Unless you were in a semi-vegetative state last fall, you probably know that the colleges of the Southeastern Conference (SEC) dominated the top 25 football rankings. But you might be surprised to learn that the SEC didn’t have the highest conference average operating expenses. That would be the Pac 10, followed by the Big East, the Big Ten, and then the SEC.
This is according to data I downloaded from the Office of Postsecondary Education (OPE). The school with the highest average operating expenses, the University of Southern California at over 7 million dollars, didn’t even make it into the top 25 rankings. Ohio State and the University of Florida both spent more than six million, with the remaining schools in the top ten in operating expenses spending at least 5 million dollars.
Now remember, these are operating expenses, they don’t say anything about revenues generated. Also, they are an average of the last five years of available data from 2007 to 2011. The reason I used an average is to minimize fluctuations from year to year that occur because of travel expenses or post-season play.
Even so, you should be aware of the little warning posted by the Office of Postsecondary Education (OPE) that states “Please note that valid comparisons of athletics data are possible only with study and analysis of the conditions affecting each institution. “ In other words, you might not be comparing apples to apples.
Expenses are defined as follows:
All expenses attributable to intercollegiate athletic activities. This includes appearance guarantees and options, athletically related student aid, contract services, equipment, fundraising activities, operating expenses, promotional activities, recruiting expenses, salaries and benefits, supplies, travel, and any other expenses attributable to intercollegiate athletic activities. (OPE)
What they’re trying to say is that some schools travel more because of distance, some because of playoffs but it’s all included under expenses. “Athletically related student aid” at private schools will be more than that at public schools because public schools are cheaper.? See some of the issues?
Also, I calculated the conferences averages based on the five-year averages so? the conference averages are averages of averages. Not necessarily the best way to go but good enough for my curiosity.
Finally, before you get all excited about some extraordinary number, please realize that it might be a mistake. Data entry errors are common in such data.
The following table shows the average operating expenses by institution and conference for 242 NCAA D1 schools.
Institution Name ST
Football Conference Average
Operating
Expenses
Conference
Average
University of Southern California CA Pacific-10 Conference 7261234 4120387
Ohio State University-Main Campus OH Big Ten Conference 6966443 3516552
University of Florida FL Southeastern Conference 6299660 3387911
University of Oklahoma Norman Campus OK Big Twelve Conference 5759294 3095414
Rutgers University-New Brunswick NJ Big East Conference 5700071 3537475
University of Washington-Seattle Campus WA Pacific-10 Conference 5663755 4120387
University of Oregon OR Pacific-10 Conference 5387822 4120387
University of Georgia GA Southeastern Conference 5317929 3387911
University of Arkansas AR Southeastern Conference 5222112 3387911
The University of Texas at Austin TX Big Twelve Conference 5110125 3095414
Clemson University SC Atlantic Coast Conference 4913606 3149205
The University of Alabama AL Southeastern Conference 4680849 3387911
University of Connecticut CT Big East Conference 4602083 3537475
Florida State University FL Atlantic Coast Conference 4492617 3149205
University of Wisconsin-Madison WI Big Ten Conference 4429239 3516552
University of Notre Dame IN Division I-A Independents 4335756 4335756
West Virginia University WV Big East Conference 4259735 3537475
Boston College MA Atlantic Coast Conference 4219776 3149205
Arizona State University AZ Pacific-10 Conference 4176691 4120387
Auburn University AL Southeastern Conference 4138575 3387911
Georgia Institute of Technology-Main Campus GA Atlantic Coast Conference 4050368 3149205
University of Michigan-Ann Arbor MI Big Ten Conference 4031732 3516552
University of Iowa IA Big Ten Conference 3876461 3516552
University of Utah UT Pacific-10 Conference 3857626 4120387
University of Miami FL Atlantic Coast Conference 3847013 3149205
Michigan State University MI Big Ten Conference 3823668 3516552
University of California-Berkeley CA Pacific-10 Conference 3823519 4120387
University of California-Los Angeles CA Pacific-10 Conference 3791964 4120387
Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University VA Atlantic Coast Conference 3715544 3149205
University of Colorado Boulder CO Pacific-10 Conference 3448526 4120387
University of Arizona AZ 3421294
University of Pittsburgh-Pittsburgh Campus PA Big East Conference 3384065 3537475
