New financial data released by USA Today shows that the Southeastern Conference is home to six of the top 10 most profitable collegiate athletic departments in the country.
USA Today’s database lists the expenses and revenue for 230 of the NCAA’s public member institutions using data collected between 1 Oct. 2015 and 30 Sept. 2016. Revenues include monies from ticket sales, contributions, rights and licensing, student fees, school funds and other sources. Expenses include coaching salaries, scholarships, facilities and overhead and other expenses.
Texas A&M University ranks as the most profitable athletic department in the country with more than $194 million in revenue during the time period, an increase of $1.7 million from the previous year. The Aggies received more than $75 million in contributions to the athletic department, $57 million in rights and licensing and $47 million in revenue from ticket sales. The school also paid more than $40 million in coaching staff salaries for the year as part of its $137 million in expenses.
Five other SEC schools made the top 10, with the University of Alabama ranked as the fourth most profitable athletic department with $164 million in revenues. Other SEC athletic departments in the top 10 were: No. 7 LSU, $141.6 million; No. 8 Florida, $141.4 million; No. 9 Tennessee, $140.4 million; and No. 10 Auburn, $140 million.
The University of Texas comes in at No. 2 with $187 million in revenues and Ohio State University is third with $170 million in revenue. No. 5 Michigan and No. 6 Oklahoma had $163 million and $150 million in revenues, respectively.
USA Today’s database of revenues and expenses for 230 NCAA member institutions can be read here.
By Eric Mann
Eric Mann is the communications assistant at the United States Sports Academy.