ERIC Number: ED624195
Record Type: Non-Journal
Publication Date: 2022-Sep
Pages: N/A
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: N/A
EISSN: N/A
College Consumption Amenities, Academic Performance, and Donation Behavior. Working Paper 30481
Hyman, Joshua M.; McFarlin, Isaac, Jr.
National Bureau of Economic Research
Colleges compete to attract students by investing in amenities such as athletics, dormitories, and student activities. We examine the effect of student consumption of postsecondary amenities on academic achievement and future donation behavior in the context of Big-Time college sports. We resolve the selection issue using data from a large, public university with a highly-ranked men's basketball team, where student season tickets are awarded by lottery. Game attendance has small negative effects on academic performance but no impact on donation behavior. Negative academic effects are concentrated at the bottom of the achievement distribution and driven by in-state students and students attending during seasons when the team reaches the postseason tournament. We uncover no evidence of spillover effects to roommates. Our results suggest that certain postsecondary amenities may hinder academic performance, with little upside from future giving.
Descriptors: Student Recruitment, Competition, Postsecondary Education, College Students, Academic Achievement, Donors, College Athletics, Public Colleges, Team Sports, Student Characteristics
National Bureau of Economic Research. 1050 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge, MA 02138-5398. Tel: 617-588-0343; Web site: http://www.nber.org
Publication Type: Reports - Research
Education Level: Postsecondary Education; Higher Education
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Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER)
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A