have Native American mascots?
About 1,900. The National Congress of American Indians counted 1,908 K-12 schools in 1,021 districts with Native-themed mascots in February 2021 and 1,901 schools in 966 districts by April 2023, with 68 schools changing in 2020 alone.
- 1,908
1,908 K-12 schools in 1,021 districts had Native-themed mascots as of February 10, 2021: Indians (793 schools), Warriors with Native imagery (417), Braves (207), Chiefs (181), and Redskins (95).
National Congress of American Indians, National School Mascot Tracking Database · 2021 · core-docs.s3.amazonaws.com
- 68
68 schools changed a Native-themed mascot in calendar year 2020, the year the Washington NFL team dropped its name.
National Congress of American Indians · 2021 · core-docs.s3.amazonaws.com
- 1,901
1,901 schools in 966 districts still had Native-themed mascots in April 2023, 7 fewer schools and 55 fewer districts than in 2021.
NCAI database, cited by the Association on American Indian Affairs · 2023 · indian-affairs.org
- 29
29 Wisconsin public schools still used Native American mascots or imagery in July 2020; by 2023 the state was writing to 26 districts.
UpNorthNews · 2020 · upnorthnewswi.com
- 162
162 US secondary schools still used a Rebel mascot as of June 2018, down from 191 in 1991.
Patrick Smith, University of Southern Mississippi dissertation, quoted by SPLC · 2019 · splcenter.org
- 33
33 Confederate-named schools were renamed or closed in 2021, a record, after 20 were renamed in 2020; 201 schools still carried Confederate names in January 2022.
Southern Poverty Law Center, Whose Heritage, third edition · 2022 · splcenter.org
- 304
304 Confederate-named schools have been identified since 2015: 198 still live in August 2021, 85 closed or renamed, and 21 committed to change, led by Georgia (45), Texas (40), and Alabama (22).
Southern Poverty Law Center · 2021 · splcenter.org
- 18
18 colleges were subject to the NCAA's 2005 policy barring schools with "hostile and abusive" Native American mascots from hosting championships, effective February 1, 2006.
NCAA policy, reported by PBS NewsHour · 2005 · pbs.org
- 21+
At least 21 states have introduced proposals to restrict Native American mascots, according to the NCAI.
NCAI, reported by OPB and NPR · 2023 · opb.org
Which states ban Native American mascots in schools?
Ten states have a law, rule, or funding penalty against Native American mascots in public schools: Wisconsin, Oregon, California, Maine, Washington, Colorado, Connecticut, Vermont, New York, and Minnesota, and Illinois passed a ban through its House in 2025.
- $25,000 a month
Colorado fines a public school $25,000 for each month it keeps an American Indian mascot after June 1, 2022.
Colorado General Assembly, SB21-116 · 2021 · leg.colorado.gov
- 55
About 55 New York districts had to eliminate Indigenous mascots by June 30, 2025 under the Board of Regents rule adopted April 18, 2023, or face removal of school officers and withholding of state aid.
New York State School Boards Association · 2023 · nyssba.org
- 32
About 32 Washington schools had to adopt a new mascot or get tribal consent by January 1, 2022 under HB 1356, which passed the House 92-5 and the Senate 40-9.
Washington State Legislature · 2021 · app.leg.wa.gov
- July 1, 2026
California bans any derogatory Native American term at public schools from July 1, 2026, including Apaches, Braves, Chiefs, Chieftains, Comanches, Indians, Savages, and Tribe, unless a federally recognized tribe consents in writing.
California Legislature, AB 3074 · 2024 · leginfo.legislature.ca.gov
- Sept 1, 2026
Minnesota's ban on American Indian mascots takes effect September 1, 2026, a year later than first enacted, with exemptions by consent of the nearest Tribal Nation.
Minnesota Revisor of Statutes, 121A.041 · 2023 · revisor.mn.gov
- 90
About 90 Illinois K-12 schools would be affected by HB 1237, which passed the House 71-40 in April 2025 and then stalled in the Senate.
NPR Illinois · 2025 · nprillinois.org
- 15
15 Oregon public high schools were listed when the State Board of Education voted 5-1 in 2012 to ban Native American mascots from July 1, 2017.
Oregon Department of Education · 2012 · oregon.gov
- $94,184
Killingly, Connecticut forfeited $94,184 in annual state grants for keeping its Redmen mascot under the state's 2021 funding rule.
