By Nolan McKendry | The Center Square

Auditors have identified financial shortfalls in the athletic departments of five Louisiana public universities, with expenses outpacing revenues across the board.

The combined deficit for these institutions exceeds $21.7 million. Each program is largely reliant on institutional support and contributions.

Louisiana Tech University recorded the largest deficit, with $33.37 million in expenses against $22.87 million in revenue, leaving a $10.5 million shortfall.

The largest expenses included $6.08 million in athletic student aid and $6.39 million in coaching salaries and benefits. The university’s highest revenue sources were $6.77 million in direct institutional support and $5.03 million in contributions.

Northwestern State University saw a $2.66 million deficit, bringing in $12.48 million in revenue while incurring $15.15 million in expenses.

The top revenue sources were $5.48 million in institutional support and $1.49 million from student fees, while student aid ($5.48 million) and coaching salaries ($3.09 million) accounted for the largest expenditures.

At the University of Louisiana at Monroe, expenses reached $22.73 million, surpassing revenues of $18.23 million, leaving a $4.49 million gap.

The biggest revenue sources included $7.35 million in institutional support and $3.42 million from guarantees, which are payments received for participating in games against higher-profile teams. The highest costs were $5.58 million for athletic student aid and $5.39 million for coaching salaries.

McNeese State University operated at a $1.65 million deficit, with $16.89 million in expenses against $15.23 million in revenue.

Institutional support provided the largest revenue source at $6.37 million, followed by $2.45 million in contributions. Expenses were largely driven by $4.55 million in athletic student aid and $3.12 million in coaching salaries.

Nicholls State University posted the smallest shortfall at $1.69 million, with $12.95 million in expenses exceeding $11.27 million in revenue.

Student fees ($2.62 million) and institutional support ($2.51 million) were the primary funding sources, while $3.1 million in athletic student aid and $2.89 million in coaching salaries ranked as the largest expenses.