Paul Quinn College in Dallas, Texas, spent $151,029 on its women’s basketball teams in 2024, trailing the state average of $940,344 by $789,315, figures from the U.S. Department of Education show.
This figure represented 20.8% of the school’s total spending on sports teams for 2024.
Paul Quinn College has raised its overall sports-related spending by 163% since 2010.
Alongside football, basketball remains among the nation’s most popular collegiate sports. Top NCAA programs draw significant fan support and TV viewership that rivals NBA games. Events like March Madness attract millions each year.
College sports have entered a new era of athlete pay following a federal settlement now permitting schools to share revenue with student-athletes for the first time. The deal also compels the NCAA to pay $2.8 billion in back damages to athletes who competed from 2016 onward over a 10-year period.
Beginning in 2022, after extensive legal and legislative developments, athletes earned the right to benefit financially from their names, images and likenesses through new state laws and a shift in NCAA policy.
The NCAA earned an estimated $900 million in fiscal year 2024 from March Madness and related media rights for the Division I men’s basketball tournament, making basketball its primary revenue stream.
| Year | Basketball team’s expenditures | % from grand total sport team expenditures |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | $84,267 | 13.9% |
| 2021 | $0 | 0% |
| 2022 | $179,899 | 25% |
| 2023 | $146,732 | 16.3% |
| 2024 | $151,029 | 20.8% |
