College AD compiled a list of college athletic department revenue for both 2011 and 2012. Then we showed the difference in revenue for each school from 2011 to 2012. This difference can be significant and give us a glimpse into the overall health of an athletic department.
For some, like the Texas Longhorns, revenue only seems to be increasing. The Longhorns gained nearly $ 13 Million in revenue from 2011 to 2012, thats more than 77 university athletic department budgets, and thats just the UT’s annual increase!
Their total revenue for 2012 was over $ 163 million. By far the most in college athletics, blowing #2 Ohio State out of the water with just over $ 142 million. Truly everything is bigger in Texas.
However, lets not forgot the Long Horn Network launched in August of 2012 which probably helped provide a considerable boost to UT’s athletic department total revenue. The gap between the “haves” and the “have nots” is ever-increasing with no end in site.
Presumably next year most SEC schools should get a bump with the launch of a 24-hour SEC network. Unfortunately mid-major schools in conferences like the Sunbelt, CUSA, and Mountain West will only see the revenue gap widen, which will eventually have a direct correlation on the field. Lets face it, what athlete will choose The University of North Texas, even with their new stadium and athlete village over Texas or Texas A&M?
Below is a list of the top and bottom five athletic department revenue numbers for 2012 along with a full table breaking down revenues for 2011 and 2012.
Top 5 Athletic Department Revenues in 2012
$163,295,115-
$142,043,057 -
$140,131,187 -
$124,899,945 
$120,772,106
Top 5 Lowest Athletic Department Revenues in 2012
University of New Orleans $3,100,602
Coppin State University $3,332,260
Mississippi Valley State $4,643,265
Grambling State $5,068,048
UNC Ashville $5,444,325
The Table is broken down into four columns by total athletic department revenue from high to low.
1. School- The College or University
2. 2011 Revenue- The total athletic department revenue for 2011
3. 2012 Revenue- The total athletic department revenue for 2012
4. Revenue Difference between 2011 and 2012- the difference in revenue between both years
- A positive increase will look like this “0,000,00”
- A loss of revenue will be marked as such “(0,000,000)”
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