Analysis: College softball grosses $451 million

Florida State University softball tops the list of highest grossing programs, reporting more than $2.2 million – or $95,837 per athlete – in 2016, followed by Baylor University ($2.17 million) and University of Missouri ($1.8 million), 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 1,600 of those schools have softball programs. In all, they grossed nearly $451 million in 2016.

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Top 200 softball programs by revenue


SchoolStateDivisionTotal undergraduatesSoftball playersSoftball team revenueRevenue per athlete
1Florida State UniversityFLNCAA Division I-FBS29,05123$2,204,241$95,837
2Baylor UniversityTXNCAA Division I-FBS14,08719$2,170,407$114,232
3University of Missouri-ColumbiaMONCAA Division I-FBS24,06023$1,836,083$79,830
4Mississippi State UniversityMSNCAA Division I-FBS16,13428$1,755,203$62,686
5James Madison UniversityVANCAA Division I-FCS18,46728$1,706,393$60,943
6Fordham UniversityNYNCAA Division I-FCS8,72520$1,469,723$73,486
7University of Virginia-Main CampusVANCAA Division I-FBS15,42017$1,391,829$81,872
8California State University-FresnoCANCAA Division I-FBS18,82827$1,359,136$50,338
9Oregon State UniversityORNCAA Division I-FBS18,39521$1,354,748$64,512
10DePaul UniversityILNCAA Division I without football13,12621$1,339,619$63,791
11Boston CollegeMANCAA Division I-FBS9,48621$1,334,868$63,565
12University of Louisiana at LafayetteLANCAA Division I-FBS12,85938$1,333,558$35,094
13University of TulsaOKNCAA Division I-FBS3,24822$1,308,605$59,482
14East Carolina UniversityNCNCAA Division I-FBS19,69820$1,301,852$65,093
15Hofstra UniversityNYNCAA Division I without football6,46217$1,264,712$74,395
16The University of Texas at El PasoTXNCAA Division I-FBS13,32123$1,249,378$54,321
17University of the PacificCANCAA Division I without football3,37520$1,238,173$61,909
18Liberty UniversityVANCAA Division I-FCS27,10023$1,194,720$51,944
19The University of AlabamaALNCAA Division I-FBS29,07119$1,170,919$61,627
20Brigham Young University-ProvoUTNCAA Division I-FBS28,01221$1,159,283$55,204
21Utah State UniversityUTNCAA Division I-FBS16,88839$1,154,146$29,593
22St John's University-New YorkNYNCAA Division I without football11,46819$1,148,777$60,462
23University of Hawaii at ManoaHINCAA Division I-FBS10,67623$1,148,735$49,945
24Villanova UniversityPANCAA Division I-FCS6,46920$1,121,030$56,052
25Rutgers University-New BrunswickNJNCAA Division I-FBS33,93918$1,118,705$62,150
26The University of Texas at AustinTXNCAA Division I-FBS37,02621$1,115,054$53,098
27San Diego State UniversityCANCAA Division I-FBS26,53025$1,108,185$44,327
28Seton Hall UniversityNJNCAA Division I without football5,48423$1,093,915$47,562
29California State University-FullertonCANCAA Division I without football27,92526$1,087,444$41,825
30Coastal Carolina UniversitySCOther8,82821$1,083,720$51,606
31University of Central FloridaFLNCAA Division I-FBS38,22820$1,082,535$54,127
32Stetson UniversityFLNCAA Division I-FCS3,01719$1,074,658$56,561
33Providence CollegeRINCAA Division I without football3,76820$1,071,173$53,559
34LIU BrooklynNYNCAA Division I without football3,74920$1,059,474$52,974
35University of Massachusetts-AmherstMANCAA Division I-FBS21,34019$1,054,498$55,500
36Creighton UniversityNENCAA Division I without football3,97029$1,052,036$36,277
37University of MemphisTNNCAA Division I-FBS12,37219$1,048,883$55,204
38University of Alabama at BirminghamALNCAA Division I-FBS8,94129$1,040,637$35,884
39Loyola Marymount UniversityCANCAA Division I without football5,98720$1,033,636$51,682
40New Mexico State University-Main CampusNMNCAA Division I-FBS9,82523$1,033,569$44,938
41Ohio University-Main CampusOHNCAA Division I-FBS17,79419$1,026,485$54,026
42University of Pittsburgh-Pittsburgh CampusPANCAA Division I-FBS18,12918$1,004,841$55,825
43San Jose State UniversityCANCAA Division I-FBS21,56928$1,001,948$35,784
44The University of Tennessee-KnoxvilleTNNCAA Division I-FBS20,71926$1,000,349$38,475
