Executive Summary – Benefits of Collegiate Esports Study (PDF)

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This study was commissioned at the direction of VOICE’s Presidents Advisory Council.

Overview‍

This study examined the educational value and institutional impact of collegiate esports through an IRB-approved, mixed-method analysis of 12 university esports programs. Data collection methods included surveys from 12 collegiate esports program directors, 14 collegiate esports staff members, and 252 collegiate esports players, alongside institutional records and rosters totaling 598 collegiate esports players. Who participates in collegiate varsity esports, why they engage, and what benefits or challenges these programs confer were investigated. A critical dialectical approach considers both positive outcomes and limitations. Overall, this exploratory study, which is the largest study conducted on collegiate esports to date, is intended to serve as a foundational step toward future collegiate esports studies and benefits of esports research, in preparation for larger-scale subsequent investigations.

Study Methods Overview

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Full Methodology and Results

‍This Executive Summary is a companion to VOICE’s Full Methodology & Results report, which provides the anonymized tables, figures, and complete methods.

Forthcoming Academic Publication

‍A forthcoming academic publication that includes interpretation and discussion surrounding this study’s findings will be published in an academic journal. A link to this academic paper will be posted to the VOICE website after publication.

Contributors

• Primary Investigator/Lead Researcher: Seth E. Jenny
• Statistician: David P. Schary
• Conception and Design of the Study: Seth E. Jenny, Jesse Bodony, and Russell Hamer
• Data Collection: Seth E. Jenny and Joshua Riesenberg
• Data Analysis and Results: Seth E. Jenny and David P. Schary
• Report Authorship: Seth E. Jenny, David P. Schary, Jesse Bodony, and Russell Hamer

Recommended Citation

Jenny, S. E., Schary, D. P., Bodony, J., & Hamer, R. (2025). Benefits of Collegiate Esports Study: Executive Summary. Voice of Intercollegiate Esports (VOICE). https://www.voicecollegiate.org/blog-posts/executive-summary-benefits-of-collegiate-esports-study

Use the download button to access the Executive Summary (PDF), and see the linked post for the Full Methodology & Results (PDF).