The Effects of Higher Admission Standards on NCAA Student-Athletes: An Analysis of Proposition 16

Joshua A. Price
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Joshua A. Price: Cornell University, Ithaca, New York, josh.price@cornell.edu

Journal of Sports Economics, 2010, vol. 11, issue 4, 363-382

Abstract: This study examines the effect of an increase in minimum admissions standards on college enrollment and graduation rates of student-athletes. In 1996, the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) enacted Proposition 16, which increased admission standards for freshmen student-athletes at Division I schools, in an effort to improve graduation rates. Results indicate that Proposition 16 increased graduation rates significantly for Black student-athletes, and had no significant impact on graduation rates for White student-athletes. Results also indicate that graduation rates declined for Black student-athletes at Division II schools, which may have been driven by students transferring to Division I. As a result of the higher admission standards, Division I schools changed recruiting patterns and relied less on freshmen student-athletes, particularly Black student-athletes, to fill scholarships. Even though fewer Black freshmen student-athletes enrolled in Division I schools, the overall number of Black student-athletes did not change, suggesting that a greater proportion of transfer students into Division I schools were Black.

Keywords: NCAA; eligibility requirements; enrollment; graduation; Proposition 16 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2010
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:sae:jospec:v:11:y:2010:i:4:p:363-382

DOI: 10.1177/1527002509347989

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