LAWRENCE, Kan. (June 17, 2012)—A newspaper’s analysis of Big 12 athletics finds its commonplace for athletes to cluster in majors.

The Lawrence Journal-World reported that the most popular majors for University of Kansas men's basketball players are communications, African and African-American studies, and American studies. Sixty-one percent of the 43 players who've indicated a major in media guides majored in one of the three from 2004 to 2012.

Elsewhere, 51 percent of Baylor football players majored in general studies, while 37 percent of men's basketball and football players at Texas A&M studied agricultural leadership and development.

At Iowa State, seven of 11 men's basketball players majored in liberal studies.

Clustering isn't against NCAA regulations, but experts say problems occur when students are pushed into programs that don't interest them because they have easier-to-meet requirements.