University of Arizona softball tops the list of highest grossing programs in Arizona, reporting $948,362 – or $41,233 per athlete – in 2016, followed by Grand Canyon University ($794,101), and Arizona State University-Tempe ($527,073), according to a Higher Education Tribune analysis of the latest federal data.
The U.S. Department of Education Office of Postsecondary Education compiles athletics data annually from more than 2,000 schools receiving federal financial aid.
In Arizona, 18 schools have softball programs, grossing more than $5 million in 2016.
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Top Arizona softball programs by revenue
| School | Division | Total undergraduates | Softball players | Softball team revenue | Revenue per athlete |
| University of Arizona | NCAA Division I-FBS | 29,049 | 23 | $948,362 | $41,233 |
| Grand Canyon University | NCAA Division I without football | 14,542 | 22 | $794,101 | $36,096 |
| Arizona State University-Tempe | NCAA Division I-FBS | 38,761 | 22 | $527,073 | $23,958 |
| Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University-Prescott | NAIA Division I | 2,255 | 17 | $459,526 | $27,031 |
| Yavapai College | NJCAA Division I | 1,694 | 15 | $330,224 | $22,015 |
| Eastern Arizona College | NJCAA Division I | 1,969 | 16 | $282,690 | $17,668 |
| Arizona Christian University | NAIA Division I | 651 | 21 | $245,345 | $11,683 |
| Arizona Western College | NJCAA Division I | 2,163 | 19 | $236,739 | $12,460 |
| Pima Community College | NJCAA Division I | 7,476 | 23 | $210,105 | $9,135 |
| Phoenix College | NJCAA Division II | 2,846 | 21 | $176,370 | $8,399 |
| Central Arizona College | NJCAA Division I | 1,732 | 22 | $173,390 | $7,881 |
| South Mountain Community College | NJCAA Division II | 1,213 | 20 | $133,751 | $6,688 |
| GateWay Community College | NJCAA Division II | 1,265 | $118,631 | ||
| Mesa Community College | NJCAA Division II | 5,883 | 20 | $109,372 | $5,469 |
| Scottsdale Community College | Other | 2,342 | 14 | $106,853 | $7,632 |
| Paradise Valley Community College | NJCAA Division II | 2,185 | 20 | $75,026 | $3,751 |
| Chandler-Gilbert Community College | NJCAA Division II | 3,625 | 14 | $47,098 | $3,364 |
| Glendale Community College | NJCAA Division II | 5,546 | 18 | $32,330 | $1,796 |