According to the National Center for Educational Statistics, the annual growth rate of 5.6% that occurred from 1963 to 1980 has slowed to a projected 1.25% growth for 2010 to 2021. For small schools that rely heavily on enrollment as a revenue source, this statistic is particularly frightening, and a 2015 Moody’s Investor Service report predicted that the closure rates of small colleges and universities will triple in the coming years.
One possibility is establishing or expanding its athletics program. Research has shown that athletics is one of the top three considerations, along with academics and campus-related influences, in impacting the enrollment choice of small-college student athletes. (Goss, Jubenville, & Orejan, 2006) Additional scholarship opportunities don’t hurt either. A study showed that as the amount of financial aid offered was increased by $1,000, the probability of the given student enrolling increased between 1.1% and 2%. (Braunstein et al., 1999).
The percentage of student-athletes at colleges is growing. The number of colleges where at least 33 percent of the students played a sport increased from 96 to 124 between 2006 and 2011, according to an Associated Press report. When a prospective student is deciding between multiple institutions, the range of available sports can make the difference.
Tuva Hammarlund chose a university she had never visited. Josiah Winans returned to football after two season-ending injuries, unsure whether anyone would see beyond his visual impairment. Henry Ngang arrived on campus five days after ACL surgery, wearing a brace, walking on crutches and wondering what his future would hold. Not exactly the easiest first-day-of-college […]
Return on Athletics® (ROA) is a free NAIA member resource that helps institutions make more informed, data-driven decisions about their athletics programs. By bringing together institution-, sport-, and student-level data, ROA provides insights into enrollment, retention, financial aid, and athletics finances, enabling campus leaders to evaluate performance, identify opportunities, and strengthen long-term financial sustainability. How […]
FROM THE PRESIDENT The Protect College Sports Act (PCSA) was introduced in May 2026 to establish guardrails for Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) rights, transfers, and media rights. With the SCORE Act stalled in the House, the PCSA is currently the leading bill on collegiate athletics reform. While the focus of this bill is primarily on NCAA […]
It didn’t happen the same way for both of them. It didn’t look the same. It didn’t feel the same. But somehow, it led them to the same place. For Joslyn Bricker, it started with a phone call, one conversation, unexpected, honest, and impossible to ignore. A future teammate from a Division I women’s basketball […]