Why College Graduation Matters for Student-Athletes, Especially Female Athletes

A recent poll underscores the significance of college education for most teenagers, with young women, particularly student-athletes, emphasizing its importance as a pathway to achieving both career and athletic goals.

According to the AP-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research, over 60% of teens view graduating from college as essential, with female athletes leading the charge. College is not just seen as a stepping stone to a job—it’s also viewed as a critical part of personal growth, identity development, and becoming an informed member of society.

For high school athletes like Ry-n Uyeda, a 17-year-old softball player from Waianae, Hawaii, college represents more than just sports. It’s a chance to hone academic skills while balancing the demands of being a student-athlete. Ry-n, who is already taking college-level courses, hopes to play softball at a university on the West Coast but is also focused on developing time management skills to handle both academics and athletics. “I want to remember where I came from and the values that I’ve learned from here,” she shares. Her ambition isn’t just to succeed in college sports—it’s to become the best version of herself both as an athlete and as a person.

The desire for a college education extends beyond career prospects. For student-athletes like Ry-n, it’s about refining the skills they need to excel in both their sport and their studies. In fact, Ry-n’s goals resonate with many other student-athletes, especially girls, who see college as the key to unlocking their full potential. Seventy percent of teenage girls, compared to 54% of boys, say graduating from college is extremely important for their future.

The survey also shows that teens from higher-income backgrounds or with parents who attended college are more likely to view higher education as an essential part of their future. Like many student-athletes, Ry-n dreams of succeeding on the field and in the classroom, using college as a platform to build a successful future in both academics and athletics.