MLive.com produced a series, “The Price to Play,” of articles and infographics relating to the revenues and expenses on college sports at public institutions in the state of Michigan. The series compared NCAA Division I and II public institutions based on NCAA Financial Report Forms from 2014-15, similar to data available in the Knight Commission’s Athletic and Academic Spending Database for NCAA Division I from 2013-14.
The series chronicled the vast differences in revenues and expenses between the two Big Ten conference institutions (University of Michigan and Michigan State University) and the other 11 public institutions with major athletics programs (Central Michigan University, Eastern Michigan University, Ferris State University, Grand Valley State University, Lake Superior State University, Michigan Technological University, Northern Michigan University, Oakland University, Saginaw Valley State University, Wayne State University, Western Michigan University). Included was a discussion of the extent necessary for each of the institutions to use their general fund or student fees to subsidize (to help pay the expenses of) their programs: less than 1% of the athletics budget at the two Big Ten schools, and between 70% and 91% of the athletics budget at the other 11 public institutions.
Below are links to information relating to the series:
- Michigan’s public colleges spend millions to subsidize athletics
- Here’s how much Michigan colleges make (or lose) on football
- Big Ten schools lead way in sports revenue
- Eastern Michigan AD has steep challenge
- Athletics spending remains a big concern at Eastern Michigan
- Lake Superior State has top per-student athletic subsidy
- Search athletic budget for Michigan universities
- See PDFs of the NCAA forms
- College students should know how much they’re paying for athletic programs