Arizona Christian University in Glendale allocated $864,404 to its men’s basketball teams in 2024, which is $667,386 below the state average of $1,531,790, according to the U.S. Department of Education.
Men’s basketball accounted for 6.2% of all university sports team expenses for 2024.
Overall sports spending at Arizona Christian University has risen by 2,359.4% since 2010.
Basketball ranks among the most followed college sports in the U.S., together with football. Leading NCAA basketball programs attract large crowds and television ratings that can approach those of NBA teams. March Madness alone draws millions of viewers annually.
The landscape for college athletes is changing amid compensation reforms. A federal agreement has enabled schools to share revenue with athletes directly for the first time, requiring the NCAA to pay $2.8 billion over 10 years to athletes who competed from 2016 onward.
In 2022, athlete compensation expanded after years of advocacy and new laws allowed athletes to earn income from their names, images and likenesses due to changes in state legislation and NCAA policy.
During its 2024 fiscal year, the NCAA earned about $900 million in revenue from media rights for March Madness and the Division I men’s basketball championship. Basketball is now the organization’s primary revenue generator.
| Year | Basketball team’s expenditures | % from grand total sport team expenditures |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | $1,006,256 | 9.1% |
| 2021 | $668,540 | 6.9% |
| 2022 | $719,184 | 7.1% |
| 2023 | $695,364 | 6.3% |
| 2024 | $864,404 | 6.2% |
Figures in this report are sourced from the U.S. Department of Education. Access the source data here.
