Economic Analysis on the Graduation Gap between Undergraduate Students and Student-Athletes: A study of the SEC, ACC, Pac 12, Big 10, and Big 12 Conferences

Abstract

This study proposes several causes that may explain why NCAA Division I athletes graduate at a lower rate than regular students. The main tradeoff that I examine in this paper is how the academic quality of a school affects student-athletes’ chances of succeeding relative to the rest of the student body. We pinpoint the underlying causes of this graduation gap between regular students and student-athletes, leading us to suggest policies to improve the future academic success of NCAA athletes.