Analysis: College men's basketball grosses $2 billion

Though excluded from the NCAA tournament, University of Louisville men's basketball tops the list of highest grossing programs with nearly $44 million – or $2.9 million per athlete – in 2016, according to a Higher Education Tribune analysis of the latest federal data.

The U.S. Department of Education Office of Postsecondary Education compiles athletics data annually from more than 2,000 schools receiving federal financial aid.

More than 1,900 of those schools have men's basketball programs. In all, they grossed more than $2 billion in 2016.

Duke University grossed $34 million, followed by Syracuse University ($29 million), University of Kentucky ($28 million) and Indiana University ($25 million).

Fifty-seven of the 68 teams in the NCAA tournament are in the top 200 programs.

--

Top 200 men's basketball programs by revenue


SchoolStateDivisionMen's basketball playersMen's basketball revenueRevenue per athlete
1University of LouisvilleKYNCAA Division I-FBS15$43,960,492$2,930,699
2Duke UniversityNCNCAA Division I-FBS16$34,398,285$2,149,893
3Syracuse UniversityNYNCAA Division I-FBS19$29,322,084$1,543,268
4University of KentuckyKYNCAA Division I-FBS15$27,965,227$1,864,348
5Indiana University-BloomingtonINNCAA Division I-FBS16$24,560,829$1,535,052
6University of ArizonaAZNCAA Division I-FBS15$23,434,825$1,562,322
7University of Wisconsin-MadisonWINCAA Division I-FBS17$23,168,473$1,362,851
8University of North Carolina at Chapel HillNCNCAA Division I-FBS18$21,408,475$1,189,360
9Marquette UniversityWINCAA Division I without football15$19,327,629$1,288,509
10The University of Tennessee-KnoxvilleTNNCAA Division I-FBS16$18,322,729$1,145,171
11University of KansasKSNCAA Division I-FBS15$18,266,319$1,217,755
12Ohio State University-Main CampusOHNCAA Division I-FBS13$18,250,063$1,403,851
13University of Maryland-College ParkMDNCAA Division I-FBS16$17,741,322$1,108,833
14Georgetown UniversityDCNCAA Division I-FCS14$17,702,377$1,264,456
15The University of Texas at AustinTXNCAA Division I-FBS14$17,567,914$1,254,851
16Michigan State UniversityMINCAA Division I-FBS18$17,548,611$974,923
17University of Michigan-Ann ArborMINCAA Division I-FBS17$16,913,194$994,894
18University of ArkansasARNCAA Division I-FBS14$16,332,876$1,166,634
19University of Illinois at Urbana-ChampaignILNCAA Division I-FBS16$15,827,099$989,194
20The University of AlabamaALNCAA Division I-FBS15$15,003,656$1,000,244
21North Carolina State University at RaleighNCNCAA Division I-FBS17$14,611,434$859,496
22Northwestern UniversityILNCAA Division I-FBS14$14,581,162$1,041,512
23University of FloridaFLNCAA Division I-FBS14$14,200,425$1,014,316
24University of Minnesota-Twin CitiesMNNCAA Division I-FBS16$14,172,048$885,753
25University of DaytonOHNCAA Division I-FCS18$14,031,059$779,503
26University of ConnecticutCTNCAA Division I-FBS21$13,798,668$657,079
27Iowa State UniversityIANCAA Division I-FBS15$13,604,289$906,953
28University of California-Los AngelesCANCAA Division I-FBS15$13,416,856$894,457
29Florida State UniversityFLNCAA Division I-FBS18$13,252,028$736,224
30University of Oklahoma-Norman CampusOKNCAA Division I-FBS16$13,190,742$824,421
31University of Pittsburgh-Pittsburgh CampusPANCAA Division I-FBS14$12,994,273$928,162
32Texas Christian UniversityTXNCAA Division I-FBS16$12,889,761$805,610
33Xavier UniversityOHNCAA Division I without football17$12,707,109$747,477
34Gonzaga UniversityWANCAA Division I without football17$12,131,756$713,633
35University of South Carolina-ColumbiaSCNCAA Division I-FBS17$11,948,781$702,869
36Oklahoma State University-Main CampusOKNCAA Division I-FBS15$11,720,028$781,335
37Pennsylvania State University-Main CampusPANCAA Division I-FBS14$11,376,448$812,603
38University of OregonORNCAA Division I-FBS18$11,149,777$619,432
39Villanova UniversityPANCAA Division I-FCS15$11,120,378$741,359
40Clemson UniversitySCNCAA Division I-FBS15$11,103,355$740,224
41University of MiamiFLNCAA Division I-FBS13$10,868,814$836,063
