May 2013

52% Say Big-Time College Athletics Corrupt Education Process

Half of Americans believe major college sports programs are bad for higher education and break the rules on a regular basis when recruiting. A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 52% of American Adults think big-time college sports programs corrupt the process of higher education.  Twenty-one percent (21%) disagree, while 27% are not sure.  (To see survey question wording, click here.) 

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The national survey of 1,000 Adults was conducted on May 13, 2013 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 3 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. Field work for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC. See methodology. 

50% Say Star College Athletes Deserve Royalties

A ruling is expected next month on a suit filed by a former college basketball star claiming that the NCAA should not profit from using the names and images of athletes without paying them, and 50% of Americans agree. But most Americans continue to think it’s unfair for top athletes to be accepted to colleges over more qualified students.

The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey shows that 50% of Adults believe top college athletes deserve royalties when the NCAA profits from using their names and images. Thirty percent (30%) don’t think those athletes deserve royalties, while 19% more are undecided. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

(Want a free daily e-mail update? If it's in the news, it's in our polls).  Rasmussen Reports updates are also available on Twitter or Facebook.

The national survey of 1,000 Adults was conducted on May 13, 2013 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 3 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. Field work for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC. See methodology. 

57% Think College Coaches Shouldn’t Be Paid More Than Professors

Americans strongly believe the average major college football coach is paid too much and shouldn't make more than the school’s professors.  The average annual salary for football head coaches at major colleges is $1.64 million, but only 16% of American Adults think that is about right, according to a new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey. Seventy-three percent (73%) believe it is too much, while two percent (2%) feel these coaches are paid too little. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

The national survey of 1,000 Adults was conducted on May 13, 2013 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 3 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. Field work for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC. See methodology.