This study was an investigation of academic outcomes for student athletes who did or did not participate in an athlete-specific freshman Summer Bridge program in a private Division I university in the western United States. Analysis of data across five years yielded results regarding fall, winter, and cumulative GPA; and progress toward degree for special admit and general admit student athletes. Data indicate significant differences between groups in terms of GPA and progress toward degree for the first year. However, there were no significant main interaction between time and group as measured by differential slopes over time according to group membership in terms of semester GPA. The discussion includes application for practice and further research.

This study investigated the academic progress of special admit football players compared to general admit football players at a private, Division I university in the western United States. Using mixed methods, the researcher quantitatively compared the two groups in terms of credits enrolled, credits attained, GPA and progress toward degree. The researcher also interviewed special admit football players to determine their perceptions of academic support service. Data answer the quantitative and qualitative study questions. Most notably, the researcher found that, while general admit football players had higher GPAs than the special admit athletes, the special admit athletes experienced the same amount of progress toward degree as their regular admit teammates. Furthermore, participant interviews revealed that athletes most value the learning specialists and tutors within the university’s support service framework Discussion includes implications for practice.