45Lehigh UniversityPANCAA Division I-FCS4,99018$999,948$55,553
46Syracuse UniversityNYNCAA Division I-FBS14,32420$995,881$49,794
47George Washington UniversityDCNCAA Division I without football10,34319$993,027$52,265
48Colorado State University-Fort CollinsCONCAA Division I-FBS21,21121$968,959$46,141
49Bucknell UniversityPANCAA Division I-FCS3,52521$966,750$46,036
50University of Washington-Seattle CampusWANCAA Division I-FBS28,16521$966,490$46,023
51Furman UniversitySCNCAA Division I-FCS2,69123$963,997$41,913
52Colgate UniversityNYNCAA Division I-FCS2,86419$962,079$50,636
53North Dakota State University-Main CampusNDNCAA Division I-FCS10,63120$957,827$47,891
54University of California-Santa BarbaraCANCAA Division I without football21,19922$949,320$43,151
55University of ArizonaAZNCAA Division I-FBS29,04923$948,362$41,233
56University of HoustonTXNCAA Division I-FBS25,39921$943,179$44,913
57College of CharlestonSCNCAA Division I without football9,47020$940,749$47,037
58Lipscomb UniversityTNNCAA Division I without football2,65116$940,522$58,783
59University of DelawareDENCAA Division I-FCS17,73621$937,931$44,663
60University of South AlabamaALNCAA Division I-FBS9,59624$937,591$39,066
61University of South Florida-Main CampusFLNCAA Division I-FBS23,60328$932,519$33,304
62University of Nevada-Las VegasNVNCAA Division I-FBS18,23724$929,583$38,733
63Miami University-OxfordOHNCAA Division I-FBS16,10918$927,610$51,534
64Illinois State UniversityILNCAA Division I-FCS17,42026$924,253$35,548
65University of ToledoOHNCAA Division I-FBS12,81020$922,846$46,142
66Bethany CollegeKSNAIA Division II64055$920,634$16,739
67Bradley UniversityILNCAA Division I without football4,27820$913,828$45,691
68Saint Joseph's UniversityPANCAA Division I without football4,64921$900,921$42,901
69Elon UniversityNCNCAA Division I-FCS5,85419$894,600$47,084
70Marshall UniversityWVNCAA Division I-FBS7,91718$882,915$49,051
71Wichita State UniversityKSNCAA Division I without football8,56624$882,911$36,788
72Texas State UniversityTXNCAA Division I-FBS28,18024$877,830$36,576
73Drexel UniversityPANCAA Division I without football13,25825$875,905$35,036
74University of San DiegoCANCAA Division I-FCS5,43321$875,030$41,668
75Ball State UniversityINNCAA Division I-FBS15,01822$874,569$39,753
76California Polytechnic State University-San Luis ObispoCANCAA Division I-FCS19,65021$871,653$41,507
77Kent State University at KentOHNCAA Division I-FBS19,03426$866,178$33,315
78Campbell UniversityNCNCAA Division I-FCS3,73421$858,385$40,875
79University of Illinois at ChicagoILNCAA Division I without football16,40819$855,034$45,002
80Samford UniversityALNCAA Division I-FCS3,20418$848,454$47,136
81Quinnipiac UniversityCTNCAA Division I without football6,78417$846,429$49,790
82Butler UniversityINOther4,17123$843,717$36,683
83Drake UniversityIANCAA Division I-FCS3,09117$842,353$49,550
84Georgia State UniversityGANCAA Division I-FBS19,06229$839,779$28,958
85University of New Mexico-Main CampusNMNCAA Division I-FBS15,73222$832,271$37,831
86University of Nevada-RenoNVNCAA Division I-FBS15,39023$827,801$35,991
87Seattle UniversityWANCAA Division I without football4,46321$813,369$38,732
88Middle Tennessee State UniversityTNNCAA Division I-FBS15,98523$805,916$35,040
89Saint Francis UniversityPANCAA Division I-FCS1,54020$804,805$40,240
90California Baptist UniversityCANCAA Division II without football5,87825$802,775$32,111
91Longwood UniversityVANCAA Division I without football3,95118$799,139$44,397
92Eastern Kentucky UniversityKYNCAA Division I-FCS11,00220$798,425$39,921
93North Carolina State University at RaleighNCNCAA Division I-FBS20,81818$797,855$44,325
94University of EvansvilleINNCAA Division I without football2,01524$796,977$33,207
95University of Detroit MercyMINCAA Division I without football2,16019$796,200$41,905
96Grand Canyon UniversityAZNCAA Division I without football14,54222$794,101$36,096
97Eastern Michigan UniversityMINCAA Division I-FBS12,71423$793,852$34,515
