Academic Attainment of Division I Student-Athletes Who Compete as Postgraduates Division I Committee on Academics October 2015
Summary of Findings Growth in postgraduate population There has been an increase in the number of postgraduate students in Division I APR cohorts over the last seven years, especially in football and basketball. In 2007, postgraduates made up 1.4% of the Division I APR cohort. By 2014, it had increased to 2.0%. Football and M/W basketball have seen growth at a higher rate. Nearly 4% of all basketball and football studentathletes in the 2014 cohort were competing as postgraduates. Program enrollment 85% of all postgraduate student-athletes compete for their undergraduate institution. A majority of postgraduates (73%) are enrolled in graduate programs rather than post-baccalaureate programs. Page 2
Summary of Findings Academic Outcomes 62% of postgraduates enrolled in graduate programs at their undergraduate institution and 51% of graduate transfers earn a graduate degree within two years. Only 23% of student-athletes enrolled in a second baccalaureate degree program or major completed that degree. MFB and MBB postgraduates have the lowest overall rates of degree completion (38% and 35% respectively). Financial Aid Half of all postgraduates are offered some form of athletics aid to continue their studies after their eligibility has expired. Availability of aid varies by institution type, with schools in the five conferences with autonomous governance most likely to offer aid post-eligibility. Statistical models controlling for sport and institution type show that postgraduates who are offered athletic aid post-eligibility are more likely to complete their degree program than those who do not receive aid. Page 3
Number of Postgraduate Students
Number of Postgraduate Students in APR Cohort 2007-2014 (Sports w/ Most Postgraduates) 2007 2014 Postgraduates (%) Total in Cohort Postgraduates (%) Total in Cohort All Division I 1,330 (1.4%) 98,331 2,185 (2.0%) 105,646 Baseball 77 (0.9%) 8,205 80 (1.1%) 7,575 Men s Basketball 90 (2.1%) 4,365 173 (3.8%) 4,575 Football 384 (2.0%) 19,586 803 (3.8%) 21,332 Men s Track & XC 120 (1.9%) 6,357 179 (2.5%) 7,209 Women s Basketball 91 (1.9%) 4,722 168 (3.5%) 4,831 Women s Soccer 55 (0.8%) 6,658 77 (1.0%) 7,735 Women s Track & XC 171 (2.2%) 7,900 242 (2.6%) 9,337 Women s Volleyball 36 (1.0%) 3,779 68 (1.7%) 4,071 Page 5
Number of Postgraduates in APR Cohort (Men s Sports) 2007 2014 Postgrads (%) Total in Cohort Postgrads (%) Total in Cohort Baseball 77 (0.9%) 8,205 80 (1.1%) 7,575 Basketball 90 (2.1%) 4,365 173 (3.8%) 4,575 Football 384 (2.0%) 19,586 803 (3.8%) 21,332 Fencing 1 (0.6%) 178 3 (1.7%) 173 Golf 24 (1.0%) 2,438 25 (1.0%) 2517 Gymnastics 0 (0.0%) 197 2 (1.0%) 203 Ice Hockey 21 (1.6%) 1,335 14 (1.0%) 1,357 Lacrosse 6 (0.4%) 1,620 21 (1.0%) 2,129 Skiing 1 (0.8%) 123 1 (0.9%) 114 Soccer 37 (1.0%) 3,775 48 (1.2%) 3,980 Swimming 16 (0.6%) 2,548 11 (0.4%) 2,703 Tennis 27 (1.3%) 2,033 19 (0.9%) 2,204 Track & XC 120 (1.9%) 6,357 179 (2.5%) 7,209 Volleyball 1 (0.3%) 287 8 (3.0%) 270 Water Polo 1 (0.4%) 255 0 (0.0%) 299 Wrestling 18 (1.1%) 1,640 31 (1.9%) 1,671 Page 6
Number of Postgraduates in APR Cohort (Women s Sports) 2007 2014 Postgrads (%) Total in Cohort Postgrads (%) Total in Cohort Basketball 91 (1.9%) 4,722 168 (3.5%) 4,831 Bowling 2 (1.2%) 172 7 (2.8%) 249 Crew 7 (0.4%) 1,879 21 (0.9%) 2,350 Fencing 2 (1.0%) 191 2 (1.0%) 195 Field Hockey 13 (0.9%) 1,390 17 (1.1%) 1,481 Golf 15 (0.8%) 1,784 22 (1.1%) 2,000 Gymnastics 11 (1.3%) 853 7 (0.8%) 826 Ice Hockey 3 (0.5%) 651 6 (0.8%) 715 Lacrosse 7 (0.4%) 1,719 23 (0.9%) 2,609 Softball 33 (0.7%) 4,725 54 (1.0%) 5,387 Skiing 2 (1.7%) 120 0 (0.0%) 124 Soccer 55 (0.8%) 6,658 77 (1.0%) 7,735 Swimming 17 (0.4%) 3,866 25 (0.6%) 4,407 Tennis 38 (1.6%) 2,352 24 (0.9%) 2,529 Track & XC 171 (2.2%) 7,900 242 (2.6%) 9,337 Volleyball 36 (1.0%) 3,779 68 (1.7%) 4,071 Water Polo 2 (0.5%) 441 3 (0.7%) 459 Page 7
