Athletics, Academics, and the Financial Condition of U.S. Private Colleges

Authors

Jody W. Lipford, Francis Marion UniversityFollow
Jerry K. Slice, Presbyterian CollegeFollow

Author ORCID Identifier

https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2937-3866

DOI

https://doi.org/10.7290/jasm148410

Abstract

Abstract

Many private colleges in the U.S. face financial difficulty. The role of athletics in the financial condition of U.S. colleges is subject to controversy. Supporters argue that collegiate sports draw students, improve student quality, and increase donor support. Detractors argue that athletics are costly and undermine the academic mission of the institution. In this paper, we examine metrics of athletic and academic quality to determine their effects on the financial health of a sample of U.S. private colleges. Our findings indicate that higher spending on athletics reduces an institution’s financial health and that academic quality increases an institution’s financial health.

Recommended Citation

Lipford, Jody W. and Slice, Jerry K. (2022) "Athletics, Academics, and the Financial Condition of U.S. Private Colleges," Journal of Applied Sport Management: Vol. 14 : Iss. 2.
https://doi.org/10.7290/jasm148410
Available at: https://trace.tennessee.edu/jasm/vol14/iss2/2