42University of MississippiMSNCAA Division I-FBS15$10,700,408$713,361
43University of California-BerkeleyCANCAA Division I-FBS18$10,443,327$580,185
44Purdue University-Main CampusINNCAA Division I-FBS14$10,171,629$726,545
45University of Missouri-ColumbiaMONCAA Division I-FBS15$10,065,698$671,047
46Auburn UniversityALNCAA Division I-FBS21$9,900,612$471,458
47University of Nebraska-LincolnNENCAA Division I-FBS14$9,812,781$700,913
48University of MemphisTNNCAA Division I-FBS13$9,725,710$748,132
49University of IowaIANCAA Division I-FBS15$9,707,864$647,191
50University of Washington-Seattle CampusWANCAA Division I-FBS14$9,683,868$691,705
51University of GeorgiaGANCAA Division I-FBS15$9,459,251$630,617
52Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State UniversityVANCAA Division I-FBS16$9,428,524$589,283
53Vanderbilt UniversityTNNCAA Division I-FBS12$9,378,279$781,523
54Kansas State UniversityKSNCAA Division I-FBS17$9,192,918$540,760
55Baylor UniversityTXNCAA Division I-FBS14$9,097,264$649,805
56Providence CollegeRINCAA Division I without football14$9,081,267$648,662
57Brigham Young University-ProvoUTNCAA Division I-FBS18$8,986,993$499,277
58Texas A & M University-College StationTXNCAA Division I-FBS16$8,905,402$556,588
59Virginia Commonwealth UniversityVANCAA Division I without football14$8,830,848$630,775
60University of UtahUTNCAA Division I-FBS16$8,754,441$547,153
61University of Virginia-Main CampusVANCAA Division I-FBS17$8,555,125$503,243
62University of Colorado BoulderCONCAA Division I-FBS16$8,374,472$523,405
63St John's University-New YorkNYNCAA Division I without football16$8,323,127$520,195
64Rutgers University-New BrunswickNJNCAA Division I-FBS16$8,168,723$510,545
65Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical CollegeLANCAA Division I-FBS15$8,135,734$542,382
66Wake Forest UniversityNCNCAA Division I-FBS17$8,101,958$476,586
67Texas Tech UniversityTXNCAA Division I-FBS16$8,005,272$500,330
68Arizona State University-TempeAZNCAA Division I-FBS16$7,693,224$480,827
69Creighton UniversityNENCAA Division I without football16$7,665,992$479,125
70Mississippi State UniversityMSNCAA Division I-FBS17$7,572,191$445,423
71Wichita State UniversityKSNCAA Division I without football17$7,426,190$436,835
72Georgia Institute of Technology-Main CampusGANCAA Division I-FBS16$7,284,387$455,274
73Southern Methodist UniversityTXNCAA Division I-FBS13$7,269,481$559,191
74Stanford UniversityCANCAA Division I-FBS17$6,971,688$410,099
75University of Cincinnati-Main CampusOHNCAA Division I-FBS14$6,970,262$497,876
76West Virginia UniversityWVNCAA Division I-FBS15$6,846,053$456,404
77Boston CollegeMANCAA Division I-FBS16$6,814,030$425,877
78San Diego State UniversityCANCAA Division I-FBS17$6,453,937$379,643
79Oregon State UniversityORNCAA Division I-FBS15$6,321,026$421,402
80Butler UniversityINOther14$6,198,953$442,782
81University of TulsaOKNCAA Division I-FBS18$6,130,964$340,609
82Seton Hall UniversityNJNCAA Division I without football15$6,011,447$400,763
83University of Nevada-Las VegasNVNCAA Division I-FBS15$5,888,664$392,578
84Washington State UniversityWANCAA Division I-FBS14$5,737,509$409,822
85Temple UniversityPANCAA Division I-FBS14$5,675,239$405,374
86University of Nevada-RenoNVNCAA Division I-FBS16$5,653,559$353,347
87Saint Louis UniversityMONCAA Division I without football15$5,590,746$372,716
88DePaul UniversityILNCAA Division I without football16$5,533,811$345,863
89University of Southern CaliforniaCANCAA Division I-FBS14$5,457,322$389,809
90University of Massachusetts-AmherstMANCAA Division I-FBS15$5,324,089$354,939
91University of South Florida-Main CampusFLNCAA Division I-FBS15$5,249,672$349,978
92The University of Texas at El PasoTXNCAA Division I-FBS17$5,157,556$303,386
93University of RichmondVANCAA Division I-FCS16$4,878,508$304,907
94University of Rhode IslandRINCAA Division I-FCS15$4,832,740$322,183
95University of HoustonTXNCAA Division I-FBS13$4,750,737$365,441
