As of last December there were 435,767 student athletes enrolled in United States colleges (Division III Facts and Figures 2011). Every single one of them, whether they are at the Division I or Division III level, must meet a set of academic standards in order to maintain their eligibility. First they must pass various entry level requirements, such as completing certain courses in high school, and having an appropriate SAT or ACT score. Then, for the duration of their college career, they must continue to meet several regulations.  For example, the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Eligibility Center requires that Division I athletes complete a minimum of forty percent of their degree by year two, sixty percent by year three, and eighty percent by year four (they have five years to complete the degree) (Remaining Eligible 2011). Yet, despite the rules set by the Eligibility Center to ensure that college athletes work towards a degree, the media often represents them as being unintellectual. This portrayal influences society to believe that athletes are expected to have a lower academic standing (White 2008). Texts such as “The Blind Side”, “Coach Carter” and “One Tree Hill” all reinforce this view. Through examining various sources of media, and by comparing their depictions to actual statistics regarding college athletes, the reality that student athletes typically meet or surpass academic expectations in college can be explored.