CT Mirror · 2022 · yahoo.com
| State | Year | Law or rule | What it does | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wisconsin | 2010, 2013 | 2009 Act 250; 2013 Act 115 | Complaint process against race-based mascots; the 2013 law requires signatures equal to 10% of district enrollment to file | docs.legis.wisconsin.gov |
| Oregon | 2012 | State Board rule OAR 581-021-0047 | Native American mascots banned at public schools from July 1, 2017; 15 high schools listed; agreements with tribes allowed since 2016 | oregon.gov |
| California | 2015, 2024 | AB 30 Racial Mascots Act; AB 3074 | "Redskins" banned from 2017; all derogatory Native American terms banned at public schools from July 1, 2026 | leginfo.legislature.ca.gov |
| Maine | 2019 | LD 944 | First statewide legislative ban on Native American mascots, names, and logos in public schools; passed unanimously | maine.gov |
| Washington | 2021 | HB 1356, Chapter 128 | Ban effective July 25, 2021; about 32 schools; new mascot or tribal consent by Jan 1, 2022; state transition grants | app.leg.wa.gov |
| Colorado | 2021 | SB21-116 | Ban from June 1, 2022; $25,000 fine per month of continued use | leg.colorado.gov |
| Connecticut | 2021 | SB 1202 (PA 21-2) | Towns lose Mashantucket Pequot and Mohegan Fund grants if a school keeps a Native mascot; Killingly forfeited $94,184 | ctmirror.org |
| Vermont | 2022 | Act 152 (S.139) | Boards had to adopt nondiscriminatory school branding policies by May 1, 2023 | legislature.vermont.gov |
| New York | 2023 | Board of Regents Part 123 | About 55 districts had to drop Indigenous mascots by June 30, 2025; penalties include withholding state aid | nyssba.org |
| Minnesota | 2023 | Minn. Stat. 121A.041 | Ban now starts Sept 1, 2026 after amendments; exemption with consent of the nearest Tribal Nation | revisor.mn.gov |
| Illinois | 2025, pending | HB 1237 | Passed the House 71-40 in April 2025; about 90 schools affected; stalled in the Senate | nprillinois.org |
How much does it cost a school to change its mascot?
Washington's 27 districts spent $5.3 million on state-funded mascot changes in fiscal 2023, about $220,000 each, and individual district figures run from $51,000 for imagery alone to more than $1 million where turf and gym floors are replaced.
- $5.3 million
Washington districts spent $5,299,752 of a $5.3 million state appropriation on HB 1356 mascot changes in fiscal 2023 across 27 districts, after $798,589 across 22 districts in fiscal 2022.
Washington Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction · 2023 · ospi.k12.wa.us
- $1.9M uniforms
Washington's fiscal 2023 mascot spending went $1.9 million to uniforms and equipment, $1.7 million to design, $1.6 million to signs, and $663,600 to gym floor removal and other costs, with only $18,700 on web pages.
Washington Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction · 2023 · ospi.k12.wa.us
- $411,439
Michigan's Native American Heritage Fund paid $411,439 to four districts for mascot changes in 2022, then $480,000 to nine recipients in 2023 and $337,008 in mascot grants in 2024.
Bridge Michigan; Nottawaseppi Huron Band of the Potawatomi · 2024 · bridgemi.com
- $23.62 million
Connetquot, New York estimated $23,620,000 to remove its Thunderbirds mascot, the largest figure reported, because it counted full replacement of turf fields and gym floors; equipment and uniforms added about $320,000.
Sports Illustrated, quoting the superintendent's letter to NYSED · 2025 · si.com
Contested figure; most districts repaint floors rather than replace them.
- $800,000
Hays CISD in Texas projected about $800,000 to replace the Rebels with the Hawks in 2021, mostly band and sports uniforms, gym floor logos, and the entrance marquee.
KUT · 2021 · kut.org
- $500,000
Neshaminy School District in Pennsylvania spent about $500,000 over 8 years fighting to keep its Redskins name, $385,000 of it from taxpayers.
LevittownNow · 2021 · levittownnow.com
- $51,000
Savanna High School in Anaheim spent an estimated $51,000 in 2017 to repaint a gym and a mural while keeping the Rebels name, the lowest full-change figure on record.
Voice of OC · 2017 · voiceofoc.org
- No survey
No national survey measures how often K-12 schools change mascots or why; the closest proxies are NCAI's change counts and the SPLC's school-name dataset.
