College Sport Participation and Student Educational Experiences and Selected College Outcomes

Using data from a random sample of first-year students in the 2009 National Survey of Student Engagement (NSSE), we compared engagement in educationally purposeful activities in college, a set of educational outcomes, and the relationship between student engagement and educational outcomes for nonathletes and student-athletes participating in low- and high profile sports. Findings indicate that nonathletes and student athletes participating in low- and high-profile sports report similar levels of engagement in various academic areas. However, high-profile student-athletes face additional challenges to achieving educational outcomes to the level of nonathletes and low-profile student-athletes, and benefit differently from the engagement.