98The University of Texas at ArlingtonTXNCAA Division I without football16,66324$792,723$33,030
99University of Wisconsin-MadisonWINCAA Division I-FBS28,20120$791,274$39,564
100University of ConnecticutCTNCAA Division I-FBS18,53818$788,762$43,820
101Southern Illinois University-CarbondaleILNCAA Division I-FCS10,50916$783,139$48,946
102California State University-NorthridgeCANCAA Division I without football29,05626$780,122$30,005
103Belmont UniversityTNNCAA Division I without football5,92519$777,708$40,932
104Mercer UniversityGANCAA Division I-FCS4,01221$777,391$37,019
105Sacred Heart UniversityCTNCAA Division I-FCS4,79323$775,129$33,701
106Central Michigan UniversityMINCAA Division I-FBS17,07724$773,833$32,243
107University of California-DavisCANCAA Division I-FCS28,54423$772,986$33,608
108Troy UniversityALNCAA Division I-FBS9,32920$769,820$38,491
109California State University-SacramentoCANCAA Division I-FCS23,18124$767,472$31,978
110University of Rhode IslandRINCAA Division I-FCS12,42225$765,010$30,600
111University at BuffaloNYNCAA Division I-FBS18,73220$761,376$38,069
112Northern Illinois UniversityILNCAA Division I-FBS12,32323$756,560$32,894
113Loyola University ChicagoILNCAA Division I without football10,26117$755,902$44,465
114Florida Atlantic UniversityFLNCAA Division I-FBS15,71521$749,832$35,706
115Towson UniversityMDNCAA Division I-FCS16,82723$748,140$32,528
116University of North Carolina at CharlotteNCNCAA Division I-FBS20,25717$746,971$43,939
117Kennesaw State UniversityGANCAA Division I-FCS24,17126$742,269$28,549
118Abilene Christian UniversityTXNCAA Division I-FCS3,55021$740,672$35,270
119Valparaiso UniversityINNCAA Division I-FCS3,19619$738,211$38,853
120Monmouth UniversityNJNCAA Division I-FCS4,48418$737,483$40,971
121Lamar UniversityTXNCAA Division I-FCS6,16122$736,585$33,481
122University of MaineMENCAA Division I-FCS8,08220$736,240$36,812
123University of Akron Main CampusOHNCAA Division I-FBS13,36722$734,638$33,393
124Bethune-Cookman UniversityFLNCAA Division I-FCS3,58320$730,483$36,524
125University of Massachusetts-LowellMANCAA Division I without football9,90620$727,566$36,378
126University of Southern MississippiMSNCAA Division I-FBS10,24232$721,699$22,553
127University of HartfordCTNCAA Division I without football4,50616$720,971$45,061
128Jacksonville State UniversityALNCAA Division I-FCS5,39225$718,921$28,757
129Weber State UniversityUTNCAA Division I-FCS10,26524$718,392$29,933
130SUNY at AlbanyNYNCAA Division I-FCS12,38723$710,956$30,911
131Southern Illinois University-EdwardsvilleILNCAA Division I without football9,88321$710,260$33,822
132University of California-RiversideCANCAA Division I without football19,53319$705,496$37,131
133Presbyterian CollegeSCNCAA Division I-FCS94322$701,905$31,905
134Radford UniversityVANCAA Division I without football8,09117$696,107$40,947
135University of North TexasTXNCAA Division I-FBS25,48615$694,693$46,313
136University of California-Los AngelesCANCAA Division I-FBS30,32924$694,680$28,945
137Robert Morris UniversityPANCAA Division I-FCS3,94017$690,775$40,634
138California State University-Long BeachCANCAA Division I without football27,80424$685,468$28,561
139McNeese State UniversityLANCAA Division I-FCS5,44424$683,842$28,493
140University of North DakotaNDNCAA Division I-FCS8,78724$683,197$28,467
141Pennsylvania State University-Main CampusPANCAA Division I-FBS39,88320$682,227$34,111
142Western Michigan UniversityMINCAA Division I-FBS14,99920$680,619$34,031
143University of IowaIANCAA Division I-FBS20,69025$677,126$27,085
144University of the Incarnate WordTXNCAA Division I-FCS4,48828$675,459$24,124
145University of Maryland-Baltimore CountyMDNCAA Division I without football9,47420$674,407$33,720
146University of Northern IowaIANCAA Division I-FCS9,11920$673,362$33,668
147Northwestern State University of LouisianaLANCAA Division I-FCS5,18225$672,954$26,918
148Louisiana Tech UniversityLANCAA Division I-FBS7,43420$672,911$33,646
149Texas A & M University-College StationTXNCAA Division I-FBS44,97521$671,974$31,999
