Hunter
10/25/25
The University of Iowa has a $20.5 million budget to pay student athletes this fiscal year.
That’s according to the Iowa branch of the nonpartisan Common Sense Institute, who issued their first higher education-related research report.
The Gazette reports the $20.5 million cap, which is the same figure at Iowa State University, can increase about 4 percent annually — up to about $32 million over the next decade — with each school deciding how and on whom it wants to spend the money.
The University of Northern Iowa didn’t include revenue sharing in its fiscal year budget, but has announced new sport-specific “Competitive Excellence Funds” which will allow revenue-sharing with its athletes. The funds will come exclusively from donors.
The report also shows athletic program revenues and expenses have surged beyond Midwest inflation over the last 25 years — spiking 530 percent at Iowa State, 420 percent at the University of Iowa, and 133 percent at UNI, compared to 78 percent growth in the consumer price index over the same period.