Change in % of Postgraduate Students in APR Cohort (2007-2014, By Sport) 4.0% 3.8% 3.5% 3.8% 3.5% 3.0% 2.5% 2.0% 1.5% 2.1% 2.0% 1.9% 2.0% 1.0% 1.4% 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 Men's Basketball Football Women's Basketball All Sports Page 8
Change in Number of Postgraduate Students in Football (2007-2014) 900 800 803 700 600 500 400 2.0% of cohort 513 492 560 558 613 749 3.8% of cohort 300 384 200 100 0 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 Page 9
Change in Number of Postgraduate Students in Selected Men s Sports (2007-2014) 200 180 160 Track & Cross Country 156 159 169 179 179 148 173 140 120 100 120 90 125 95 130 86 100 108 127 Basketball Baseball 80 60 77 84 66 87 91 83 91 80 40 20 0 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 Page 10
Change in Number of Postgraduate Students in Selected Women s Sports (2007-2014) 250 242 200 150 Track & Cross Country 178 171 154 Basketball 185 197 197 138 211 146 168 100 50 109 91 71 55 36 39 79 43 65 109 71 39 116 49 51 61 43 82 57 Soccer 77 68 Volleyball 0 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 Page 11
Study: Academic Outcomes for Division I Postgraduate Student- Athletes
Methods
Study of Division I Postgraduates Using the 2012-13 and 2013-14 APR cohorts, NCAA research staff identified 3,942 student-athletes attending 331 Division I institutions who had received an undergraduate degree and continued to compete as postgraduates. To understand these postgraduates enrollment patterns and eventual academic outcomes a survey was sent to compliance directors of all 331 campuses requesting information about each postgraduate, including: -Program type (post-baccalaureate, graduate) -Length of program -Outcome (completed, still enrolled, withdrew) -Time of withdrawal (if applicable) -Whether athletic aid was offered post-eligibility Responses were received from 296 (89%) of the campuses. This yielded two-year academic outcome information for nearly 3,500 postgraduate student-athletes. Page 14
Postgraduate Study Survey Response % Schools Responding to Survey Average Number of Postgraduates per School All DI institutions with competing graduates 89% 12 Autonomous Governance Only 89% 20 Other FBS 88% 16 FCS 88% 10 Division I (no FB) 96% 7 Limited Resource Institutions 84% 8 HBCUs 70% 9 Page 15
Sports of Postgraduate Student-Athletes Compared to Overall Division I Population 40% 35% 30% 25% 20% 15% 10% 5% 0% 36% 16% 10% 7% 7% 8% 7% 6% 6% 5% 4% 4% 3% 3% 3% 3% MFB WTO MTO MBA WSO MBB WBB WVB Overall DI Participation Post-Graduates Page 16
Postgraduate Program Type and Length
Academic Programs of Postgraduates 85% of postgraduates remain at their undergraduate institution. A majority of postgraduates (73%) enroll in graduate programs or courses. Program Type Sample N (2 Cohorts) % of Postgraduate Enrollment Estimated Number per Year Post-baccalaureate, general coursework Post-baccalaureate, second degree or second major 288 8% 162 623 18% 350 Post-baccalaureate, minor 10 <1% 6 Graduate student (same institution) 2,005 58% 1,126 Graduate transfer 526 15% 296 Page 18
Academic Programs Postgraduates (Football) 90% of football postgraduates remain at their undergraduate institution. 62% of football postgraduates enroll in graduate programs or courses. Program Type Sample N (2 Cohorts) % of Postgraduate Enrollment Estimated Number per Year Post-baccalaureate, general coursework Post-baccalaureate, second degree or second major 170 14% 96 296 24% 166 Post-baccalaureate, minor 0 <1% <1 Graduate student (same institution) 634 52% 356 Graduate transfer 117 10% 66 Page 19
