Top Money Making Universities

College athletic programs have always been good moneymakers, but now they are racking in millions at universities across the country. It’s no wonder universities are fighting to get in with big name sports conferences like the Southeastern Conference (SEC) and the Big Ten; these conferences bring in millions for athletics and the school each year.

Out of all the universities across the country, here are the top ten moneymakers, based on revenue generated from athletics over the past year.

#10

University of Tennessee, SEC

Knoxville, Tennessee

Revenue 2011-12: $105.9 million

As the first of many southern schools to make this list, Tennessee prides itself on its 18 men’s and women’s Division One teams and 150 SEC Championships.

#9

Auburn University, SEC

Auburn, Alabama

Revenue 2011-12: $106.0 million

This Alabama team has some of the best swimmers in the country. Thirteen out of Aubrun’s 18 all-time NCAA National Championships are from the men’s and women’s swimming and diving teams.

#8

Oklahoma State University, Big 12

Stillwater, Oklahoma

Revenue 2011-12: $106.5 million

Oklahoma State boasts 51 National Team Championships, the most won out of every team in the Big 12 conference, including the University of Texas.

#7

Penn State, Big Ten

University Park, Pennsylvania

Revenue 2011-12: $108.3 million

At the end of the 2011-12 season, Penn State had five Big Ten Championships and 61 All-American players, plus some of the rowdiest fans in the country.

#6

Louisiana State University, SEC

Baton Rouge, Louisiana

Revenue 2011-12: $114.0 million

LSU has 46 National Championships and 120 SEC Championships, most coming from LSU’s basketball and track teams. But these teams couldn’t succeed without Louisiana’s championship winning cheerleaders in the crowd; Louisiana State has one of the top cheerleading programs in the nation.

#5

University of Florida, SEC

Gainesville, Florida

Revenue 2011-12: $120.3 million

Most recently, the Florida Gators won NCAA Championships in men’s track and field and women’s tennis.

#4

University of Alabama, SEC

Tuscaloosa, Alabama

Revenue 2011-12: $124.1 million

The University of Alabama is the second school in Alabama to make this list. The university brought in 22 team NCAA Championships.

#3

University of Michigan, Big Ten

Ann Arbor, Michiagan

Revenue 2011-12: $128.8 million

Michigan has a sterling football team toting 11 football National Championships. But Michigan’s football team can’t quite keep up with men’s swimming and diving, which brought in 18 National Championships.

#2

Ohio State University, Big Ten

Columbus, Ohio

Revenue 2011-12: $142.0 million

Ohio State brings in the big bucks with their Division One FBS football team, one of only 13 in the nation, and their champion Division One ice hockey team.

#1

University of Texas, Big 12

Austin, Texas

Revenue 2011-12: $163.3 million

Texas loves their sports and they aren’t shy about spending money on them. Texas not only brings in the biggest sports revenue in the nation, they also shovel out over 25 million a year on their team and premium guests.

The team boasts 100 Big 12 conference and tournament titles since the conference began in 1996, which is more than any other school in the Big 12. On top of that, 23 athletes from the University of Texas went to the Beijing Olympics in 2008.

What do you think about the amount of revenue these schools are bringing in from their athletic programs?