January 2026
Collegiate Consulting Economic Impact Study Finds University of Louisville Athletics Drives $1.28B
A comprehensive economic impact study conducted by Collegiate Consulting confirms that University of Louisville Athletics serves as a powerful economic engine for the University, the City of Louisville, and the Commonwealth of Kentucky, generating $1.28 billion in annual economic impact.
The independent analysis evaluated three primary areas of impact: branding and media exposure, game-day and event-related economic activity, and the contributions of personnel and student-athletes.
Lawrence University Retains Collegiate Consulting to Assist with Athletic Director Search
Lawrence University has retained Collegiate Consulting to assist in its Athletic Director search. Collegiate Consulting will begin the search immediately with posting the job description on different platforms and begin discussions with potential candidates. The search is anticipated to conclude in the next 3-to-5 weeks.
The job description can be found below and interested candidates need to submit application materials to cdawes@collegiateconsulting.com.
Quick Bytes
- Lincoln University to shut down its embattled football program for 2026-27 season
- Sen. Cruz says federal laws must prevent student-athletes from being considered employees
- Government official who sued the NCAA for unlimited transfers now lashes out against portal
- NIL attorney reports endowment fund to be managed by University of Hawaii to compensate its athletes
- NCAA spent $1.75M this past year on federal lobbying in an as-of-yet unsuccessful bid
- College football targeting rule could be headed for overhaul
- National conventional discussions suggest college sports and Congress is more complicated than SCORE Act
- DIII Management Council met on two exceptions to public disclosure restrictions regarding infractions
- Division I cabinet approves sweeping alterations to transfer portal
- For coaching families, new jobs often translates into overwhelming projects for spouses
What's the Word?
Collegiate Consulting Facilitates 65 Studies in 2025
Collegiate Consulting completed 65 projects across 55 institutions and conferences over the past year, marking its most successful period in Collegiate Consulting’s 20-year history.
In 2025, Collegiate Consulting completed a wide range of projects: 13 divisional feasibility studies; 14 athletics valuation studies; 10 membership reclassification support projects; 7 executive and coaching searches; 5 operational reviews; 3 strategic plans; 2 membership studies and several benchmarking and comparison studies.
Additional projects included enrollment initiatives, surveys, media studies, and long-term support for programs aimed at ongoing stability. Over the course of more than 20 years, Collegiate Consulting has completed numerous projects recognized for their breadth and depth across all intercollegiate athletics, further solidifying its reputation as a trusted industry leader.
With the recent expansion into NIL and economic impact studies, Collegiate Consulting now strives to assist not only administrators but also student athletes, coaches, and support staff, both within their communities and in the broader context of athletics.
Collegiate Consulting Economic Impact Studies Provide Illumination
Knowing your worth is providing more and more integral to college athletic
departments. Using rigorous, industry-standard methodologies—including advertising value
equivalency, RIMS II multipliers from the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, and the MR-SAM economic impact model—the study analyzed data from FY2021 through FY2024, with a primary focus on the 2022-23 through 2024-25 academic years.
As we continue to partner with institutions of varying size and conference competition level, we are excited to explore opportunities for each new and existing clients. Several moving pieces to research give our university partners an expanded perspective for potential excellence.
We thrive on connection with our college athletic community and we seek to
champion their notable actions and achievements.
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