School Branding Agency review of sources · 2026 · core-docs.s3.amazonaws.com
Stated as a gap.
| School or district | Year | Reported cost | What it covered | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Connetquot CSD, NY (Thunderbirds) | 2025 | $23.62M estimate | Turf fields, gym floors, fixtures, repainting, plus about $320,000 in equipment; contested, includes full field and floor replacement | si.com |
| Massapequa UFSD, NY (Chiefs) | 2025 | Over $1M estimate | Full rebrand; district sued the state to keep the name | nbcnewyork.com |
| Hays CISD, TX (Rebels to Hawks) | 2021 | About $800,000 | Band and sports uniforms, gym floor logos, entrance marquee | kut.org |
| Wantagh UFSD, NY (Warriors) | 2025 | $418,000 to $700,000 | $418,000 allocated; true cost expected near $700,000 | yahoo.com |
| Menahga School District, MN | 2024 | About $600,000 | Full rebrand under the Minnesota mascot law; superintendent equated it to 7 teacher salaries | parkrapidsenterprise.com |
| Montrose County, CO (two districts) | 2021 | $500,000 to $750,000 | Compliance with SB21-116 | coloradosun.com |
| Warroad Public Schools, MN (Warriors) | 2023 | $500,000 estimate | Uniforms, signage; district later kept the name with tribal consent | opb.org |
| Iroquois CSD, NY (Chiefs to Red Hawks) | 2023 | About $500,000 | $200,000 of it for uniforms | wkbw.com |
| Wichita USD 259, KS (North HS Redskins) | 2021 | $350,000 to $400,000 | Uniforms, wrestling mat, gym floor, marching band | kmuw.org |
| Lamar, CO | 2021 | $225,000 | Community-center gym floor | coloradosun.com |
| San Lorenzo USD, CA (Rebels) | 2018 | $200,000 to $220,000 | Walls, field, and uniforms | csueastbayjournalism.wordpress.com |
| Indian River CSD, NY (Warriors to Wolves) | 2024 | $200,000 in year one | Signs, logos, uniforms, branding; turf and gym floors in later years | wwnytv.com |
| Sewanhaka CHSD, NY (Indians to Ravens) | 2024 | $200,000 state grant | Facility modifications | assembly.ny.gov |
| Port Huron Schools, MI | 2023 | $162,944 grant | Rebrand funded by the Native American Heritage Fund | nhbp-nsn.gov |
| Central HS, Grand Junction, CO | 2021 | At least $150,000 | Compliance with SB21-116; Sanford SD estimated the same | coloradosun.com |
| Plymouth-Canton, MI (Chiefs to Cobras) | 2024 | $145,894 grant | Signage, floors, athletic facilities, apparel | nhbp-nsn.gov |
| Manistee, MI (to Mariners) | 2023 | $142,585 grant | Signage, website, athletic facilities, uniforms | nhbp-nsn.gov |
| Saranac, MI (Redskins to Red Hawks) | 2022 | $139,319 grant | Rebrand funded by the Native American Heritage Fund | bridgemi.com |
| Hartford, MI (Indians to Huskies) | 2022 | $132,249 grant | Rebrand funded by the Native American Heritage Fund | bridgemi.com |
| Camden-Frontier, MI (Redskins to RedHawks) | 2024 | $105,061 grant | Signage, floors, athletic facilities, apparel | nhbp-nsn.gov |
| Thompson SD, CO (Loveland HS to Red Wolves) | 2020 | About $100,000 | Logos at two schools | denver7.com |
| Lansing Sexton HS, MI (Big Reds) | 2022 | $87,500 grant | Imagery change | bridgemi.com |
| South Colonie CSD, NY (Raiders imagery) | 2024 | $75,000 to $100,000 | Signage, rugs, and carpets | wamc.org |
| Sandusky, MI (Redskins to Wolves) | 2023 | $74,604 grant | Rebrand funded by the Native American Heritage Fund | nhbp-nsn.gov |
| Savanna HS, Anaheim, CA (Rebels imagery) | 2017 | $51,000 | Repainting the gym and a mural; kept the Rebels name | voiceofoc.org |
| Petoskey, MI | 2023 | $2,925 grant | Track uniforms only | nhbp-nsn.gov |
How do Native Americans feel about Native mascots?
