Doctoral Dissertations

Date of Award

5-2025

Degree Type

Dissertation

Degree Name

Doctor of Philosophy

Major

Higher Education Administration

Major Professor

J. Patrick Biddix

Committee Members

J. Patrick Biddix, Dorian McCoy, James Martinez, James Williams

Abstract

The academic performance of NCAA Division I student-athletes, particularly those in revenue-generating sports such as football and men’s basketball, remains a critical area of scholarly inquiry. However, existing research primarily focuses on scholarship recipients, leaving the academic experiences of non-scholarship student-athletes relatively unexplored. With over 200,000 student-athletes participating in NCAA Division I sports annually—and only 59% receiving athletic scholarships—understanding the academic performance and persistence of the remaining 41% is essential. Current NCAA metrics, including the Academic Progress Rate (APR) and Graduation Success Rate (GSR), reflect only scholarship student-athletes’ outcomes, underscoring the need for a more comprehensive examination.

This study analyzed 10 cohort years of institutional data from a single NCAA Division I institution, employing a quantitative approach to compare the final cumulative GPA, time-to-degree or departure, and demographic profiles of scholarship and non-scholarship football and men’s basketball student-athletes. Using ANOVA and ANCOVA, the study examined how these variables influenced academic outcomes, with Social Identity Theory (SIT) as the theoretical framework to explore the intersection of multiple identities—such as scholarship status, sport, and race/ethnicity—in shaping student achievement.

Findings illuminate an often-invisible population whose academic journeys are frequently homogenized or overlooked in existing literature. The results revealed that non-scholarship student-athletes, predominantly White/Non-Hispanic, achieved higher GPAs, while scholarship student-athletes, predominantly Black/African American, graduated in fewer semesters. In football, both Black/African American and White/Non-Hispanic scholarship student-athletes outperformed their non-scholarship counterparts in GPA and time-to-degree.

By advancing understanding of the academic outcomes of all student-athletes, especially those participating in the most visible and revenue-producing sports, this research can inform institutional and national policies and practices. The findings offer valuable insights that can assist decision-makers in optimizing resource allocation and improving support structures in the increasingly complex, commercialized, and politicized landscape of college athletics.

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