Academic Achievement of Student-Athletes

The purpose of the researcher was to investigate the cumulative grade point averages of student-athletes. The independent variables investigated were gender, academic classification, type of sport participation, and transfer status. The dependent variable was cumulative grade point average. A total of 4 composite null hypotheses were tested. Each composite null hypothesis was tested at the .05 level employing a three-way analysis of variance. Eleven comparisons plus 13 recurring were made. Of 11 comparisons 4 were main effects and 7 were interactions. Of the 4 main effects 3 were statistically significant at the .05 level. Of the 7 interactions 1 was statistically significant at the .05 level. The statistically significant interaction was between the independent variables gender and transfer status. The results of the present study appeared to support the following generalizations: 1. Female athletes had higher academic achievement than male athletes, 2. Student-athletes participating in non-revenue sports had higher academic achievement than student-athletes participating in revenue sports, 3. Native student-athletes had higher academic achievement than non-native student-athletes, 4. There was no association found between classification of student-athletes and cumulative grade point average, 5. No association between type of sport participation of student-athletes, and 6. Gender and transfer status interacted.