150Houston Baptist UniversityTXNCAA Division I-FCS2,16015$668,789$44,586
151Stony Brook UniversityNYNCAA Division I-FCS15,72917$667,956$39,292
152Appalachian State UniversityNCNCAA Division I-FBS15,45030$664,051$22,135
153University of North Carolina at GreensboroNCNCAA Division I without football13,90419$661,020$34,791
154Lafayette CollegePANCAA Division I-FCS2,50517$659,968$38,822
155Western Kentucky UniversityKYNCAA Division I-FBS12,96717$654,208$38,483
156Midland UniversityNENAIA Division II1,16840$653,682$16,342
157Northern Kentucky UniversityKYNCAA Division I without football9,11925$650,808$26,032
158The University of Texas at San AntonioTXNCAA Division I-FBS19,99521$647,677$30,842
159Saint Mary's College of CaliforniaCANCAA Division I without football2,59019$642,182$33,799
160Central Connecticut State UniversityCTNCAA Division I-FCS7,52920$638,495$31,925
161Bryant UniversityRINCAA Division I-FCS3,39923$627,786$27,295
162Manhattan CollegeNYNCAA Division I without football3,44420$627,294$31,365
163College of the Holy CrossMANCAA Division I-FCS2,68917$627,177$36,893
164Menlo CollegeCANAIA Division I76020$625,576$31,279
165Portland State UniversityORNCAA Division I-FCS13,69821$625,191$29,771
166Indiana State UniversityINNCAA Division I-FCS9,34717$623,615$36,683
167Corban UniversityORNAIA Division I93832$620,359$19,386
168Fairleigh Dickinson University-Metropolitan CampusNJNCAA Division I without football2,32916$619,989$38,749
169Florida International UniversityFLNCAA Division I-FBS25,92021$617,718$29,415
170Georgetown UniversityDCNCAA Division I-FCS6,87418$612,174$34,010
171Florida Gulf Coast UniversityFLNCAA Division I without football10,80923$610,331$26,536
172Canisius CollegeNYNCAA Division I without football2,45319$610,261$32,119
173Georgia Southern UniversityGANCAA Division I-FBS15,91220$610,175$30,509
174Texas A & M University-CommerceTXNCAA Division II with football6,00721$605,502$28,833
175Fairfield UniversityCTNCAA Division I without football3,80220$603,249$30,162
176Texas Wesleyan UniversityTXNAIA Division I1,48725$601,920$24,077
177Stephen F Austin State UniversityTXNCAA Division I-FCS9,57128$600,146$21,434
178La Salle UniversityPANCAA Division I without football3,17422$599,776$27,263
179University of Northern ColoradoCONCAA Division I-FCS8,24218$597,716$33,206
180Missouri State University-SpringfieldMONCAA Division I-FCS15,00820$597,437$29,872
181Wagner CollegeNYNCAA Division I-FCS1,76227$597,194$22,118
182Hampton UniversityVANCAA Division I-FCS3,65219$592,691$31,194
183The University of Tennessee-MartinTNNCAA Division I-FCS4,94322$591,979$26,908
184Siena CollegeNYNCAA Division I without football3,06019$591,089$31,110
185Santa Clara UniversityCANCAA Division I without football5,33319$587,099$30,900
186University of South DakotaSDNCAA Division I-FCS4,92219$585,907$30,837
187University of Missouri-Kansas CityMONCAA Division I without football6,52822$584,158$26,553
188Boston UniversityMANCAA Division I without football16,19922$583,936$26,543
189University of OregonORNCAA Division I-FBS18,30917$582,625$34,272
190The University of Tennessee-ChattanoogaTNNCAA Division I-FCS8,86820$579,524$28,976
191The University of FindlayOHNCAA Division II with football2,56140$578,792$14,470
192Tennessee Technological UniversityTNNCAA Division I-FCS8,38618$578,566$32,143
193Chipola CollegeFLNJCAA Division I91024$576,894$24,037
194Jacksonville UniversityFLNCAA Division I-FCS2,11320$576,384$28,819
195Oakland UniversityMINCAA Division I without football12,91722$576,243$26,193
196Concordia University-IrvineCANCAA Division II without football1,77225$575,870$23,035
197Robert Morris University IllinoisILNAIA Division II2,25341$575,116$14,027
198University of Maryland-College ParkMDNCAA Division I-FBS26,17422$574,889$26,131
199Charleston Southern UniversitySCNCAA Division I-FCS2,89627$573,733$21,249
200Sam Houston State UniversityTXNCAA Division I-FCS14,49719$570,265$30,014

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