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

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  • McCannon, Bryan C.

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.

Suggested Citation

  • McCannon, Bryan C., 2025. "Does starting a Division III college football program benefit the institution?," Economics of Education Review, Elsevier, vol. 104(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:ecoedu:v:104:y:2025:i:c:s0272775725000019
    DOI: 10.1016/j.econedurev.2025.102621
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    NCAA Division III; Endowment; Enrollment; Football; Gender; Higher education;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • I23 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Education - - - Higher Education; Research Institutions
    • Z20 - Other Special Topics - - Sports Economics - - - General

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