It depends on how the question is asked and of whom: 49% of 1,021 Native Americans surveyed in a 2020 peer-reviewed study found the Redskins name offensive, rising to 67% among those active in tribal culture, while a 2016 Washington Post poll of 504 self-identified Native adults found 90% not offended.
- 49%
49% of 1,021 Native Americans from 148 tribes found the Redskins name offensive; 67% of those who often take part in tribal cultural practices, 57% of those who strongly identify as Native, and 60% of young people did.
Fryberg et al., Social Psychological and Personality Science · 2020 · indigenousjournalists.org
- 65%
65% of Native Americans surveyed were offended by fans doing the tomahawk chop and 73% by fans imitating Native dances.
Fryberg et al., reported by Washingtonian · 2020 · washingtonian.com
- 90%
90% of 504 self-identified Native American adults said the Redskins name did not offend them in a 2016 Washington Post poll, a result later studies attribute to sampling by self-identification.
Washington Post and SSRS, via the Roper Center · 2016 · ropercenter.cornell.edu
- 9%
9% of Native American respondents called the Redskins name offensive in a 2004 Annenberg poll.
Annenberg Public Policy Center, cited in Fryberg et al. · 2004 · indigenousjournalists.org
How much does a school mascot costume cost?
Published prices from US custom makers run from $1,800 for a basic build to more than $10,000 for complex work, and most makers cluster between $3,400 and $8,500. Mass-produced overseas costumes sell for $200 to $2,000.
- $6,000 to $10,000+
Custom mascot costumes from Olympus Mascots cost $6,000 to $10,000 and beyond: basic builds $6,000 to $8,000, common builds $8,000 to $10,000, complex characters above $10,000.
Olympus Mascots · 2026 · olympusmascots.com
- $5,500 to $8,500
Most costumes from AMAZING!! Mascots average $5,500 to $8,500, within a full range of $3,750 to $12,000; the maker puts the industry-wide range at $3,500 to $20,000 and rush fees at $500 or more.
AMAZING!! Mascots · 2026 · amazing-mascots.com
- $3,400 to $5,500
Promo Bears USA prices animal and human characters at $3,900 to $4,500 and object mascots at $4,700 to $6,500, with a standard 11 to 12 week timeline.
Promo Bears USA · 2026 · promobearsusa.com
- $1,800 to $3,000
MaskUS custom mascot costumes start at $1,800 and go up to around $3,000, the lowest published US custom price found, with a 5 to 8 week lead time.
MaskUS · 2026 · maskus.com
- $200 to $2,000
Mass-produced overseas mascot costumes fall in a $200 to $2,000 price bracket, according to a US custom maker.
Olympus Mascots · 2026 · olympusmascots.com
- 120+ hours
A custom mascot takes more than 120 hours of labor to build at Sugar's Mascot Costumes, with lead times of 18 to 24 weeks.
Sugar's Mascot Costumes · 2026 · sugarsmascotcostumes.com
- 2 to 4 months
Design and production of a custom mascot takes 2 to 4 months at Street Characters, which, like BAM Mascots, Alinco, and Costume Specialists, quotes each job rather than publishing prices.
Street Characters · 2026 · mascots.com
- $324
A DonorsChoose request for an elementary school Charger mascot listed the costume at $324, fully funded by 14 donors, an example of the low-cost import tier schools crowdfund.
DonorsChoose · 2026 · donorschoose.org
- $3,508
Emmaus High School's "Mascot Makeover" GoFundMe raised $3,508 of a $5,000 goal from 51 donors to replace a Hornet suit more than a decade old.
GoFundMe · 2018 · gofundme.com
| Maker | Published price | Notes | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| MaskUS | $1,800 to $3,000 | Entry custom builds; 5 to 8 week lead time | maskus.com |
| Promo Bears USA | $3,400 to $5,500 | Animal or human character $3,900 to $4,500; object mascots $4,700 to $6,500; 11 to 12 weeks | promobearsusa.com |
| AMAZING!! Mascots | $3,750 to $12,000 | Most costumes $5,500 to $8,500; top price includes character copyright | amazing-mascots.com |
| School Branding Agency | $4,000 to $6,500 typical | Most school orders; entry builds from about $3,000 plus shipping; mascot logo designed first | schoolbranding.agency |
| The Mascot Company | $5,000 to $6,500 | Typical full custom costume; $1,000 to $2,000 for a street character | themascotcompany.com |
| Olympus Mascots | $6,000 to $10,000+ | Basic $6,000 to $8,000; common $8,000 to $10,000; complex above $10,000; 50% deposit | olympusmascots.com |
| Avant Garb | From about $8,500 | No upper bound published | avantgarb.com |
| The Mascot Store (retailer) | $500 stock to $15,000+ custom | Basic custom $5,000 to $8,000; standard $8,000 to $12,000; complex $12,000 to $15,000+ | mascot-store.com |
How heavy is a mascot costume and how long does it last?
