CollegeFootballDigestfrom CooperSearch

Northwestern football money

In 2024-25, Northwestern football brought in $85.6 million and spent $37.9 million, the 26th-most revenue of 124 FBS programs. That’s $9.5 million for each of its 4 wins. 109 players were on the roster, with 14 assistant coaches.

Revenue and expenses

2012: revenue $30.1 million2012: expenses $21.7 million’122013: revenue $31.5 million2013: expenses $22.6 million2014: revenue $31.7 million2014: expenses $20.9 million’142015: revenue $36.2 million2015: expenses $24.6 million2016: revenue $38.7 million2016: expenses $26.8 million’162017: revenue $49.7 million2017: expenses $30.0 million2018: revenue $63.2 million2018: expenses $32.1 million’182019: revenue $59.5 million2019: expenses $33.1 million2020: revenue $43.1 million2020: expenses $27.4 million’202021: revenue $58.9 million2021: expenses $32.9 million2022: revenue $70.0 million2022: expenses $38.4 million’222023: revenue $74.0 million2023: expenses $39.1 million2024: revenue $85.6 million2024: expenses $37.9 million’24

Revenue Expenses (top: $85.6M)

Beside the Big Ten, 2024-25

11th of 17 in revenue
  1. Michigan$175M / $61.7M
  2. Ohio State$161M / $92.4M
  3. Penn State$150M / $77.4M
  4. Nebraska$122M / $70.6M
  5. Washington$121M / $68.9M
  6. Oregon$120M / $60.8M
  7. Wisconsin$112M / $40.9M
  8. Iowa$105M / $50.9M
  9. Minnesota$102M / $45.5M
  10. Illinois$87.9M / $48.0M
  11. Northwestern$85.6M / $37.9M
  12. Purdue$83.1M / $37.2M
  13. Indiana$80.9M / $50.2M
  14. Michigan State$77.1M / $48.2M
  15. USC$74.0M / $74.0M
  16. Maryland$63.1M / $35.5M
  17. UCLA$55.2M / $55.2M

Each member’s football revenue (the thick bar) and expenses (the thin one under it) that year, as the schools reported them; schools count revenue differently.

Against the Big Ten

revenue, 2012-13 to 2024-25

  1. Michigan

    $175M in 24–⁠25

  2. Ohio State

    $161M in 24–⁠25

  3. Penn State

    $150M in 24–⁠25

  4. Nebraska

    $122M in 24–⁠25

  5. Washington

    $121M in 24–⁠25

  6. Oregon

    $120M in 24–⁠25

  7. Wisconsin

    $112M in 24–⁠25

  8. Iowa

    $105M in 24–⁠25

  9. Minnesota

    $102M in 24–⁠25

  10. Illinois

    $87.9M in 24–⁠25

  11. Northwestern

    $85.6M in 24–⁠25

  12. Purdue

    $83.1M in 24–⁠25

  13. Indiana

    $80.9M in 24–⁠25

  14. Michigan State

    $77.1M in 24–⁠25

  15. USC

    $74.0M in 24–⁠25

  16. Maryland

    $63.1M in 24–⁠25

  17. UCLA

    $55.2M in 24–⁠25

Each program’s football revenue by season, as each school reports it (EADA), on one scale (top: $175M), for the programs in the Big Ten this season, most revenue first; Northwestern in its color.

By season

SeasonRevenueExpensesRecordSpent a winRankRosterAssistants
2024-25$85.6M$37.9M4–⁠8$9.5M26 of 12410914
2023-24$74.0M$39.1M8–⁠5$4.9M31 of 12510314
2022-23$70.0M$38.4M1–⁠11$38.4M30 of 12311114
2021-22$58.9M$32.9M3–⁠9$11.0M34 of 12211414
2020-21$43.1M$27.4M7–⁠2$3.9M25 of 12011414
2019-20$59.5M$33.1M3–⁠9$11.0M28 of 12311514
2018-19$63.2M$32.1M9–⁠5$3.6M24 of 12311814
2017-18$49.7M$30.0M10–⁠3$3.0M34 of 12311514
2016-17$38.7M$26.8M7–⁠6$3.8M47 of 12110313
2015-16$36.2M$24.6M10–⁠3$2.5M47 of 12210713
2014-15$31.7M$20.9M5–⁠7$4.2M49 of 12211013
2013-14$31.5M$22.6M5–⁠7$4.5M43 of 12210613
2012-13$30.1M$21.7M10–⁠3$2.2M42 of 11910613

As Northwestern University reports them to the US Department of Education under the Equity in Athletics Disclosure Act (ope.ed.gov/athletics). Schools count revenue differently (some include institutional support), so compare with care. “Spent a win” is the year’s football expenses over that season’s wins. Rank is football revenue among programs in the same division that season. Browse every school’s in the data.