Texas Christian University TX Mountain West Conference 3311507 1829397
University of Virginia-Main Campus VA Atlantic Coast Conference 3252508 3149205
University of Nebraska-Lincoln NE Big Ten Conference 3239085 3516552
Stanford University CA Pacific-10 Conference 3227171 4120387
Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College LA Southeastern Conference 3183666 3387911
The University of Tennessee TN Southeastern Conference 3150766 3387911
Northwestern University IL Big Ten Conference 3136703 3516552
Purdue University-Main Campus IN Big Ten Conference 3114001 3516552
Texas A & M University-College Station TX Big Twelve Conference 3030057 3095414
Texas Tech University TX Big Twelve Conference 3004805 3095414
University of Minnesota-Twin Cities MN Big Ten Conference 2940688 3516552
University of Cincinnati-Main Campus OH Big East Conference 2892275 3537475
East Carolina University NC Conference USA 2813639 1489687
University of Hawaii at Manoa HI Western Athletic Conference 2691495 1631417
University of South Florida-Main Campus FL Big East Conference 2661528 3537475
University of Louisville KY Big East Conference 2614945 3537475
Iowa State University IA Big Twelve Conference 2498916 3095414
University of Missouri-Columbia MO Big Twelve Conference 2496444 3095414
University of Kansas KS Big Twelve Conference 2474221 3095414
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill NC Atlantic Coast Conference 2431724 3149205
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign IL Big Ten Conference 2411853 3516552
Oregon State University OR Pacific-10 Conference 2398608 4120387
Baylor University TX Big Twelve Conference 2327769 3095414
Duke University NC Atlantic Coast Conference 2305017 3149205
Oklahoma State University-Main Campus OK Big Twelve Conference 2290850 3095414
Washington State University WA Pacific-10 Conference 2287338 4120387
Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus PA Big Ten Conference 2279122 3516552
Syracuse University NY Big East Conference 2185100 3537475
New Mexico State University-Main Campus NM Western Athletic Conference 2170967 1631417
Vanderbilt University TN Southeastern Conference 1981172 3387911
Temple University PA Mid-American Conference 1980641 987782
Kansas State University KS Big Twelve Conference 1961658 3095414
Indiana University-Bloomington IN Big Ten Conference 1949623 3516552
San Diego State University CA Mountain West Conference 1939844 1829397
Southern Methodist University TX Conference USA 1935753 1489687
The University of Texas at El Paso TX Conference USA 1914089 1489687
University of South Carolina-Columbia SC Southeastern Conference 1861368 3387911
University of Kentucky KY Southeastern Conference 1823593 3387911
University of New Mexico-Main Campus NM Mountain West Conference 1801295 1829397
University of Central Florida FL Conference USA 1736927 1489687
Brigham Young University-Provo UT Other 1681208 468490
Wake Forest University NC Atlantic Coast Conference 1681125 3149205
Colorado State University-Fort Collins CO Mountain West Conference 1678422 1829397
Boise State University ID Mountain West Conference 1654661 1829397
University of Mississippi MS Southeastern Conference 1639364 3387911
California State University-Fresno CA Western Athletic Conference 1576205 1631417
University of Maryland-College Park MD Atlantic Coast Conference 1541505 3149205
San Jose State University CA Western Athletic Conference 1532373 1631417
Louisiana Tech University LA Western Athletic Conference 1532234 1631417
Marshall University WV Conference USA 1518664 1489687
Florida International University FL Sun Belt Conference 1490904 1011582
University of Tulsa OK Conference USA 1478546 1489687
University of Nevada-Reno NV Western Athletic Conference 1442322 1631417
The University of Texas at San Antonio TX Division I-AA Independents 1403795 849852
University of Nevada-Las Vegas NV Mountain West Conference 1392659 1829397
Mississippi State University MS Southeastern Conference 1355885 3387911
University of Memphis TN Conference USA 1352368 1489687
Northern Illinois University IL Mid-American Conference 1352281 987782
Stephen F Austin State University TX Southland Conference 1344680 503108
North Carolina State University at Raleigh NC Atlantic Coast Conference 1339652 3149205
Florida Atlantic University FL Sun Belt Conference 1332053 1011582
University of Houston TX Conference USA 1299233 1489687
Middle Tennessee State University TN Sun Belt Conference 1270017 1011582
Georgia State University GA Colonial Athletic Association 1224005 753141
University at Buffalo NY Mid-American Conference 1217893 987782
Central Michigan University MI Mid-American Conference 1208134 987782
Ohio University-Main Campus OH Mid-American Conference 1135154 987782
University of Toledo OH Mid-American Conference 1124272 987782
University of Southern Mississippi MS Conference USA 1103389 1489687
