Colleges and universities nationwide have become deeply concerned over the growing number of crimes being committed by their student athletes.

In a four-month study, USA Today delved into the issue to determine how widespread the problem is and what schools are doing about it.

• Among the 112 schools in the NCAA Division I-A, at least 175 athletes were arrested for a variety of crimes in the past year -- the largest number for assault, sexual assault or some other alleged act of violence.

• At 25 of the nation's top football schools, more than 70 athletes had brushes with the law.

• Out of 82 I-A schools responding the survey, only 30 have formal policies on how to deal with athletes accused of committing crimes.

• A separate study found that in 10 Division I schools, athletes -- who made up only 3.3 percent of the male student population -- were the "reported perpetrators" in 19 percent of sexual assault cases and comprised 35 percent of reported batterers.

In addition to assaults and acts of violence, the athletes have been charged with such offenses as theft and credit card fraud, DWI and other driving violations, drug use and possession, and weapons and burglary charges.

The NCAA rulebook -- which regulates everything from tobacco use to the color of recruiting brochures -- only says that an institution may cancel or reduce the financial aid of a student-athlete who is found to have engaged in misconduct by the university's regular student disciplinary authority.