A full custom costume weighs 10 to 25 pounds, with the head alone at 6 to 12 pounds, and a well-made costume lasts a decade or more with care while cheap imports need replacing in about 18 months.
- 10 to 25 lb
A complete custom mascot costume weighs 10 to 25 pounds, most between 15 and 20, and the head is almost always the heaviest piece at 6 to 12 pounds.
Promo Bears USA · 2026 · promobearsusa.com
- 2 to 6 lb
Foam mascot heads weigh 2 to 6 pounds; plastic-shell heads run 2 to 3 pounds heavier.
Olympus Mascots · 2026 · olympusmascots.com
- 10+ years
A custom mascot costume can last upwards of a decade with proper care; one Florida manatee mascot built in 2001 was retired after 23 years.
Olympus Mascots · 2026 · olympusmascots.com
- 1 to 10 years
Stock costumes last 1 to 2 years, semi-custom 3 to 5 years, and premium full-custom builds 7 to 10 years or more; professional cleaning runs $200 to $500 a year.
The Mascot Store · 2026 · mascot-store.com
- 18 months
Cheap mascot costumes typically need replacing in about 18 months, and cooling vests add 5 to 7 pounds of dead weight.
The Mascot Company · 2026 · themascotcompany.com
- 20 to 40 min
Mascot performers should work 20 to 40 minutes at a time with 20-minute breaks; shipping trunks last 2 to 3 years under normal use.
Costume Specialists · 2026 · costumespecialists.com
- Every 3 months
A thorough costume cleaning is recommended every 3 months for a mascot in regular use.
Promo Bears USA · 2026 · promobearsusa.com
What does a school district logo or rebrand cost?
Board-approved district branding contracts reported since 2022 range from $75,000 to $200,000 for the design work alone, and one Minnesota district put the full cost of a mascot-law rebrand at about $600,000.
- $200,000
Aurora Public Schools in Colorado paid $200,000 for its 2022 district logo redesign.
Sentinel Colorado · 2022 · sentinelcolorado.com
- $101,529
Rochester Public Schools in Minnesota approved a $101,529 rebrand contract in October 2025 covering a new logo, mission, vision, and values.
Post Bulletin · 2025 · postbulletin.com
- $99,880
Madison Metropolitan School District in Wisconsin paid a firm $99,880 for logo concepts in 2025, then adopted a free citizen-designed logo instead.
The Cap Times · 2025 · captimes.com
- $85,280
Springfield Public Schools in Missouri paid $85,280 for a brand study and new logo approved by the board in 2024.
Springfield Daily Citizen · 2024 · sgfcitizen.org
- Up to $75,000
Santa Maria Joint Union High School District in California approved a branding contract of up to $75,000 on a 5-0 board vote in 2023.
Santa Maria Times · 2023 · santamariatimes.com
- $2,500
Oswego Community Unit School District 308 in Illinois paid a freelance designer $2,500 for its new district logo in 2014, the low end of reported district logo costs.
Patch · 2014 · patch.com
- $62,960
The median annual wage for graphic designers was $62,960 in May 2025, across 253,100 jobs, with about 16,000 openings a year projected through 2035.
US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook · 2025 · bls.gov
How much do mascot performers earn?
Big-program college mascots bring in six figures in appearance fees (Ohio State's Brutus Buckeye earned $130,028 in one year), student performers get scholarships of $2,000 to $10,000, and the Denver Nuggets posted their pro mascot job at $70,000 to $130,000.
- $130,028
Brutus Buckeye earned Ohio State $130,028 in appearance fees in the latest fiscal year, ahead of Goldy Gopher ($119,605 over 264 appearances) and Sparty ($99,600 over 222 paid appearances).
FOIAball, public records · 2026 · foiaball.com
- $1,500
Michigan State charges $1,500 for a 45-minute Sparty wedding appearance; Ohio State charges $700 for a 30-minute Brutus appearance.
