When it comes to college sports, there is a huge divide between the haves and the have-nots, and the former get to spend a lot more on their teams.
Previously, we looked at the 23 schools with the highest college sports revenues. Below, we look at the schools that spend the most and how that money is allocated.
We used data made available by the US Department of Education and calculated the average total expenses for athletic programs over the three most recent years available, 2020 through 2022. Major costs include operating expenses, such as hosting a sporting event, salaries for coaches and support staff, recruiting, and facility improvements.
The most expensive program on campus is typically the football team, where schools make a lot of money off TV contracts and pump a lot of back into coaches and facilities, hoping to lure the top players. As a result, there is a huge economic divide between the men's and women's sports teams.
Of the 22 schools listed below, the average school spends $142 million on their sports teams. Nearly half, or about $65 million, is spent on men's teams, almost three times the $23 million on women's teams. The rest goes to non-gender-specific operating costs, facilities, and the occasional co-ed athletics team.
22. University of California, Los Angeles
Conference: Pac-12 (Will join Big Ten in 2024)
Average Annual Athletics Revenue: $120 million
Average Annual Athletics Expenses: $120 million
Average Expenses for all Men's Teams: $53 million
Average Expenses for all Women's Teams: $23 million
21. Clemson University
Conference: ACC
Average Annual Athletics Revenue: $124 million
Average Annual Athletics Expenses: $124 million
Average Expenses for all Men's Teams: $67 million
Average Expenses for all Women's Teams: $17 million
20. University of Wisconsin
Conference: Big Ten
Average Annual Athletics Revenue: $130 million
Average Annual Athletics Expenses: $124 million
Average Expenses for all Men's Teams: $49 million
Average Expenses for all Women's Teams: $23 million
19. Florida State University
Conference: ACC
Average Annual Athletics Revenue: $134 million
Average Annual Athletics Expenses: $127 million
Average Expenses for all Men's Teams: $67 million
Average Expenses for all Women's Teams: $18 million
18. University of Arkansas
Conference: SEC
Average Annual Athletics Revenue: $137 million
Average Annual Athletics Expenses: $128 million
Average Expenses for all Men's Teams: $64 million
Average Expenses for all Women's Teams: $22 million
17. University of Louisville
Conference: ACC
Average Annual Athletics Revenue: $130 million
Average Annual Athletics Expenses: $129 million
Average Expenses for all Men's Teams: $56 million
Average Expenses for all Women's Teams: $20 million
16. University of Georgia
Conference: SEC
Average Annual Athletics Revenue: $184 million
Average Annual Athletics Expenses: $134 million
Average Expenses for all Men's Teams: $67 million
Average Expenses for all Women's Teams: $20 million
15. University of Kentucky
Conference: SEC
Average Annual Athletics Revenue: $135 million
Average Annual Athletics Expenses: $135 million
Average Expenses for all Men's Teams: $60 million
Average Expenses for all Women's Teams: $19 million
14. Auburn University
Conference: SEC
Average Annual Athletics Revenue: $152 million
Average Annual Athletics Expenses: $135 million
Average Expenses for all Men's Teams: $73 million
Average Expenses for all Women's Teams: $24 million
13. University of Tennessee
Conference: SEC
Average Annual Athletics Revenue: $140 million
Average Annual Athletics Expenses: $136 million
Average Expenses for all Men's Teams: $58 million
Average Expenses for all Women's Teams: $21 million
12. University of South Carolina
Conference: SEC
Average Annual Athletics Revenue: $139 million
Average Annual Athletics Expenses: $137 million
Average Expenses for all Men's Teams: $57 million
Average Expenses for all Women's Teams: $22 million
11. Texas A&M University
Conference: SEC
Average Annual Athletics Revenue: $150 million
Average Annual Athletics Expenses: $139 million
Average Expenses for all Men's Teams: $66 million
Average Expenses for all Women's Teams: $25 million
10. Stanford University
Conference: Pac-12 (Will join ACC in 2024)
Average Annual Athletics Revenue: $139 million
Average Annual Athletics Expenses: $139 million
Average Expenses for all Men's Teams: $51 million
Average Expenses for all Women's Teams: $31 million
9. University of Southern California
Conference: SEC
Average Annual Athletics Revenue: $146 million
Average Annual Athletics Expenses: $146 million
Average Expenses for all Men's Teams: $63 million
Average Expenses for all Women's Teams: $21 million
8. University of Florida
Conference: SEC
Average Annual Athletics Revenue: $147 million
Average Annual Athletics Expenses: $147 million
Average Expenses for all Men's Teams: $61 million
Average Expenses for all Women's Teams: $22 million
7. University of Notre Dame
Conference: ACC (independent in football)
Average Annual Athletics Revenue: $170 million
Average Annual Athletics Expenses: $150 million
Average Expenses for all Men's Teams: $78 million
Average Expenses for all Women's Teams: $23 million
6. Louisiana State University
Conference: SEC
Average Annual Athletics Revenue: $158 million
Average Annual Athletics Expenses: $154 million
Average Expenses for all Men's Teams: $64 million
Average Expenses for all Women's Teams: $23 million
5. University of Michigan
Conference: Big Ten
Average Annual Athletics Revenue: $170 million
Average Annual Athletics Expenses: $155 million
Average Expenses for all Men's Teams: $73 million
Average Expenses for all Women's Teams: $28 million
4. University of Alabama
Conference: SEC
Average Annual Athletics Revenue: $180 million
Average Annual Athletics Expenses: $157 million
Average Expenses for all Men's Teams: $82 million
Average Expenses for all Women's Teams: $22 million
3. University of Texas
Conference: Big 12 (will join the SEC in 2024)
Average Annual Athletics Revenue: $191 million
Average Annual Athletics Expenses: $164 million
Average Expenses for all Men's Teams: $70 million
Average Expenses for all Women's Teams: $23 million
2. University of Oklahoma
Conference: Big 12 (will join the SEC in 2024)
Average Annual Athletics Revenue: $167 million
Average Annual Athletics Expenses: $165 million
Average Expenses for all Men's Teams: $69 million
Average Expenses for all Women's Teams: $26 million
1. The Ohio State University
Conference: Big Ten
Average Annual Athletics Revenue: $204 million
Average Annual Athletics Expenses: $180 million
Average Expenses for all Men's Teams: $86 million
Average Expenses for all Women's Teams: $28 million
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