The 13 Richest Athletic Departments In College Sports Valued At More Than $1 Billion

College sports have become a very lucrative business in recent years. With the introduction of NIL at the Division I level, we’re seeing more money being thrown around than ever before.

That player payment system has made athletic department revenue all the more important. The more valuable a school, the more opportunity for success.

That value can be determined by a myriad of factors not limited to success in major sports, television network revenue, conference affiliation, donor base, and history of achievement.

Most valuable college sports programs

CNBC ranked the Top 75 universities in terms of estimated value this past year. Thirteen of those schools hold a valuation of more than $1 billion.

You’ll notice a common theme throughout the group as 12 of the 13 colleges hail from either the Big Ten or Southeastern Conference.

Here, we’ll list those Top 13 in order from least to most valuable, starting in Norman, Oklahoma.

Oklahoma Sooners

The Sooners’ athletic valuation comes in at $1.01 billion. That number ranks thirteenth in the nation and seventh in the SEC.

Oklahoma boasts notable basketball accomplishments and a baseball team with a history of success. They also have the most dominant softball team in the NCAA.

Football is where the money is made, though. The program has seven national championships and seven Heisman trophy winners. The Sooners have been a frequent flyer in the College Football Playoff, a trend that continued in the most recent season.

The department as a whole is typically well rounded, providing more opportunity to revenue.

In 2025, the Sooners won one national title (women’s gymnastics) while watching the men’s basketball team play in the NCAA Tournament, the baseball club compete in a Regional, and the softball squad make the Women’s College World Series.

That postseason success, alongside a lucrative SEC television deal, pushes Oklahoma past the $1 billion threshold.

LSU Tigers

The Tigers come in at No. 12 on the list with a valuation of $1.05 billion. They become the second SEC member on the list, ranking sixth amongst conference affiliates.

LSU, like the previously mentioned Sooners, has a history of success in all three major sports. In 2025, they won their second baseball title in three years, which represented the school’s only national championship.

Both the men’s and women’s basketball teams have Final Four appearances within the last 20 years.

Football is the top earner, however. Each and every season, the 100K+ stadium is packed out when the Tigers play at home. The recent introduction of beer sales has been more than helpful to this particular school, too.

The fans typically have something to cheer about. The football team has four national championships with the most recent coming in 2019. The history of success keeps the fan and donor bases coming back for more.

As far as investment, no one has thrown more at coaches of late than the Tigers. While it can backfire in some cases, it highlights the school’s emphasis on competing at the highest level. They often get (and keep) their targets – and that relates to all sports.

Success, investment, and SEC ties make LSU a top player.

Penn State Nittany Lions

Penn State is the first Big Ten school to make the list, ranking 11th in the nation and fifth in the conference with an estimated valuation of $1.06 billion.

The Nittany Lions boast one of the most recognizable brands in college sports, particularly football.

The 2024-25 bunch was very visible thanks to its postseason success. It not only made the College Football Playoff but nearly played for a national championship. It was also able to host (and sell out) a postseason contest for the first time in what was a very lucrative run.

Success isn’t always seen on the diamond or hardwood, a trend that continued this past calendar year, it can often be found elsewhere. For example, the Nittany Lions made the ’25 NCAA Hockey Frozen Four and won a national championship in wrestling.

Penn State’s postseason success is paired with a $1 billion Big Ten media deal, making the athletic department extremely valuable.

Nebraska Cornhuskers

Nebraska’s estimate comes in at $1.06 billion, making the athletic program the fourth-most valuable in the Big Ten. Like the Nittany Lions mentioned above, the Cornhuskers get a piece of the annual pie when it comes to television revenue.

On-field performance plays a role in the valuation, too. While success has proven elusive of late, the football program boasts brand recognition thanks to past success. That’s led to unwavering loyalty.

Fans pack the stadium each week. An investment into the team and coaching staff is made each and every year.

Other sports to their best to chip in. While the school didn’t win a national title in 2025, there were some close finishes. That includes an appearance in the NCAA Bowling Final Four.

The Cornhuskers also played in the Women’s NCAA Basketball Tournament and booked tickets to a Baseball and Softball Regional.

The ability to compete at the highest level across multiple sports provides additional revenue opportunities.

Alabama Crimson Tide

Alabama is the third SEC school on the list with an estimated value of $1.09 billion. The Crimson Tide rank fifth in the SEC and ninth in the country.

The university has seen extreme success in many major sports of late. That starts with football.

The program is arguably the most dominant in the sport’s history. It again made the College Football Playoff field in 2025, advancing to the Quarterfinals. That came after competing in eight national championships from 2009 to 2021.

Football is the money maker, but it isn’t alone.

The basketball program made the Elite Eight in March. The softball team hosted a Regional. While there were no national titles in 2025, success was evident.

The athletic department reaped the benefits.

USC Trojans

USC holds a valuation of $1.1 billion. That makes the school’s athletic program the third-most valuable in the Big Ten.

The Trojans have a storied past in many major sports, providing a foundation to build upon in terms of achievement and investment. Like many others on this list, football carries the torch.

The program has 11 national titles and boasts eight Heisman trophy winners. But others, most notably baseball, have written their names into the NCAA record books, too.

That tradition of success continued into 2025. The university won a national title in men’s outdoor track and field to add to its NCAA-leading total.

It also made the second round of the NCAA Beach Volleyball Tournament, the third round of the men’s tennis bracket, the Elite Eight in women’s basketball, the Regional Round in baseball, and a football bowl game appearance.

While fan support can sometimes be lacking, the school has been able to overcome thanks to market, tv revenue, a conference change, and success.

