BIPP Spring Survey Topline Results - College Athletics
Survey
Jun. 2021
Sample Size:
1,000
Demographics:
US adults
Topics:
Accountability
Affordability
Equity
Top Findings:
- While 60 percent of the public supported athletes being able to make money by selling or endorsing products with their own image or likeness, only 26 percent supported paying college athletes directly from university funds, with 45 percent opposed.
- Both college sports fans and non-sports fans were in agreement on their support for athletes making money from their own image or likeness — at 62 percent and 59 percent respectively — but there were differences by political affiliation, with 69 percent of Democrats and 61 percent of independents supporting the idea, compared with 42 percent of Republicans. Both fans and non-fans were equally opposed to paying college athletes directly from university funds at 43 percent and 45 percent respectively, with 61 percent of Republicans opposing it, compared to 33 percent of Democrats.
- Respondents were more favorable to the idea of giving college athletes a share of the money made for the university by their sport, with 47 percent in favor and 29 percent opposed. Half of the college sports fans and 46 percent of the non-fans supported the idea, but there was a sharp political divide, with 60 percent of Democrats in support, but just 27 percent of Republicans.
- The survey results also found universal opposition to allowing colleges to offer cash payments to high school athletes in recruiting them to play at their college, with 58 percent of all respondents opposed to the idea. There was also opposition among all demographic groups to allowing university donors or others to pay for college athletes if they so choose, with 40 percent opposing the idea overall.
- There was 40 percent support overall for providing lifetime health benefits to athletes who play sports with a high risk of injury, compared to 32 percent who oppose. While college sports fans and non-fans both supported that idea at 39 percent and 41 percent respectively, the nation was divided on it politically, with 53 percent of Democrats supporting it, compared to 18 percent of Republicans. Independents were split down the middle with an equal 36 percent in support and opposed respectively.