A Study of NCAA Student-Athletes: Undergraduate Experiences and Post-College Outcomes
Learn about the long-term outcomes of NCAA student-athletes who graduated from college between 1975 and 2019.
This study, conducted by Gallup on behalf of the NCAA and based on surveys with a nationally representative sample of 74,385 U.S. adults with a bachelor's degree, finds that college graduates who participated in NCAA athletics experience a host of positive long-term life outcomes at greater rates than non-athletes.
The study sought to delve deeply into the long-term experiences of U.S. college athletes, looking specifically at patterns across decades, NCAA membership divisions and a variety of athlete characteristics including gender, race/ethnicity, first-generation and transfer status.
Download A Study of NCAA Student-Athletes to learn about student-athlete outcomes related to:
- Wellbeing
- Undergraduate education experiences
- Attachment to alma mater
- Perceptions of educational value
- Postgraduation and employment
24% of NCAA student-athletes who graduated from 1990-2019 are thriving at the highest levels, compared with non-athletes (19%).
35% of NCAA student-athletes strongly agree their professors cared about them as a person, compared with non-athletes (28%).
39% of NCAA student-athletes earn an advanced degree, compared with non-athletes (32%).