Academic Programs Postgraduates (Men s Basketball) 32% of men s basketball postgraduates are graduate transfers (vs. 15% across all sports). Program Type Sample N (2 Cohorts) % of Postgraduate Enrollment Estimated Number per Year Post-baccalaureate, general coursework Post-baccalaureate, second degree or second major 16 6% 9 47 17% 26 Post-baccalaureate, minor 1 0.4% <1 Graduate student (same institution) 121 45% 68 Graduate transfer 86 32% 45 Page 20
Postgraduate Program Distribution within Schools 190 institutions (64%) had at least three-quarters of their postgraduates enrolled in graduate programs. 116 institutions (39%) enrolled postgraduates into graduate programs only. 5 institutions (2%) enrolled postgraduates into postbaccalaureate programs only. Post-graduates at schools in the five conferences with autonomous governance were 3x more likely to be enrolled in general undergraduate coursework (non-degree programs) than postgraduates at other schools (15% vs. 5%). Page 21
Academic Outcomes for Postgraduates
Completion Status by Degree Program 100% 80% 60% 40% 20% 0% 26% 39% 77% 12% 10% 62% 51% 23% Graduate student (same institution) Graduate transfer Post-baccalaureate (2nd major/degree or minor) Withdrew Still enrolled Graduated Note: Completion status after at least 4 semesters for 2012-13 and 2013-14 cohorts (assessed summer 2015). Page 23
Program Completion Status (Men s Sports) 100% 80% 13% 25% 25% 30% 29% 20% 36% 36% 28% 30% 42% 55% 56% 8% 60% 8% 11% 9% 11% 20% 5% 7% 16% 17% 9% 40% 7% 9% 20% 0% 79% 67% 65% 61% 61% 60% 59% 58% 56% 52% 49% 38% 35% MLA MGO MTO MIH MWR MTE MTI MSO MSW MCC MBA MFB MBB Did not complete Still enrolled Graduated Note: Two-year outcomes for postgraduates pursuing a graduate degree or second major/degree/minor. Does not include postgraduates taking general undergraduate coursework. Only sports w/ 20 or more postgraduates displayed. MBA=baseball, MBB=men s basketball. Page 27
Program Completion Status (Women s Sports) 100% 80% 60% 8% 9% 15% 13% 16% 18% 17% 24% 25% 26% 34% 9% 3% 6% 6% 6% 10% 8% 13% 16% 12% 40% 20% 0% 92% 82% 82% 81% 78% 77% 72% 68% 62% 58% 53% WFH WTE WCR WSW WVB WLA WGO WSB WSO WTO WBB Did not complete Still enrolled Graduated Note: Two-year outcomes for postgraduates pursuing a graduate degree or second major/degree/minor. Does not include postgraduates taking general undergraduate coursework. Only sports w/ 20 or more postgraduates displayed. Page 28
Academic Outcomes of Postgraduates in Football by Program Type Program Type Credits Enrolled, Term 1 (mean) Credits Earned, Term 1 (mean) Percent Graduated Post-baccalaureate, general coursework Post-baccalaureate, second degree or second major Graduate student (same institution) 11.8 9.3 -- 12.2 9.4 15% 10.7 10.0 50% Graduate transfer 9.6 7.1 28% Note: Graduation status after at least 4 semesters for 2012-13 and 2013-14 cohorts (assessed summer 2015). Page 32
Academic Outcomes of Postgraduates in Men s Basketball by Program Type Program Type Post-baccalaureate, general coursework Post-baccalaureate, second degree or second major Graduate student (same institution) Credits Enrolled, Term 1 (mean) Credits Earned, Term 1 (mean) Percent Graduated 11.5 9.7 -- 10.6 10.1 13% 9.8 9.1 43% Graduate transfer 11.5 9.7 34% Note: Graduation status after at least 4 semesters for 2012-13 and 2013-14 cohorts (assessed summer 2015). Page 35
Availability of Financial Aid Post-Eligibility
Availability of Athletic Aid for Postgraduates After Completion of Athletics Eligibility Aid Available Autonomous Governance Other FBS FCS Graduate Students Division I No Football Limited Resource Institutions 68% 55% 46% 60% 45% No Aid 32% 45% 54% 40% 55% Aid Available Graduate Transfers 74% 55% 52% 61% 37% No Aid 26% 45% 48% 39% 63% Aid Available Second Major/Degree 49% 45% 47% 42% 31% No Aid 51% 55% 53% 58% 69% Page 37