Each year, Return on Athletics® (ROA) captures data from across the organization to track what’s trending across NAIA athletics and how those trends can be used by institutions to make decisions. From emerging sports to the amount of financial aid awarded, sports expenses, and net return, these trends are the benchmarks NAIA institutions can use to evaluate what’s working and what can be improved.
See the 2026 Trends Report
The latest report evaluates data from the 2024-2025 enrollment year, comparing numbers to previous years to see how college athletics are making an impact. When it comes to enrollment, retention, expenses, net return on athletics, and more, these trends give decision makers a data-driven look at where the industry stands today and how their numbers compare.
Use the report to evaluate enrollment and retention, benchmark key metrics, identify areas of opportunity, and make informed decisions that can help your institution stand out in an increasingly competitive landscape.
2025-2026 ROA Year-End Reports are due December 1, 2026.
See Related: What is Return on Athletics?
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