Determinants of Sports-Related Bachelor's Degrees at Power Five Institutions: Evidence of Prestige?

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Abstract

Despite a longstanding connection between sport/physical activity and higher education, tensions persist within the American academy, particularly at Power Five institutions in the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA). These tensions are especially evident in the curricular landscape of sports-related academic programs. We investigated characteristics of Power Five (N = 65) institutions and their connections with whether the institutions awarded sports-related bachelor’s degrees in the 2022-2023 academic year. Logistic regression indicates institutions with higher prestige— associated with higher Peer Assessment Scores—were less likely to award sports-related bachelor degrees. Additionally, private institutions and those in the West/Pac-12 were significantly less likely to award such degrees in 2022-2023.

Author

• Molly P. Harry, University of Florida