Abstract
Student retention has been one of the more researched topics in the study of American higher education over the past 20 years (Braxton, Hirschy, & McClendon, 2004; Pascarella & Terenzini, 2005). Very little of this research, however, has attempted to examine the impact of college athletics on an institution's ability to retain students. This study examined the relationship between institutional support of college football (as measured by attendance at home football games) and freshmen retention at NCAA Division 1A and 1AA colleges and universities. Findings indicated that, after controlling for various factors associated with student retention, attendance at home football games was positively and significantly related to an institution's freshmen retention rate. Football game attendance was more significant, however, at Division 1A institutions as compared to Division 1AA institutions.