96Colorado State University-Fort CollinsCONCAA Division I-FBS17$4,512,525$265,443
97Duquesne UniversityPANCAA Division I-FCS16$4,445,910$277,869
98Fordham UniversityNYNCAA Division I-FCS19$4,436,291$233,489
99Grand Canyon UniversityAZNCAA Division I without football18$4,340,799$241,156
100University of San FranciscoCANCAA Division I without football15$4,254,947$283,663
101Saint Joseph's UniversityPANCAA Division I without football18$4,212,082$234,005
102Tulane University of LouisianaLANCAA Division I-FBS17$4,207,110$247,477
103University of Central FloridaFLNCAA Division I-FBS16$4,155,621$259,726
104University of New Mexico-Main CampusNMNCAA Division I-FBS16$4,130,599$258,162
105Santa Clara UniversityCANCAA Division I without football18$3,990,886$221,716
106University of Notre DameINNCAA Division I-FBS14$3,896,784$278,342
107Boise State UniversityIDNCAA Division I-FBS14$3,688,228$263,445
108University of the PacificCANCAA Division I without football18$3,684,884$204,716
109Loyola Marymount UniversityCANCAA Division I without football13$3,645,976$280,460
110Old Dominion UniversityVANCAA Division I-FBS15$3,628,513$241,901
111Rice UniversityTXNCAA Division I-FBS17$3,599,914$211,760
112George Mason UniversityVANCAA Division I without football14$3,515,918$251,137
113University of WyomingWYNCAA Division I-FBS16$3,508,684$219,293
114East Carolina UniversityNCNCAA Division I-FBS15$3,489,508$232,634
115Seattle UniversityWANCAA Division I without football17$3,477,443$204,555
116Saint Mary's College of CaliforniaCANCAA Division I without football15$3,467,559$231,171
117St Bonaventure UniversityNYNCAA Division I without football15$3,449,008$229,934
118University of Alabama at BirminghamALNCAA Division I-FBS13$3,369,190$259,168
119Bradley UniversityILNCAA Division I without football15$3,359,417$223,961
120Utah State UniversityUTNCAA Division I-FBS30$3,291,251$109,708
121California State University-FresnoCANCAA Division I-FBS19$3,291,010$173,211
122University of North TexasTXNCAA Division I-FBS15$3,281,375$218,758
123University of PortlandORNCAA Division I without football15$3,184,946$212,330
124Murray State UniversityKYNCAA Division I-FCS12$3,114,154$259,513
125Siena CollegeNYNCAA Division I without football15$3,102,278$206,819
126La Salle UniversityPANCAA Division I without football13$3,096,492$238,192
127Wright State University-Main CampusOHNCAA Division I without football15$3,050,260$203,351
128Middle Tennessee State UniversityTNNCAA Division I-FBS18$2,992,258$166,237
129University of North Carolina WilmingtonNCNCAA Division I without football15$2,981,003$198,734
130University of Akron Main CampusOHNCAA Division I-FBS16$2,958,089$184,881
131George Washington UniversityDCNCAA Division I without football14$2,943,015$210,215
132James Madison UniversityVANCAA Division I-FCS16$2,911,439$181,965
133Drexel UniversityPANCAA Division I without football18$2,861,372$158,965
134University of Northern IowaIANCAA Division I-FCS16$2,856,369$178,523
135Liberty UniversityVANCAA Division I-FCS16$2,856,213$178,513
136Pepperdine UniversityCANCAA Division I without football17$2,830,636$166,508
137Loyola University ChicagoILNCAA Division I without football19$2,821,576$148,504
138University of Hawaii at ManoaHINCAA Division I-FBS15$2,790,526$186,035
139University of California-IrvineCANCAA Division I without football16$2,777,164$173,573
140University of North Carolina at CharlotteNCNCAA Division I-FBS16$2,771,813$173,238
141Northeastern UniversityMANCAA Division I without football11$2,740,955$249,178
142Drake UniversityIANCAA Division I-FCS15$2,696,721$179,781
143Monmouth UniversityNJNCAA Division I-FCS16$2,690,690$168,168
144Belmont UniversityTNNCAA Division I without football14$2,688,559$192,040
145University of ToledoOHNCAA Division I-FBS16$2,675,033$167,190
146University of EvansvilleINNCAA Division I without football14$2,622,979$187,356
147Oral Roberts UniversityOKNCAA Division I without football15$2,620,054$174,670
148Western Kentucky UniversityKYNCAA Division I-FBS15$2,618,066$174,538
