I have the vague impression the U.S. higher education system was at least until 2017 (the year President Trump was inaugurated) world-class.
Yes and no,
You are right that some of the very best universities in the world are in the US. But then there are some that "aren't so good". (And degree mills can be found anywhere.) There are multiple ratings in existence and they sometimes differ
The Times Higher Education World University Rankings, founded in 2004, is a vital resource that provides the definitive list of the world's best universities.
www.timeshighereducation.com
Discover the world's top universities and best colleges for 2026. Explore the Global 2000 list by the Center for World University Rankings (CWUR).
cwur.org
As for the pic with Coach asking for money and getting it (no questions asked) you do have to understand that college football means big money to the schools involved - millions of dollars in income to schools with top ranked teams. (Same goes for basketball.) However this does not hold for most schools - those schools spend more than they earn.
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College football revenue varies significantly by program, ranging from over
$100 million to nearly $200 million per year for top-tier Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) powerhouses, down to a fraction of that at smaller schools. [
1,
2,
3,
4]
Revenue by Program Tiers
- Top-Tier Power Programs (e.g., Ohio State, University of Texas, University of Notre Dame): Elite programs generate massive football-specific and athletic department revenues. For instance, the University of Texas generated over $350 million in total athletic revenue (with football contributing well over $130 million), Ohio State has brought in around $330 million in total athletic revenue, and Notre Dame’s football program alone has reported over $195 million in top sports revenue.
- Power Four Conferences (SEC, Big Ten, ACC, Big 12): These schools average tens to hundreds of millions in football revenue driven by massive media broadcast contracts, ticket sales, corporate sponsorships, and booster/donor contributions.
- Group of Five and Lower Divisions: Outside the major conferences, football programs generate far less revenue (often just a few million dollars or less) and frequently rely heavily on institutional subsidies, student fees, or government support to cover operating costs. [1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8]
Where the Money Comes From
Major revenue streams for college football include:
- Media & Broadcast Rights: Multi-million-dollar conference TV deals (such as those with the SEC and Big Ten) provide the largest single share of revenue.
- Game Day Revenue: Ticket sales, luxury suites, and parking.
- Donor & Booster Contributions: Direct philanthropic gifts and endowments tied to athletic seating or facilities.
- Licensing & Sponsorships: Apparel sales, corporate advertising, and brand-name licensing. [1, 2, 3, 4, 5]
Net Profit vs. Expense Reality
While top programs pull in staggering gross numbers,
most college athletic departments (about 94% across Division I) spend more than they make, meaning football revenue is often heavily consumed by coach salaries, facility debt service, travel, scholarships, and direct athlete revenue-sharing/NIL payments. You can explore financial breakdowns for public universities through the
USA TODAY NCAA Finances Database or review overall trends via the
GAO College Athletics Report.
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That said, during my grad student days I remember attending a conference at Williams and met a local high school teacher in the weight room - he said that during football season it wasn't uncommon to see private helicopters land there so that alumni could attend their games.