FOIAball, public records · 2026 · foiaball.com
- $70,000 to $130,000
Kroenke Sports & Entertainment posted the Denver Nuggets mascot performer job at $70,000 to $130,000 a year in 2024; the often-repeated $625,000 figure traces to a 2022 trade-press list the team never confirmed.
Westword · 2026 · westword.com
- Up to $10,000
Colorado Mesa University offers its Rowdy mascot performers up to $10,000 in scholarships plus hourly pay per performance; Western Nevada College funds a $3,000 mascot scholarship and Saint Martin's University up to $2,000.
Colorado Mesa University · 2026 · coloradomesa.edu
- 28 of 32
28 of 32 NFL teams have a mascot; the Packers, Chargers, Giants, and Jets do not.
Sports Illustrated · 2026 · si.com
- 37
37 mascots have been inducted into the Mascot Hall of Fame over 21 years; the 2026 class was Cocky, Miles, Goldy Gopher, Mrs. Met, and Cosmo.
Mascot Hall of Fame · 2026 · mascothalloffame.com
- 7
7 mascots competed in the Division IA mascot final at the 2026 UCA College Nationals, won by Ohio State's Brutus Buckeye; Grand Canyon's Thunder won the Open division.
Varsity Spirit · 2026 · varsity.com
Does school spirit change student outcomes?
Students who play sports or take part in activities post higher grades and miss fewer days in every state study the NFHS cites, including a 300-school Minnesota survey (GPA 2.84 vs 2.68) and a Kansas study of about 140,000 students.
- 2.84 vs 2.68
Athletes in a 300-school Minnesota State High School League survey averaged a 2.84 GPA against 2.68 for non-participants, and missed 7.4 school days a year against 8.8.
NFHS, The Case for High School Activities · 2026 · nfhs.org
- 0.6% vs 10.3%
North Carolina athletes had a 0.6% dropout rate against 10.32% for non-athletes, a 2.98 GPA against 2.17, and 6.3 days missed against 11.9.
NFHS, citing the NCHSAA · 2026 · nfhs.org
- 140,000
A Kansas study of about 140,000 students found athletes earned higher grades, graduated at a higher rate, dropped out less, and scored higher on state assessments.
NFHS, citing Lumpkin & Favor, Journal of Sport Administration & Supervision · 2012 · nfhs.org
- 78% vs 54%
78% of high-spirited students say they enjoy school events against 54% of low-spirited students, and 51% of athletes report high school spirit against 34% of non-athletes, in a 1,075-person survey of students, parents, administrators, and coaches.
Varsity Brands with Teneo Research · 2024 · varsitybrands.com
Vendor-commissioned research.
- 89%
89% of principals say building school spirit is important, in a Harris Poll survey of about 1,500 students, parents, and administrators.
NFHS summarizing Harris Poll for Varsity Brands · 2015 · nfhs.org
- 206,262
206,262 girls took part in competitive spirit in 2024-25, up nearly 14% and now the sixth most popular girls sport.
NFHS · 2024-25 · nfhs.org
How big is the spirit wear and costume market?
US promotional products, the industry that supplies most school spirit wear, sold a record $26.6 billion in 2024, and Americans planned $4.3 billion of Halloween costume spending in 2025.
- $26.6 billion
US promotional products industry sales hit a record $26.6 billion in 2024, up 1.8%; education has traditionally been the top buying market.
Advertising Specialty Institute · 2025 · asicentral.com
- $4.3 billion
Americans planned to spend $4.3 billion on Halloween costumes in 2025 ($2.0 billion adult, $1.4 billion children, $0.86 billion pets) in a survey of 8,045 consumers.
National Retail Federation with Prosper Insights & Analytics · 2025 · nrf.com
- +11%
Collegiate licensed merchandise sales rose 11% and royalties 16% in the first half of 2026 across the nearly 800 college brands CLC represents.
CLC (Learfield) · 2026 · clc.com
Original data
What do schools ask a mascot designer for?
Animals make up 63% of the mascots in School Branding Agency's published school projects, and big cats are the single largest group at 25%. These figures come from the 56 projects in our public portfolio where the mascot is named, out of 81 published projects and 250+ schools served since 2010.
