The Impact of College Sports Success on the Quantity and Quality of Student Applications

45 Pages Posted: 1 Oct 2008

See all articles by Devin G. Pope

Devin G. Pope

University of Chicago - Booth School of Business

Jaren C. Pope

Virginia Tech

Date Written: January 30, 2008

Abstract

Empirical studies have produced mixed results on the relationship between a school's sports success and the quantity and quality of students that apply to the school. This study uses two unique datasets to shed additional light on the indirect benefits that sports success provides to NCAA Division I schools. Key findings include: (i) football and basketball success significantly increase the quantity of applications to a school, with estimates ranging from 2-8% for the top 20 football schools and the top 16 basketball schools each year, (ii) private schools see increases in application rates after sports success that are 2-4 times higher than public schools, (iii) the extra applications received are composed of both low and high SAT scoring students thus providing potential for schools to improve their admission outcomes, and (iv) schools appear to exploit these increases in applications by improving both the number and the quality of incoming students.

Keywords: School choice, Student quality, College sports

JEL Classification: D010, I230, J240

Suggested Citation

Pope, Devin G. and Pope, Jaren C., The Impact of College Sports Success on the Quantity and Quality of Student Applications (January 30, 2008). Southern Economic Journal, Forthcoming, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=1275853

Devin G. Pope

University of Chicago - Booth School of Business ( email )

5807 S. Woodlawn Avenue
Chicago, IL 60637
United States

Jaren C. Pope (Contact Author)

Virginia Tech ( email )

250 Drillfield Drive
Blacksburg, VA 24061
United States

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