Lori Meadows
Students at the University of North Carolina (UNC) pay mandatory athletic fees as part of their tuition and fees. These fees vary across different campuses and are used to fund scholarships, travel expenses, facilities, and salaries for coaches and staff. While some students may benefit from free admission to athletic events, the fees are not optional and are paid by all full-time students, regardless of their involvement in athletics. The amount of these fees can be substantial, with some UNC campuses charging annual athletic fees of over $700.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Athletic fee at UNC Greensboro in 2014 | $708.50 |
| Athletic fee at UNC-Chapel Hill in 2014 | $7.3 million |
| Athletic fee at UNC-Charlotte in 2014 | 74% of the athletics department budget |
| Athletic fee at Western Carolina | $868 |
| Athletic fee at NC State | $232 |
| Athletic fee at UNC-Chapel Hill | $279 |
| Athletic fee at Elizabeth City State | $449.65 per semester |
| Athletic fee at North Carolina Central | $847 per year |
| Athletic fee at Winston-Salem State | $780 per year |
| Athletic fee at Fayetteville State | $768 per year |
| Percentage of athletics budget covered by the fee at UNC Greensboro | 85% |
| Athletic aid budget for 2021-22 | $17.6 million |
| Athletic aid budget for 2022-23 | $15.2 million |
| Percentage of athletic scholarships awarded by number of scholarships | Football, men’s basketball, women’s basketball, gymnastics, volleyball and women’s tennis (100%) |
| Percentage of athletic scholarships awarded by division of scholarships | Men’s soccer (9.9%) |
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What You'll Learn
- UNC Greensboro students subsidised 81% of the athletic department's budget in 2014
- UNC Chapel Hill's athletic department received $7.3 million from student fees in 2014
- UNC student-athletes can receive athletics aid to cover tuition, fees, and other expenses
- UNC Chapel Hill's athletic department revenue exceeded $100 million in 2018
- UNC System HBCUs charged full athletics fees in 2020 despite no fall sports
UNC Greensboro students subsidised 81% of the athletic department's budget in 2014
The athletic department at UNC Greensboro is largely subsidised by its students. In the 2014 academic year, UNC Greensboro undergraduates contributed nearly $9 million of the $14.7 million athletics budget. Each of the 12,350 full-time undergraduates paid $708.50 to subsidise sports. This amount was charged in addition to regular tuition, room, and board. In other words, UNC Greensboro students paid 81% of the athletic department’s subsidies.
UNC Greensboro's athletics were the most heavily subsidised in the UNC system, with 82% of revenues coming from subsidies and 71% of those subsidies covered by student fees. This trend of students subsidising athletics departments is not unique to UNC Greensboro. For instance, in 2014, UNC-Charlotte's athletic department received 74% of its budget from subsidies, with the majority of those subsidies paid by student fees.
The athletic departments at UNC-Chapel Hill, N.C. State University, and Appalachian State University also collect extra revenue from college football bowl games. However, a study by The Chronicle of Higher Education and the Huffington Post, "Sports At Any Cost," revealed that athletic programs do more to empty UNC students' pockets than they do to boost university bank accounts. Ten out of the sixteen universities in the UNC system were surveyed in the study, covering 2010-2014, and every one of them spent more than they collected in revenues.
The subsidies paid by students go towards various expenses. For example, at UNC Greensboro, the subsidies support spirit groups such as cheer, dance, and band. They also cover the maintenance of athletic facilities, free admission for students to home athletics events, scholarships for student-athletes, and athletics operational costs such as coaches, team travel, recruiting activities, equipment, and uniforms.
While the athletic departments may argue that expanding sports programs can attract more donors and students, economist Richard Vedder, director of the Center for College Affordability and Productivity, notes that there is little empirical evidence to support this claim. As university enrolment declines and budgets shrink, the reliance on student fees to fund athletics programs may become an increasingly contentious issue.
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UNC Chapel Hill's athletic department received $7.3 million from student fees in 2014
The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill's athletic department received $7.3 million from student fees in 2014. This money helps fund the department's operating expenses, which include coaching salaries, benefits, bonuses, support staff, and administration compensation. The football program, in particular, incurs significant expenses, such as a $10 million salary for head coach Bill Belichick, $3.5 million in potential bonuses, $10 million for assistant coaches, and $1 million for strength and conditioning staff.
In addition to student fees, the athletic department generates revenue through various means. Media rights are a significant source of income, bringing in $33.3 million during the 2022-23 fiscal year. Royalties, licensing, advertisements, and sponsorships also contribute substantially, with a 28% increase resulting in $16.4 million in revenue for the same period. The department also receives funding through athletics aid, with a budget of $15.2 million for the 2022-23 academic year.
To further bolster its finances, the athletic department has considered several options. One suggestion is to sell advertising space on players' jerseys, which could bring in an estimated $3 million annually. Another idea is to increase ticket and parking prices, following the example of the University of Tennessee, which added a 10% talent fee to ticket sales. The department has also contemplated re-allocating revenue from trademarks and licensing and seeking additional support from the university, such as funding for sports medicine operations and the Academic Support Program for Student Athletes.
UNC Chapel Hill's athletic department has explored various avenues to secure funding, including student fees, which contributed $7.3 million in 2014. The department continues to seek innovative ways to increase revenue and support its operations.
