<p>Indianapolis newspaper ran a front page article today about how much college sports programs cost (with the Final Four in Indianapolis this weekend). They compiled information from 164 Division I colleges. In addition to revenues from tickets, TV and donations, these colleges spent a total of $541M from general fund and $507M from student fees on athletics each year. One interesting quote:
"the cost to the school per student is from $10,000 to $25,000. Yet some big schools such as Florida and Louisiana State, which will compete in this weekend's Final Four, average more than $100,000 in athletic expenses per athlete."
Is athletics part of the "college experience"? Should part of the tuition costs and required fees be supplementing athletic department?
It is under the sports section on the webpage. Here is the current link to the article:
<a href="http://www.indystar.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060330/SPORTS/603300460/1004/SPORTS%5B/url%5D">http://www.indystar.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060330/SPORTS/603300460/1004/SPORTS</a></p>
<p>At the vast majority of top 60 or so D-1 schools no money comes from the tuition or general fund. Sports are self-funding through the usual sources.</p>