In terms of revenue, which college sports earn the most, and which ones earn the least? How significant is the disparity?
On average, football and men's basketball tend to generate the most revenue for colleges, largely due to lucrative broadcast contracts, ticket sales, and merchandise. In fact, some successful Division I football and basketball programs can draw tens of millions of dollars in revenue annually.
Revenues can vary significantly based on the conference the school belongs to, their success in recent seasons, their fan base, and other factors. For example, in 2020, the University of Texas had the highest revenue from their college football team, drawing in over $150 million.
On the other hand, sports like cross country, golf, tennis, and swimming usually generate the least amount of revenue. This is primarily because they don't draw large crowds or significant attention from broadcast media. At many colleges, these sports are often subsidized by the more profitable sports programs or other university resources.
The disparity is quite significant. For example, a high-earning football program can generate revenue in the tens or even hundreds of millions, while a lower-earning sport may only bring in a few hundred thousand dollars, if it generates any profit at all.
However, it's also important to remember that the vast majority of sports programs at universities, even many football and basketball programs, operate at a loss and are subsidized by the university and student fees. High expenses like coaching salaries, facilities upkeep, and travel costs often outweigh the revenues earned, causing the net income to be negative.
In terms of economic aspects of college sports, the important takeaway is that only a few sports typically generate significant revenues, and these revenues often subsidize other athletic programs on campus. Most athletic programs do not generate a profit on their own and are part of the larger portfolio of experiences that universities offer students.
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