Tennessee Vols

Tennessee boasts a valuation of $1.12 billion, making it the fourth-most highly valued program in the Southeastern Conference and No. 7 in the country.

The school was once the gold standard in women’s basketball. It’s been on an incredible run in baseball of late, too, with a 2024 national title.

Football and men’s basketball are where the money has been made, though. The Vols boast back-to-back Elite Eight appearances on the hardwood. On the gridiron, they’re even more successful.

Tennessee claims six national championships in its history. It competed for a national title opportunity in the 2024 College Football field, which earned the conference a hefty payout.

As far as non-revenue teams go, the Vols did not win a national championship in 2025. They did, however, compete in the postseason across multiple sports.

Those include a Women’s College World Series appearance and a men’s tennis tournament bid.

Tennessee is one of college sports’ most well-rounded athletic departments. The fanbase shows out for all of their major programs as a result. It’s built the Vols into one of the most valuable brands in the NCAA.

Notre Dame Fighting Irish

Notre Dame is the only school listed not affiliated with the SEC or Big Ten. The Fighting Irish are independent in football and ACC members in all other sports.

Their exclusive media agreement with NBC certainly gives them a boost in their $1.13 billion valuation. Success on the field adds to it.

Notre Dame won a national championship in fencing in 2025. The women’s basketball team made a Sweet 16. The school also has a recent history of success in lacrosse.

The gridiron, however, is where the Irish cash in. The football fanbase is national, not regional, which many others on this list can’t say. There have been movies made and books written about the lore and history surrounding the program.

That has been a product of success as the team claims 11 championships and seven Heisman trophy winners. The school has also benefitted greatly from independence as it does not have to share football revenue with conference members.

Achievement when combined with television money make Notre Dame one of the nation’s most valuable athletic brands.

Michigan Wolverines

Michigan ranks second in the Big Ten and fifth in the nation with a valuation of $1.16 billion. The university is a top competitor in many major sports, has deep donor pockets, and boasts incredible brand power.

UM has been driven by football and men’s basketball, the two main NCAA cash cows. The Wolverines have made multiple College Football Playoffs, winning a 2023 national title. They also made the championship game in hoops as recently as 2018.

That success is a product of an investment in the programs. The results come in the form of fan support and championship paychecks.

A few other sports have been able to help out this year.

In 2025, the Wolverines won a national title in men’s gymnastics. They also played in the Women’s Basketball Tournament and NCAA Softball Tournament.

Michigan’s history, its on-field success, and its Big Ten affiliation make it a premiere school for college athletics.

Georgia Bulldogs

Georgia holds an estimated valuation of $1.16 billion to rank fourth in the country and third in the SEC. The school has been on top of the college football world of late.

The Bulldogs made their fourth playoff trip in five years in the most recent season to bank a $4 million payday for the SEC. They’ve been able to win a pair of national titles in that time to drive the value of the program way up.

Those postseason wins have banked millions, making Georgia’s case for paying Kirby Smart the top salary in the sport.

The gridiron isn’t the only place where the school shines, though. Georgia has a dominant women’s gymnastics team, and it won 2025 national titles in both women’s tennis and women’s outdoor track and field.

The men’s basketball team booked a ticket to the most recent NCAA Tournament while the baseball team hosted a Regional. The Bulldogs had one of the NCAA’s most complete athletic programs across all sports this past year, something they hope continues for the foreseeable future.

Texas A&M Aggies

This is where the numbers start to jump a bit. Texas A&M ranks second in the SEC and third in the nation with a valuation of $1.32 billion.

The Aggies have deep donor pockets, unmatched university pride, tradition, and on-field success. They sell out a football stadium with more than 100K fans weekly. An investment has been made in basketball and baseball, too.

TAMU’s ability to compete at the highest level in major sports is profitable. The Ags made the most recent College Football Playoff field. They finished national runner-up in baseball in 2024.

Other sports have been able to pitch it, too. In 2025, the school brought home championships in women’s volleyball and men’s outdoor track and field.

That success, paired with ultimate support and an SEC paycheck are a recipe for top value.

Ohio State Buckeyes

Ohio State is the top-ranked team in the Big Ten when it comes to estimated athletic program value. The Buckeyes sit at $1.35 billion.

Much of that comes due to achievement on the football field. The school boasts nine national titles with three coming in the 21st century. That includes an extremely lucrative championship win in the most recent College Football Playoff Final.

The Buckeyes’ 2024 national championship run earned the school boatloads of cash, as did the ability to host a home game in the postseason.

Other major sports, most notably men’s basketball, have been able to hold their own, too, though none were able to take home a trophy in the most recent calendar year.

Ohio State has little competition in the state when it comes to college sport support. They are top dog, which shows annually in both event attendance and on-field success.

The stranglehold on the local fanbase, as well as on-field success and Big Ten affiliation, make Ohio State incredibly valuable.

Texas Longhorns

Texas takes the cake with the No. 1 overall ranking. The athletic program valuation sits at a whopping $1.48 billion for 2025.

Seeing the Longhorns atop the list is no shock. They annually rank among the richest departments in college sports, and there’s a reason.

The school has an alumni base with money to spend. When the teams are good, which is often, the fans show up to support.

An incredible investment has been made in football of late with the Longhorns spending upwards of $20 million a year on the roster. It resulted in near-national title appearance in 2024.

Texas is also one of the few schools that typically sees success across all three major sports to include baseball and basketball. They’ve played for 12 baseball championships, winning six. They’ve also made 22 trips to the NCAA Tournament since 2000.

In 2025, the athletic department added a pair of national championships with one coming in softball and another in men’s swimming and diving.

The combination of fan support, booster giving, on-field success, and conference affiliation gives Texas the top spot.