Athletics fees are a mandatory fee that students enrolled in public 4-year colleges and universities pay in addition to their tuition.
Student fees are not the only revenue source for intercollegiate athletics with ticket sales, endowment support, royalties, and broadcast rights. For many colleges and universities, however, student athletic fees subsidize a large portion of athletic budgets. The House Appropriations Committee monitors growth in all mandatory fees with budget language limiting growth in all non-mandatory E&G fees to 3 percent with certain exceptions for salary actions. Particular attention in recent years has focused on athletics with college sports becoming semi-professional opportunities for student athletes.
7%
The average annual increase of athletic fees prior to 2015 Session Reforms (HB 1987)
4%
The average annual increase in athletic fees, after the reforms of 2015 through FY 2024
6%
The average annual increase in athletic fees from FY 2025 to FY 2026 due to recent changes in college athletic programs
Program/Policy Highlights
- Intercollegiate Athletics Review Commission
11-member commission of members of the General Assembly created by the Code to review any plans of a public college or university to add a major college athletics program or change divisions
- Revenue Sharing
The NCAA and Power 4 conferences entered into a landmark settlement often referred to as the House Settlement. This settlement included back damages from the NCCA totaling $2.7 billion + for former (and some current) student-athletes (enrolled between Fall 2016 and Fall 2025); the elimination of scholarship and roster limits; created revenue sharing with student-athletes of up to $20.5 million; and a new requirement for student-athletes to submit any Name, Image and Likeness opportunity over $600 to NIL Go for review/approval. Institutions that participate in revenue sharing, or provide new scholarships, permitted under the House settlement, must continue to generate additional revenue (or receive institutional assistance) to account for significant new expenses. If an institution doesn’t participate in revenue sharing, or provide new scholarships, then its conference and national relevance will be significantly impacted.
- Conference Realignment & Media Rights
Conference realignment will continue to be a pressing issue as institutions pursue larger compensation packages associated with media rights distributions. If an institution is not competitive in football, it is unlikely to be attractive for a Power 4 conference as conference realignment occurs.
- Existing Expenses
The NCAA has previously imposed several mandates regarding medical coverage, mental health, scholarships, degree completion, etc. Moreover, the NCAA has increased coaching/personnel opportunities and recruiting activities, which in effect, have become mandatory to implement. State legislatures can create revenue distribution opportunities for institutions, and eliminate limits on institutional financial assistance, which will be necessary to ensure institutions succeed.