Sources of Information:
We compile data from multiple sources including the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA), the U.S. Department of Education, colleges and universities sponsoring intercollegiate athletic teams, athletic conferences, academic and government studies, as well as media and other sources of information where specifically noted.
NCAA versus EADA financial reporting differences:
NCAA member schools annually file two primary financial reports: 1) An annual membership financial report with the NCAA and 2) an annual Equity in Athletics Act (EADA) survey (aka Tile IX reporting) with the US Department of Education.
There is one major difference between the EADA & NCAA results: EADA reporting does not include payments made for athletic facilities debt service and leases (item 34 on the NCAA report). Consequently, for almost all schools the annual expenses per EADA reporting are lower than the annual expenses as reported to the NCAA. Based on our analysis, average operating expenses for FBS schools was about $ 9 million higher than the EADA results, virtually all of this difference is due to athletic facilities payments included as an expense on NCAA reporting and not included in EADA reporting:
| Average Annual Expenses FBS Public Schools 2024 | EADA Reports | NCAA Reports | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | | | ||
| Average Annual Expenses | $ 105,682,084 | $ 114,993,101 | $ 9,311,017 | |
| Athletic Facilities Payments | - | $ 9,292,410 | $ 9,292,410 | |
| % of Difference | 99.8% |
Consequently, for some schools there can be big differences between reported annual expenses. Here are the schools with the four largest differences between 2024 EADA and NCAA reporting. The difference in annual expenses is almost entirely attributable to payments made for athletic facilities debt service and leases included in the NCAA reporting:
| Total Annual Expenses 2024 | Total Expenses EADA Reporting | Total Expenses NCAA Reporting | Difference in Expenses | Line 34 NCAA Report | % of 2024 Difference |
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Texas | $ 237,475,591 | $ 325,025,506 | $ 87,549,915 | $ 79,655,749 | 91% | |
| Nebraska | 175,438,100 | 213,456,031 | 38,017,931 | 30,480,717 | 80% | |
| San Diego State | 83,949,123 | 120,525,634 | 36,576,511 | 39,249,838 | 107% | |
| Ohio State | 262,172,467 | 292,670,315 | 30,497,848 | 33,684,201 | 110% | |
So why include EADA data? One key advantage of EADA reporting is that data is available for all NCAA I schools, whereas NCAA financial reporting is typically available only for public universities … private schools are not required to release NCAA reporting data to the public. Consequently, EADA reporting data is available for private schools such as Notre Dame, Southern Cal, Stanford & Duke but NCAA reporting for these schools is typically not, unless you want to go down a similar path as the Watergate burglars which isn’t advisable.
Additionally, instructions for line 34 of the NCAA report require that both principal and interest on debt service be reported regardless of the entity (athletic department or the school) actually making the payment. Consequently, the NCAA annual expenses can vary greatly from year to year due to debt service payments, which may distort an athletic department’s actual year to year operating results. The University of Texas is a good example as to how the reporting can differ significantly:
| University of Texas- Annual Reporting | 2024 Reporting | 2023 Reporting | 2024 Increase | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Annual Expenses - EADA reporting | $ 237,475,591 | $ 199,292,967 | $ 38,182,624 | |
| Annual Expenses - NCAA reporting | 325,025,506 | 233,916,669 | 91,108,837 | |
| Difference in reported Annual Expenses | 87,549,915 | 34,623,702 | 52,926,213 | |
| Athletic Facilities Debt Service - Line 34 | 79,655,749 | 26,054,785 | 53,600,964 | |
| % of Change | 101% |
2024 EADA reporting by Texas shows a $ 38 million increase in operating expenses (from $ 199 million to $ 237 million) while NCAA reporting shows a much larger increase ($ 91 million) in 2024 operating expenses – from $ 234 million to a $ 325 million, the highest reported annual total for any NCAA school. The NCAA report reflects a $ 53 million greater increase in annual expenses than the EADA increase. This is due to the $ 53 million increase in Athletic Facilities debt service reported on line 34 of the NCAA report.
So bottom line, there are plusses and minuses to both reports. We use data from both EADA and NCAA reporting, and disclose in each instance where the data is being sourced from.
Limitations on Third-party NIL and Collective funding data:
There is no public reporting requirement for NIL payments made by third-parties including NIL collectives. The College Sports Commission does provide some interim reporting on third-party NIL, but the data disclosed is currently of minimal value. Further complicating the compilation of data in this area is that most schools are keeping the results of their NIL efforts close to the vest. Schools typically don’t want it to be public knowledge if their NIL efforts are either lacking or if they are wildly successful either.
Statistical Editor:
Statistics are compiled and edited by Patrick O’Rourke, CPA, Washington, DC.
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