Mascot category share, SBA published projects (n = 56)
- Big cats (tigers, panthers, cougars, wildcats, lions, jaguars, bobcats) 25% (14)
- People and characters (knights, warriors, pirates, pioneers, cowboys) 23.2% (13)
- Other animals (bears, wolves, mustangs, gators, dolphins, hornets) 23.2% (13)
- Birds of prey (eagles, hawks, falcons) 14.3% (8)
- Space and abstract (stars, rockets, jets) 8.9% (5)
- Mythical (dragons, phoenix) 5.4% (3)
- 63%
63% of mascots in SBA's published school projects are animals; people and characters are 23.2% and space or abstract symbols are 8.9%.
School Branding Agency portfolio · 2026 · n = 56
- Eagles
Eagles are the single most requested mascot in SBA's published projects (4 schools), followed by jaguars, bears, mustangs (3 each), which matches the national high school ranking.
School Branding Agency portfolio · 2026
- $1,500 to $3,000
A typical custom school mascot logo project at SBA costs $1,500 to $3,000 and takes 2 to 4 weeks from kickoff to final files.
School Branding Agency project records · 2026
- $4,000 to $6,500
Most custom mascot costume orders placed through SBA land between $4,000 and $6,500, with entry builds starting near $3,000 plus shipping.
School Branding Agency order records · 2026
- About half
About half of all SBA school branding projects involve a mascot, either a mascot logo or a costume; the rest are wordmarks, crests, and district identity systems.
School Branding Agency project records, 2010 to 2026
Portfolio counts are rebuilt from the published case studies at /our-schools each time this page is updated. Price bands and the rebrand share come from internal project records and are rounded; they are not a survey of the wider market.
Methodology
How this page is built and how to cite it
Every statistic is traced to the organization that produced it: a federal agency, a state legislature, a tribal or advocacy body's database, a university study, a school board record, a survey publisher, or a company's own price list. We do not copy numbers from other roundups. Where a news outlet is the source, it is because the outlet built its own count or reported a board-approved figure.
Each source URL is opened and checked at every update. If a number is a range or an estimate, it is labeled as one. Vendor and advocacy surveys are labeled as such. Dates show the data year where the publisher gives one, otherwise the publication year.
School Branding Agency's own figures come from our published portfolio and internal project records and are labeled as such.
Cite this page
School Branding Agency. "School Mascot Statistics 2026." schoolbranding.agency, updated 2026-09-12. https://schoolbranding.agency/school-mascot-statistics
Use the data
All 100 statistics with publisher, year, and source URL, as a CSV. Free under CC BY 4.0. A link back to this page is appreciated.
Download CSVChange log
- 2026-09-12 First edition. Sourced statistics on school counts, most common mascots, mascot types, state counts, college mascots, Native American mascot bans, mascot change costs, and costume prices. SBA portfolio sample built from 81 published projects.
Questions
Common questions
What is the most common high school mascot in the US?
Eagles. A 2018 study in Names: A Journal of Onomastics counted 1,419 Eagles among 20,883 US high school team names, followed by Tigers (931), Panthers (840), and Bulldogs (836). Eagles also lead the MascotDB database and most verified state counts.
How many schools in the US have a mascot?
No agency counts mascots directly. The NFHS serves 19,943 member high schools and 18,690 high schools sponsor boys basketball, so nearly every US high school has a team name. There is no national count for elementary or middle schools.
What percentage of school mascots are animals?
55.7% of US high school team names are animals, 33.3% are people, and about 20% of all schools use a cat such as Tigers, Panthers, Wildcats, or Lions.
How many schools still have Native American mascots?
The National Congress of American Indians counted 1,908 K-12 schools with Native-themed mascots in February 2021, down from earlier years as states passed bans and schools changed names. See the state ban table on this page for current laws.
How much does it cost a school to change its mascot?
Reported district costs range from a few thousand dollars for a logo alone to several hundred thousand dollars when uniforms, gym floors, signage, and turf are replaced. The cost table on this page lists specific districts, years, and board-approved amounts.
How much does a school mascot costume cost?
Published prices from US custom mascot makers run from about $3,000 to more than $10,000 depending on complexity. Most orders placed through School Branding Agency land between $4,000 and $6,500.
Can I use these statistics?
Yes. The page and CSV are free to use under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 license. Cite School Branding Agency and link to this page. Each statistic also names its original publisher, which you should cite too.
Related: school branding and enrollment statistics, how to choose a school mascot, what a mascot costs from concept to rollout, mascot costume budget guide, the evolution of school mascots.
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