Academic performance and salary expectations of couch potatoes, recreational and elite athletes

Abstract Using a large sample with detailed information on some 4700 students attending 24 German universities and colleges of applied sciences, we answer three different, yet closely related research questions: First, do university grades vary between couch potatoes, recreational athletes and elite athletes? Second, does the time required to complete the respective academic degree differ between these three groups of students? Third, do salary expectations differ between these three types of students? Our regression results show that elite athletes perform significantly better in terms of their grades, need significantly more time to complete their respective degree and expect significantly higher starting salaries than couch potatoes and recreational athletes. Our findings are compatible with a simple time allocation model as well as human capital and signaling theory.