University of North Texas TX Sun Belt Conference 1098056 1011582
The University of Montana MT Big Sky Conference 1090668 542313
University of Idaho ID Western Athletic Conference 1059186 1631417
University of Louisiana at Lafayette LA Sun Belt Conference 1053697 1011582
Utah State University UT Western Athletic Conference 1046556 1631417
University of South Alabama AL Sun Belt Conference 1029763 1011582
University of Wyoming WY Mountain West Conference 1027391 1829397
Rice University TX Conference USA 977892 1489687
Old Dominion University VA Colonial Athletic Association 970985 753141
University of Alabama at Birmingham AL Conference USA 899889 1489687
Miami University-Oxford OH Mid-American Conference 876808 987782
Tulane University of Louisiana LA Conference USA 845848 1489687
Bowling Green State University-Main Campus OH Mid-American Conference 845044 987782
Western Michigan University MI Mid-American Conference 829880 987782
University of Massachusetts Amherst MA Mid-American Conference 826921 987782
Arkansas State University-Main Campus AR Sun Belt Conference 823632 1011582
Troy University AL Sun Belt Conference 818082 1011582
North Dakota State University-Main Campus ND Missouri Valley Conference 769746 523275
University of Delaware DE Colonial Athletic Association 768910 753141
James Madison University VA Colonial Athletic Association 766096 753141
Appalachian State University NC Southern Conference 758499 451994
University of Richmond VA Atlantic 10 Conference 754240 589095
Villanova University PA Colonial Athletic Association 747478 753141
Bethune-Cookman University FL Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference 731138 377347
Ball State University IN Mid-American Conference 698035 987782
South Dakota State University SD Missouri Valley Conference 693124 523275
Eastern Michigan University MI Mid-American Conference 636416 987782
Southern Illinois University Carbondale IL Division I-AA Independents 634374 849852
Coastal Carolina University SC Big South Conference 633959 374543
Western Kentucky University KY Sun Belt Conference 630897 1011582
University of North Dakota ND Great West Conference 608548 529773
Citadel Military College of South Carolina SC Southern Conference 607503 451994
College of William and Mary VA Colonial Athletic Association 594172 753141
Texas State University-San Marcos TX Southland Conference 588777 503108
Yale University CT Ivy Group 583649 406444
Tennessee State University TN Ohio Valley Conference 580151 326280
University of Louisiana-Monroe LA Sun Belt Conference 568720 1011582
Montana State University MT Big Sky Conference 559407 542313
Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University FL Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference 557010 377347
University of Akron Main Campus OH Mid-American Conference 554335 987782
Southern Utah University UT Great West Conference 549530 529773
Portland State University OR Big Sky Conference 543139 542313
Kent State University at Kent OH Mid-American Conference 543131 987782
Towson University MD Colonial Athletic Association 541258 753141
University of New Hampshire-Main Campus NH Atlantic 10 Conference 521462 589095
Youngstown State University OH Missouri Valley Conference 514782 523275
California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo CA Other 514183 468490
Lamar University TX Division I-AA Independents 511388 849852
University of California-Davis CA Great West Conference 507249 529773
SUNY at Albany NY Northeast Conference 506625 264787
Northern Arizona University AZ Big Sky Conference 504665 542313
Stony Brook University NY Big South Conference 502908 374543
Idaho State University ID Big Sky Conference 492666 542313
University of Maine ME Atlantic 10 Conference 491581 589095
Liberty University VA Big South Conference 484664 374543
University of Pennsylvania PA Ivy Group 479428 406444
Alabama State University AL Southwestern Athletic Conference 478825 309075
Weber State University UT Big Sky Conference 474622 542313
Eastern Washington University WA Big Sky Conference 474163 542313
Grambling State University LA Southwestern Athletic Conference 471979 309075
University of Northern Iowa IA Missouri Valley Conference 471787 523275
Columbia University in the City of New York NY Ivy Group 467537 406444
Illinois State University IL Missouri Valley Conference 460776 523275
Lehigh University PA Patriot League 459691 381537
Georgia Southern University GA Southern Conference 458360 451994
University of South Dakota SD Great West Conference 453766 529773
Samford University AL Southern Conference 451672 451994
Colgate University NY Patriot League 450519 381537
Lafayette College PA Patriot League 440669 381537
Drake University IA Pioneer Football League 440552 297799
University of Northern Colorado CO Big Sky Conference 436351 542313
