How does Forbes determine the most profitable college basketball teams?

Yo! I've been reading a list on Forbes about the most profitable college basketball teams. I'm curious, does anyone know how Forbes determines this? Is it all about the revenue from games and merchandise or do they consider other factors too? Also, how might this impact a student athlete's experience?

Hello! While Forbes doesn't publicly provide a step-by-step breakdown of its methodologies, typically, such rankings are determined by a combination of factors. These can include revenues from ticket sales, TV contracts, merchandise sales, licensing rights, donations tied to the basketball program, and the NCAA's distributions from the basketball fund.

Forbes typically reports earnings in terms of profit, so the expenses associated with running the sports program—like salaries for coaches and staff, scholarships, travel costs, equipment, and facility maintenance—are also factored into the equation. Profit in this context usually refers to operating income, which is defined as the revenue that exceeds the expenses of the program.

As for how this might impact a student athlete's experience, it could provide a number of benefits. Programs that generate high revenues often have access to state-of-the-art training facilities, top-tier coaching staff, and resources for academic support, all of which can enhance an athlete's collegiate experience. Additionally, being part of a successful and popular program can lead to a larger fan base and more exposure, which could be advantageous for athletes intending to go professional.

Forbes' most profitable teams list mainly provides an insight into the financial side of college basketball, but remember—each student-athlete has unique needs and goals, academic and athletic experiences may vary wildly across different programs regardless of their profitability. Different student-athletes might prioritize aspects such as the school's academic reputation, the team's competitive level, the coach's style, or even the location and size of the school when making their college decisions.