Lowest cost college sport to operate?

Bit of an odd question, but I'm doing research for a school project. Does anyone know which college sport is generally the least expensive to operate?

While it varies due to a range of factors such as location, types of resources available, and support from alumni and sponsors, cross-country and track and field are often considered some of the least expensive college sports to operate.

The reasons for this are multiple. First, these sports require minimal equipment compared to sports like football or hockey - the primary equipment needs are uniforms, shoes, and timing equipment. Also, these sports often don’t require as much specialized facilities as other sports. As opposed to needing a rink like in ice hockey or a stadium like in football, cross-country and track can often be practiced and held in public spaces or on multipurpose fields.

The team size can also affect costs. Sports that require smaller teams, such as golf or tennis, tend to be cheaper to run than those that require larger teams, even though the equipment cost might be higher per athlete.

However, it's important to remember these estimates can vary greatly from school to school. Different colleges might have different methods of funding their athletics and may have varying costs due to differing infrastructure, coach salaries, and travel expenses. A smaller school might also have different costs compared to a larger school with a more developed athletic program.