The Future of Small College Athletics

"It must be reimagined in a way that allows the institutions to sustainably support it."

Author

Steve Ulrich
June 03, 2025 • Estimated Reading Time: 9 minutes

JUNE 3, 2025 | composed by STEVE ULRICH

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TOP STORY
1. The Future of Small College Athletics

by Jim Abbott

“Just like a big box store, higher education is a business. For years the world has looked at colleges and universities as non-profit entities that serve the higher purpose of educating young people, conducting research, and providing a positive impact on society. While each of these priorities can commonly be found in higher education strategic plans, the fact is that plans require funding.

Colleges and universities generate revenue in a variety of ways including charitable gifts, federal grants, state funding, and enrollment. Without fail, for most institutions, enrollment revenue (tuition, fees, room/board) is the critical component on the balance sheet. For years, enrollment at colleges and universities has been declining. While there are outlier schools that have maintained or increased their enrollment, there are far more that have seen precipitous drops. Lower enrollment means less revenue and less revenue means smaller operating budgets, deferred maintenance, and difficult decisions.

This is a reality for many small colleges and universities who have faced these challenges for the past several years. During this time, athletic departments at these schools have seen their roles change dramatically. 25-30 years ago, athletic departments at NCAA D2 and D3 schools, as well as NAIA and 2-year schools primarily existed to bolster school and community pride, enhance campus life, and increase the visibility (think “front porch) of the university.”

» Driving The News. “For many small colleges, adding sports offered temporary respite to revenue challenges. A new team brought new students and new revenue. Keep in mind that each new team also had expenses including coaching salaries, scholarships (or institutional discount), and operating expenses. However, at the same time that athletic departments were growing, schools were still losing traditional (non-athletes) student enrollment. In many cases, a school might add 200 students through athletics but still have lower overall enrollment. For many, flat enrollment from year to year was a success.”

» What’s Next. “Small college athletic leaders should be contemplating this scenario now. What would happen if the funding from the NCAA stopped or was dramatically reduced when the NCAA’s current television agreement expires in 2032? For Division 2 and 3 schools this would likely require an increase in the amount of conference dues paid (or a decrease in services provided for the conference) and additional budget dollars available for post-season travel. In short, the cost of doing business would increase significantly for schools that are already facing enrollment drops and budget cuts. For the most successful schools, post-season travel alone could become a $500,000 or more annual expense.”

» Worth Noting. “When I contemplate the future of small college higher education I believe more resolutely than ever that athletics will continue to be an important part of campus. That having been said, it must be reimagined in a way that allows the institutions to sustainably support it. Most likely this will mean a reorganization of schools to create more geographically centered conferences with like-minded and similarly funded missions.”

NCAA
2. Championships Committee Recap

NCAA Division III

The NCAA DIII Championships Committee met on May 13 via videoconference and recommended that the Division III Strategic Planning and Finance Committee approve an increase in per die, to $150 (traveling team) and $60 (hosts) effective for the 2025-26 and 2026-27 academic years.

The committee noted that an increase would provide immediate benefits to participating institutions without exceeding the amount of $150 that was approved for FY28. The Strategic Planning and Finance Committee, Management Council and Presidents Council indicated initial support for this potential increase during their spring meetings.

The estimated budget impact to implement these per diem increases earlier than originally planned would be an additional $1.2 million dollars in 2025-26 and $608,000 in 2026- 27. There would be no additional cost for the 2027-28 academic year, as the $150/$60 rate already had been earmarked for that fiscal year.

» Women’s Championships Date. “Staff informed the committee of a date formula discrepancy affecting the 2027 joint Divisions II and III Women’s Lacrosse Championship. Division II has moved its date formula to tie the championship to Memorial Day weekend regardless of the number of weekends in the month of May, while the Division III date formula retains the championship on the fourth weekend in May. Because there are five weekends in May 2027, the date formulas do not align. The Division III Women’s Lacrosse Committee will forward a recommendation to the Championships Committee to consider in June.”

CROOTIN’
3. Recruiting Commitments

NEWS YOU CAN USE
4. Lightning Round ⚡️ 

» Finances. “Averett University’s new president says he has a plan for financial recovery that includes repaying the school’s vendors and endowment, and could include further limiting academic options and selling more real estate. But the school’s ongoing financial issues are “not fatal,” and Averett will not close, Thomas Powell said.

» Student Aid. “The Trump administration wants to lower the maximum Pell Grant by $1,685 for the 2026–27 academic year as the program faces an estimated $2.7 billion shortfall.”

» Administrative Leave. “Newly-hired Husson athletic director Amanda Nelson has been placed on administrative leave on her second day on the job. Nelson is named as a defendant in a civil lawsuit in San Diego County stemming from a 2023 incident when she was the Del Norte High School athletic director.”

TRANSACTIONS
5. Comings and Goings 

COLORADO COLLEGE - Ashley ‘AJ’ Johnson named head women’s lacrosse coach
ST. JOHN FISHER - Linda Michele announced her retirement as head women’s lacrosse coach

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