In 2024, the UMKC athletic department, Kansas City Athletics, brought in almost $16 million. Over 22% of that came from student fees.
While almost $3.6 million came from student fees, only $121,080 came from ticket and concession sales.
Similar to UMKC, Missouri S&T had just under $8 million in revenue, and $20,000 in ticket sales in 2023.
Vice Chancellor and Athletics Director Brandon Martin, Ed.D., said that schools like Mizzou receive better funding.
“UMKC has been elevating its athletics program because of the benefits it brings to a university including campus engagement,” Martin said. “We are successful building our department while keeping student fees low and with UMKC keeping its tuition and other fees low compared to other universities in the Midwest.”
Shelby Marquis, a senior at UMKC, said she had no idea how much of our tuition was going towards the athletic department.
“Why do we have that amount going towards athletics and not the students who can’t afford to live on or off campus,” said Marquis.
When asked about where she would like to see these funds go, she mentioned the price for parking, which amounts to $270 for fall-spring semester.
“The accessibility to campus and the cost of parking is a bigger issue,” she said. “The amount for parking passes is unbelievable.”
According to the WINAD college athletics database for 2023-2024, UMKC’s $3.6 million in student fees is about half the average student fees of $7.03 million among its peer 47 Division I universities that also don’t have football programs.
In contrast, University of Missouri – St. Louis had over $9 million less in total operating revenues, but does not have any student fees, even with their ticket sales coming in at just over $18,000. Neither does Mizzou, totalling just over $168 million with no student fees.
Many students had similar reactions to this information. Most are not aware how much is coming from their pockets to help fund the athletic department. UMKC is not as large of a conference as Mizzou is, while schools like UMSL and Missouri S&T are Division II.
Some students said they wouldn’t care as much if it was something they followed or cared about. Oncey Brown, a junior at UMKC, says that he can understand the frustration to some degree.
“I understand that funding of some sort is needed in order to support the Roos,” said Brown. “It can be frustrating to spend money on something that not a lot of people care about or follow. Those funds could be beneficial elsewhere.”
But Olivia Christensen, UMKC junior, sees the more positive side of it.
“I see athletics as an opportunity for students who may not otherwise be able to get education,” said Christensen. “It’s just as valid that student athletes receive funding for their activities, just like any other academic or social club.”
UMKC levies the Student Life Fee, which is assessed per semester to all students in a traditional degree program. It funds programs like intercollegiate athletics, campus recreation, and student clubs and organizations. The fee, since based on credit hours, varies for everyone.
The average full-time student will pay roughly $735.00 a semester, to the Student Life Fee.
Colleges across Missouri have different ways they go about their athletic department’s funding, and more specifically, student fees. Schools are not required to disclose how much of their tuition revenue goes towards athletics.
