Colorado University Athletics
CU Athletics Projects Balanced Budget for FY 2025, Additional Focus on Revenue Generation for FY 2026.
November 26, 2025 | General
With the House Settlement in effect since July 1, University of Colorado Athletics has placed an added emphasis on revenue generation in order to meet the new financial demands outlined by the settlement according to budget projections outlined by the Athletic Department and the campus's division of Finance and Business. It's important to note that all budgets must be voted on by the University of Colorado Board of Regents and projections do not constitute final budgets.
The Athletic Department financials for Fiscal Year 2025 are in the process of being finalized and will be outlined in detail in the annual NCAA financial report but the department budget is expected to be balanced. The department is expected to report $141,069,019 in total revenue offset by $141,069,019 in total expenses. Institutional support from the CU Boulder campus and the university's President's Office is expected to be lower than Fiscal Year 2024 by about $2M at around $24M for Fiscal Year 2025.
CU Athletics is expected to meet the $20.5M revenue share cap outlined by the House Settlement, which includes $600,000 in additional scholarships to student-athletes. These added expenditures will appear in the Fiscal Year 2026 NCAA Financial Report. As a result, preliminary budget projections show a department deficit of $27M, which has been offset in part by $4M in additional ticket revenue due to seven home football games in the 2025 season, $6.8M additional revenue generated by concerts and other outside events, and $500,000 due to the first increase in student athletic fees since 1994. The department is also aggressively working on sponsorship agreements like the naming rights partnership with Ford for the indoor practice facility that was recently announced. More initiatives will be unveiled in the future that will offset the new projected expenses. The deficit will not be offset by tuition, funds for academic initiatives or by funds from the government. Department goals for revenue generation are outlined in its latest strategic plan.
The department will also continue to explore ways in which to cut expenses, however it will not cut sports nor cut any resources for student-athletes, including academics, nutrition, and psychological health and performance.
While the new era of collegiate athletics will certainly present challenges to CU Athletics, the department is committed to competing at the highest level while providing student-athletes the world-class experience they deserve.
The Athletic Department financials for Fiscal Year 2025 are in the process of being finalized and will be outlined in detail in the annual NCAA financial report but the department budget is expected to be balanced. The department is expected to report $141,069,019 in total revenue offset by $141,069,019 in total expenses. Institutional support from the CU Boulder campus and the university's President's Office is expected to be lower than Fiscal Year 2024 by about $2M at around $24M for Fiscal Year 2025.
CU Athletics is expected to meet the $20.5M revenue share cap outlined by the House Settlement, which includes $600,000 in additional scholarships to student-athletes. These added expenditures will appear in the Fiscal Year 2026 NCAA Financial Report. As a result, preliminary budget projections show a department deficit of $27M, which has been offset in part by $4M in additional ticket revenue due to seven home football games in the 2025 season, $6.8M additional revenue generated by concerts and other outside events, and $500,000 due to the first increase in student athletic fees since 1994. The department is also aggressively working on sponsorship agreements like the naming rights partnership with Ford for the indoor practice facility that was recently announced. More initiatives will be unveiled in the future that will offset the new projected expenses. The deficit will not be offset by tuition, funds for academic initiatives or by funds from the government. Department goals for revenue generation are outlined in its latest strategic plan.
The department will also continue to explore ways in which to cut expenses, however it will not cut sports nor cut any resources for student-athletes, including academics, nutrition, and psychological health and performance.
While the new era of collegiate athletics will certainly present challenges to CU Athletics, the department is committed to competing at the highest level while providing student-athletes the world-class experience they deserve.
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