Does starting a Division III college football program benefit the institution?

B-Tier
Journal: Economics of Education Review
Year: 2025
Volume: 104
Issue: C

Score contribution per author:

2.011 = (α=2.01 / 1 authors) × 1.0x B-tier

α: calibrated so average coauthorship-adjusted count equals average raw count

Abstract

I ask whether the addition of a college football team playing at the Division III level effects three dimensions to an institution’s success: enrollment, gender balance, and endowment. I consider all higher education institutions in the U.S. which compete in Division III athletics and evaluate the impact of adding college football. I find that the overall effect on undergraduate enrollment is statistically indistinguishable from zero. Further, I show that the proportion of the student body who are women falls. Finally, I are unable to provide evidence that the drawing of the endowments prior to football’s adoption slowed.

Technical Details

RePEc Handle
repec:eee:ecoedu:v:104:y:2025:i:c:s0272775725000019
Journal Field
Education
Author Count
1
Added to Database
2026-01-26