Reply to Friend just announced her junior DD has committed to play lax at a top school

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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]Can someone explain why colleges give lacrosse scholarships? Does lacrosse bring in money for a school? [/quote]

This is way more info than you probably want.

The only sports that bring in money based on ticket revenue are men's basketball and football.  There are probably a handful of women's basketball programs that bring in money (maybe UCONN or Tennesse because of their storied programs.)  All the other sports are typically losing money.

Title IX requires an equal number of women and men's sports.  So schools with football will typically have more women's teams.

Schools provide college sports for school pride - which does lead to some alumni giving.  I have also heard that schools use sports to lure students, the athlete.  So if you are a lacrosse player and want to play in college, you try to get into "big name college x."  That coach isn't interested in you but the coach from "small college y" is calling you.  You decide - they have the program I want to study and I can play lacrosse so now you are a college athlete at "small college y."  And "small college y" has your tuition money.  You have a positive experience, so you now become a loyal alumni donor.

And the term "scholarship" is mis-leading.  A lacrosse player is most likely only getting a small percentage scholarship.  And if you're at an Ivy League school (and several of the Patriot League schools), you're getting $0 athletic money - the Ivy League does not give any athletic money.

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DP here.  Actually is more of a forecasted business decision for universities.  University advancement offices are looking for ways to build lifelong financial commitments to their schools; what kind of student will become an alumna/us donor after they graduate, and become one that will consistently give year after year and give big money?  You aren't going to like this, but there are theories that the kind of students who play lacrosse come from backgrounds that emphasis team/school pride, will become more active alumnae/I after they graduate and will be more likely to donate money back in the future. Add to that, as lacrosse is an expensive sport to play and somewhat elitist, many lacrosse players come from wealthy backgrounds, meaning they are more likely to be wealthy themselves as adults.

I have been on a few charitable and school boards where these topics are heavily discussed.  Lacrosse doesn't bring in money.  You can't make a career after college of being a professional lacrosse player.  But that student who played lacrosse for your college team may end up working for a hedge fund or Big law down the road and be happy to make large annual donations back to the school.[/quote]

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