KU Athletics reports nearly $30m debt, $2.9m deficit

LAWRENCE (KSNT) - In 2024, the University of Kansas (KU) reported that it had almost $30 million in total athletics-related debt and ran a $2.9 million deficit.

In the 2024 KU NCAA Membership Financial report, KU reported that its athletic department had $29,961,071 in total athletics-related debt. The university reported that in 2024, it paid $956,613 in interest payments on the debt.

In 2024, KU reported $135 million in operating revenue but had total operating expenses of $138 million, resulting in a budget deficit of $2,901,806.

The top expenses for KU Athletics were coaching salaries, support staff salaries and athletic student aid. The largest revenue sources for the school were reported as ticket sales, media rights and contributions.

On Feb. 26, 27 News contacted the university asking for details on the deficit and debt but KU Athletics has yet to give an official response. We will update this article with their response.

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