U slaps students with 200 fee to help athletics budget as U starts paying athletes

The University of Minnesota will implement a $200 athletics fee for students in an effort to address a nearly $9 million athletics budget deficit. This fee emerges alongside a 6. 5% tuition increase for in-state undergraduates and a 7. 5% increase for out-of-state students, raising concerns among student leaders. They argue that students already contribute significantly to athletics through ticket sales and merchandise and should not be burdened with additional fees.

Athletic Director Mark Coyle emphasized that the fee is a standard practice at many universities and is necessary for maintaining athletic facilities. The university plans to allocate $20. 5 million to student athlete compensation, which constitutes 12% of the athletics budget for 2026. Despite the anticipated $7 million revenue from the new fees, the budget shortfall remains a pressing issue. Coyle did not engage with student government or other groups before deciding on the fee, which has fueled discontent among students.

Many students express frustration, feeling that they should not subsidize athletics, while others argue that supporting athletes is essential to campus culture.