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INTERCOLLEGIATE ATHLETICS AND STUDENT COLLEGE CHOICE: Exploring the Impact of Championship Seasons on Undergraduate Applications.

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Bibliographic Details
Title: INTERCOLLEGIATE ATHLETICS AND STUDENT COLLEGE CHOICE: Exploring the Impact of Championship Seasons on Undergraduate Applications.
Authors: Toma, J. Douglas, Cross, Michael E.
Source: Research in Higher Education. Dec98, Vol. 39 Issue 6, p633-661. 29p.
Subject Terms: *College sports, *College students, *College attendance
Abstract: Among large universities, success in high-profile intercollegiate athletics appears to be one factor among several in the college choice process for aspiring undergraduates. Winning a national championship in one of the two most visible college sports — football and men's basketball — is routinely accompanied by significant positive attention for an institution. That attention appears to translate into increases in applications received for undergraduate admission in subsequent admissions cycles. We compared year-to-year and multiyear changes in the number of applications submitted following winning a national championship with changes in parallel sets of data from peer institutions that did not experience a championship, thereby isolating athletic success as a factor in the college choice process. We found that notable increases generally occurred in admissions applications received-both in absolute terms but more importantly relative to peer schools — in the years following the championship season. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
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Database: Education Research Complete
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Abstract:Among large universities, success in high-profile intercollegiate athletics appears to be one factor among several in the college choice process for aspiring undergraduates. Winning a national championship in one of the two most visible college sports — football and men's basketball — is routinely accompanied by significant positive attention for an institution. That attention appears to translate into increases in applications received for undergraduate admission in subsequent admissions cycles. We compared year-to-year and multiyear changes in the number of applications submitted following winning a national championship with changes in parallel sets of data from peer institutions that did not experience a championship, thereby isolating athletic success as a factor in the college choice process. We found that notable increases generally occurred in admissions applications received-both in absolute terms but more importantly relative to peer schools — in the years following the championship season. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
ISSN:03610365
DOI:10.1023/A:1018757807834