Delaware State University DE Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference 435493 377347
North Carolina A & T State University NC Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference 432167 377347
Indiana State University IN Gateway Football Conference 422812 422812
Wofford College SC Southern Conference 422387 451994
South Carolina State University SC Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference 420211 377347
Furman University SC Southern Conference 420080 451994
University of Rhode Island RI Colonial Athletic Association 412222 753141
Princeton University NJ Ivy Group 407884 406444
Fordham University NY Patriot League 401916 381537
Western Illinois University IL Missouri Valley Conference 401519 523275
Tennessee Technological University TN Ohio Valley Conference 385630 326280
Brown University RI Ivy Group 375892 406444
Dartmouth College NH Ivy Group 373339 406444
Eastern Illinois University IL Ohio Valley Conference 369936 326280
Duquesne University PA Northeast Conference 363121 264787
Jacksonville State University AL Ohio Valley Conference 361521 326280
Eastern Kentucky University KY Ohio Valley Conference 361436 326280
Prairie View A & M University TX Southwestern Athletic Conference 359835 309075
University of San Diego CA Pioneer Football League 358908 297799
Nicholls State University LA Southland Conference 352923 503108
Hampton University VA Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference 352332 377347
Missouri State University-Springfield MO Missouri Valley Conference 351192 523275
Elon University NC Southern Conference 341381 451994
College of the Holy Cross MA Patriot League 333980 381537
Northwestern State University of Louisiana LA Southland Conference 332149 503108
Marist College NY Pioneer Football League 329140 297799
The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga TN Southern Conference 317653 451994
University of Dayton OH Pioneer Football League 315174 297799
Gardner-Webb University NC Big South Conference 314420 374543
Alabama A & M University AL Southwestern Athletic Conference 309121 309075
Texas Southern University TX Southwestern Athletic Conference 308038 309075
Campbell University NC Pioneer Football League 305226 297799
California State University-Sacramento CA Big Sky Conference 305132 542313
Bucknell University PA Patriot League 304349 381537
University of Central Arkansas AR Southland Conference 302886 503108
Sam Houston State University TX Southland Conference 300425 503108
Southeastern Louisiana University LA Southland Conference 299918 503108
Morehead State University KY Pioneer Football League 298156 297799
Jacksonville University FL Pioneer Football League 297494 297799
Western Carolina University NC Southern Conference 290407 451994
Wagner College NY Northeast Conference 290403 264787
The University of Tennessee-Martin TN Ohio Valley Conference 284470 326280
Cornell University NY Ivy Group 282577 406444
Harvard University MA Ivy Group 281245 406444
Georgetown University DC Patriot League 279636 381537
Savannah State University GA Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference 277434 377347
Morgan State University MD Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference 272370 377347
University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff AR Southwestern Athletic Conference 265315 309075
Norfolk State University VA Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference 253681 377347
Charleston Southern University SC Big South Conference 250815 374543
Mississippi Valley State University MS Southwestern Athletic Conference 241848 309075
Alcorn State University MS Southwestern Athletic Conference 239118 309075
Presbyterian College SC Big South Conference 239074 374543
Murray State University KY Ohio Valley Conference 237431 326280
Bryant University RI Northeast Conference 231487 264787
Jackson State University MS Southwestern Athletic Conference 229626 309075
Davidson College NC Pioneer Football League 227737 297799
Saint Francis University PA Northeast Conference 218681 264787
Valparaiso University IN Pioneer Football League 217375 297799
Monmouth University NJ Northeast Conference 216341 264787
Howard University DC Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference 215453 377347
Central Connecticut State University CT Northeast Conference 209826 264787
North Carolina Central University NC Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference 203527 377347
Virginia Military Institute VA Big South Conference 195960 374543
Butler University IN Pioneer Football League 188226 297799
Southern University and A & M College LA Southwestern Athletic Conference 187046 309075
Southeast Missouri State University MO Ohio Valley Conference 180294 326280
Austin Peay State University TN Ohio Valley Conference 175653 326280
Sacred Heart University CT Northeast Conference 174069 264787
Robert Morris University PA Northeast Conference 172529 264787