Where do most college sports programs allocate their budget?

I'm considering doing college sports and I'm curious to know how the financial side of things works. So, where does most of the money go in college sports programs? Into training, facilities, recruitment, scholarships, or something else? Any info would be much appreciated.

The distribution of the budget for a college sports program can vary across different institutions, but there are a few common areas where most of these programs tend to allocate their funds.

1. Scholarships: Athletic scholarships are typically a significant portion of a sports program's budget. The money goes directly to student-athletes in the form of tuition, room, and board, books, and other fees. The amount can differ greatly depending on the sport and the level of competition.

2. Salaries and Benefits: The largest proportion of a college sports program's budget is often allocated to the salaries and benefits of coaches, assistant coaches, trainers, sports medicine staff, and administrative personnel. Coaching salaries, in particular, can be quite high, especially for schools with competitive programs in high-revenue sports like football and basketball.

3. Facilities and Maintenance: Another substantial part of the budget goes toward maintaining and improving sports facilities. This could include costs associated with gyms, stadiums, fields, locker rooms, and training facilities. The funding also covers periodic renovations and upgrades.

4. Travel and Recruiting: To participate in competitions and to scout new talents, teams need to travel, which involves transportation, accommodation, and meal expenses. Recruitment costs are another significant factor and can include expenses associated with hosting prospective student-athletes for official visits.

5. Equipment and Supplies: Every sports program requires sports equipment, uniforms, and other necessary supplies, which need to be replaced periodically. For some sports, these costs can become quite significant.

6. Operations: Day-to-day operational costs include utilities, administrative expenses, sports medicine supplies, insurance, and event management.

Sports programs aim to balance their budgets to support their athletes and teams effectively, while also investing in areas that will ensure the longevity and competitiveness of the program.