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UNC student-athletes can receive athletics aid to cover tuition, fees, and other expenses
The University of North Carolina (UNC) offers athletic scholarships to student-athletes, which can cover tuition, fees, room and board, books, and other related expenses. These scholarships are awarded in accordance with NCAA regulations and are based on either head count sports or equivalencies. Head count sports, such as football, men's and women's basketball, gymnastics, volleyball, and women's tennis, receive a set amount of aid regardless of the dollar amount received. For other sports, coaches can divide the allotted scholarships among team members as they see fit.
The amount of financial aid provided to UNC's male and female student-athletes is proportional to their participation rates, in compliance with Title IX. Additionally, student-athletes can receive aid for advance academic programs and study abroad programs that count toward their degree requirements. However, this aid does not cover application fees, flights, or personal expenses.
In some cases, student-athletes may be eligible for additional aid beyond their athletic scholarships. For instance, they may be able to receive Federal Pell Grants or loans in addition to their athletics aid. UNC also has the "Complete Carolina" program, which provides financial support to returning student-athletes proportional to the athletics aid they received during their initial enrollment. Furthermore, the NCAA Student Assistance Fund can cover additional expenses such as health insurance, clothing, emergency travel, and taxes paid on room and board for international student-athletes.
The athletic department at UNC receives invoices and pays for the scholarships awarded to student-athletes. The Department of Athletics proposes an annual budget for athletically related financial aid to the Educational Foundation (Rams Club), which uses these projections to guide its fundraising efforts. The aid budget for 2021-22 was $17.6 million, but it decreased to $15.2 million in 2022-23 due to changes in the Appropriations Act.
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UNC Chapel Hill's athletic department revenue exceeded $100 million in 2018
The UNC Chapel Hill Athletic Department's revenue exceeded $100 million in 2018. In fact, the department's revenue has been consistently over $100 million since at least 2017, with the exception of a slight dip in the 2020-21 season, where it operated at a deficit of approximately $50,000.
The department's revenue streams include media rights deals, ticket sales, outside contributions, royalties and licensing, and student fees. In the 2021-22 season, the department reported a total of $122,603,567 in operating revenues, with over $31 million coming from media rights deals, nearly $30 million from ticket sales, nearly $20 million from outside contributions, nearly $13 million from royalties and licensing, and nearly $48 million from student fees.
The Athletic Department at UNC Chapel Hill supports a wide range of sports, including football, men's and women's basketball, baseball, men's and women's soccer, women's lacrosse, and many others. The revenue generated by the department is used to fund these sports programs, including coaching salaries, recruiting expenses, team travel, and other operational costs.
In addition to generating revenue, the UNC Chapel Hill Athletic Department also provides financial aid to student-athletes. The department proposes an annual budget for athletically related financial aid, which is used to provide scholarships and support to student-athletes. The aid budget for the 2021-22 academic year was $17.6 million, which decreased to $15.2 million in 2022-23 due to changes in legislation.
The UNC Chapel Hill Athletic Department's revenue exceeding $100 million in 2018 and subsequent years reflects the department's successful financial operations and its ability to support a diverse range of sports programs and student-athletes.
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UNC System HBCUs charged full athletics fees in 2020 despite no fall sports
Students at the University of North Carolina (UNC) pay mandatory fees that cover athletics, including the maintenance of athletic facilities, scholarships for student-athletes, and athletics operational costs. These fees are often a significant source of funding for athletics departments, even at schools with national athletic success, such as UNC-Chapel Hill.
In 2020, the UNC System, which includes five historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs), announced that it would not be cutting tuition and fees despite the postponement of fall sports by the CIAA and MEAC. This decision meant that students at Elizabeth City State, Fayetteville State, North Carolina A&T, North Carolina Central, and Winston-Salem State would pay full athletics fees, even though there would be no fall sports. The system also stated that it would not issue refunds for any fees, even if classes were held strictly online.
Todd Simmons, NC A&T’s Associate Vice Chancellor for University Relations, explained that the fees were still necessary to support athletes and athletic facilities, and that public universities in North Carolina are not permitted to cover athletics expenses with general revenue or tuition dollars. The athletic fees at North Carolina A&T and North Carolina Central total more than $800 per year.
While the UNC System HBCUs did not receive a fee cut, it is important to note that the UNC System discussed a performance-based funding model for universities, which would have provided more flexible admissions requirements through Fall 2025. Additionally, one of the HBCUs, Fayetteville State University, joined the NC Promise Program, which set in-state tuition at $1,000 per year, a significant decrease from previous years.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, all full-time students at UNC pay athletics fees, which are billed each semester. The fees vary depending on the campus and are used to fund scholarships, travel, facilities upkeep, and salaries for coaches and staff.
The athletics fee at UNC varies depending on the specific campus and student status. For example, the athletics fee for full-time students at Elizabeth City State, the system's smallest HBCU, is $449.65 per semester, while the fee at North Carolina A&T, the state's largest HBCU, is $435 per semester. At Western Carolina University, the athletics fee is $868 per year.
The athletics fee at UNC covers a variety of expenses related to athletic programs and facilities. This includes scholarships for student-athletes, maintenance of athletic facilities, free admission for students to home athletic events, and operational costs such as coaches' salaries, team travel, and equipment. The fee also supports spirit groups such as cheer, dance, and band.
