My response from a story on the profitability of the major college athletic departments (these are the major schools - there are hundreds of smaller schools that all lose money):
But that still doesn't mean all these institutions are making money from athletics. According to the
NCAA, among the 65 autonomy schools in Division I, only 25 recorded a
positive net generated revenue in 2019.
The term "autonomy" refers to a
2014 NCAA decision that allowed the Power Five conferences — the Southeastern Conference (SEC), Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC), Big Ten, Pac-12, and Big 12 — to establish their own rules regarding student scholarships, recruitment, and staffing, among other concerns. These schools, especially those in the SEC and Big Ten, along with Clemson in the ACC, typically dominate college football each year.
Among those reporting a net positive, the median profit per school was $7.9 million. And among the 40 autonomy schools reporting a negative net revenue, the median loss was $15.9 million. In other words, the majority of universities in the nation's top athletic conferences — the schools you see on TV every weekend competing for national championships — lost money through their sports programs to the tune of approximately $16 million each.
The majority of universities in the nation’s top athletic conferences lost money through their sports programs to the tune of approximately $16 million each.
footballscoop.com
