Every college hopes for conference titles, national rankings, and a packed trophy case. But how much does competitive success actually cost?
There’s a surprising link between athletics spending and success in the NAIA. Is spending more on college sports a guaranteed ticket to the winner’s circle?
New research from the NAIA’s Return on Athletics (ROA) initiative dives into those exact questions, examining the relationship between total athletics spending, everything from coaching salaries to financial aid, and on-field success. Spoiler alert: the results show a strong connection between investment and outcomes, but the story is more nuanced than “spend more, win more.”
Explore more data findings and their implications for colleges seeking to balance budgets while adding to the trophy case in college sports programs.
See related: Five Practical Steps to Foster a Positive Mental Health Culture on Your Team
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 […]
Tuva Hammarlund chose a university she had never visited. Josiah Winans returned to football after two season-ending injuries, unsure whether anyone would see beyond his visual impairment. Henry Ngang arrived on campus five days after ACL surgery, wearing a brace, walking on crutches and wondering what his future would hold. Not exactly the easiest first-day-of-college […]
Return on Athletics® (ROA) is a free NAIA member resource that helps institutions make more informed, data-driven decisions about their athletics programs. By bringing together institution-, sport-, and student-level data, ROA provides insights into enrollment, retention, financial aid, and athletics finances, enabling campus leaders to evaluate performance, identify opportunities, and strengthen long-term financial sustainability. How […]
FROM THE PRESIDENT The Protect College Sports Act (PCSA) was introduced in May 2026 to establish guardrails for Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) rights, transfers, and media rights. With the SCORE Act stalled in the House, the PCSA is currently the leading bill on collegiate athletics reform. While the focus of this bill is primarily on NCAA […]