149University of San DiegoCANCAA Division I-FCS15$2,613,793$174,253
150Hofstra UniversityNYNCAA Division I without football13$2,613,307$201,024
151Quinnipiac UniversityCTNCAA Division I without football14$2,609,446$186,389
152Ohio University-Main CampusOHNCAA Division I-FBS17$2,596,895$152,759
153Davidson CollegeNCNCAA Division I-FCS17$2,594,894$152,641
154Fairfield UniversityCTNCAA Division I without football14$2,582,865$184,490
155Bowling Green State University-Main CampusOHNCAA Division I-FBS13$2,580,920$198,532
156Troy UniversityALNCAA Division I-FBS15$2,569,292$171,286
157California State University-Long BeachCANCAA Division I without football15$2,549,979$169,999
158Bucknell UniversityPANCAA Division I-FCS13$2,544,585$195,737
159Iona CollegeNYNCAA Division I-FCS15$2,514,963$167,664
160Marshall UniversityWVNCAA Division I-FBS17$2,512,872$147,816
161Miami University-OxfordOHNCAA Division I-FBS14$2,511,964$179,426
162University of California-Santa BarbaraCANCAA Division I without football17$2,511,546$147,738
163Missouri State University-SpringfieldMONCAA Division I-FCS15$2,506,636$167,109
164Valparaiso UniversityINNCAA Division I-FCS13$2,504,241$192,634
165Cleveland State UniversityOHNCAA Division I without football17$2,503,813$147,283
166Louisiana Tech UniversityLANCAA Division I-FBS14$2,503,640$178,831
167University of Detroit MercyMINCAA Division I without football16$2,502,061$156,379
168University of DelawareDENCAA Division I-FCS14$2,472,966$176,640
169University of DenverCONCAA Division I without football16$2,456,771$153,548
170College of CharlestonSCNCAA Division I without football15$2,422,777$161,518
171Furman UniversitySCNCAA Division I-FCS15$2,421,923$161,462
172Georgia State UniversityGANCAA Division I-FBS15$2,421,793$161,453
173University of Illinois at ChicagoILNCAA Division I without football17$2,417,955$142,233
174New Mexico State University-Main CampusNMNCAA Division I-FBS19$2,391,115$125,848
175Western Michigan UniversityMINCAA Division I-FBS15$2,374,548$158,303
176Kent State University at KentOHNCAA Division I-FBS15$2,348,157$156,544
177Manhattan CollegeNYNCAA Division I without football15$2,337,236$155,816
178Radford UniversityVANCAA Division I without football17$2,325,900$136,818
179Coastal Carolina UniversitySCOther14$2,315,705$165,408
180Illinois State UniversityILNCAA Division I-FCS15$2,311,466$154,098
181University of Louisiana at LafayetteLANCAA Division I-FBS19$2,278,475$119,920
182University of Wisconsin-MilwaukeeWINCAA Division I without football16$2,241,355$140,085
183SUNY at AlbanyNYNCAA Division I-FCS14$2,217,109$158,365
184University at BuffaloNYNCAA Division I-FBS15$2,214,350$147,623
185University of California-DavisCANCAA Division I-FCS15$2,211,257$147,417
186University of Missouri-Kansas CityMONCAA Division I without football17$2,207,560$129,856
187California State University-NorthridgeCANCAA Division I without football18$2,200,211$122,234
188Robert Morris UniversityPANCAA Division I-FCS15$2,179,096$145,273
189Utah Valley UniversityUTNCAA Division I without football17$2,148,015$126,354
190University of VermontVTNCAA Division I without football16$2,138,606$133,663
191Loyola University MarylandMDNCAA Division I without football15$2,137,410$142,494
192College of the Holy CrossMANCAA Division I-FCS16$2,117,804$132,363
193Oakland UniversityMINCAA Division I without football16$2,110,672$131,917
194Southern Illinois University-CarbondaleILNCAA Division I-FCS15$2,093,251$139,550
195California State University-BakersfieldCANCAA Division I without football15$2,092,139$139,476
196College of William and MaryVANCAA Division I-FCS14$2,071,156$147,940
197High Point UniversityNCNCAA Division I without football15$2,066,953$137,797
198Florida Atlantic UniversityFLNCAA Division I-FBS15$2,063,811$137,587
199University of South AlabamaALNCAA Division I-FBS17$2,054,100$120,829
200Stony Brook UniversityNYNCAA Division I-FCS15$2,045,144$136,343

Source: U.S. Department of Education Office of Postsecondary Education