The University of Â鶹´«Ã½ at ²Ñ¨¡²Ô´Ç²¹ Athletics Department is proposing an increase to the mandatory student athletics fee to expand benefits and experiences for students and support the long-term financial sustainability of its Division I programs.
The proposal would increase the fee from $50 to $125 per semester beginning in fall 2027. The fee has remained unchanged since it was established in 2011. The increase is expected to generate approximately $2.49 million in additional annual revenue, bringing total student fee support for athletics to about $4.15 million.
“The student athletics fee has not increased since it was established in 2011, while the costs of operating a Division I athletics program have grown significantly,” UH ²Ñ¨¡²Ô´Ç²¹ Athletics Director Matt Elliott said. “This additional support would help us address rising costs in areas such as recruiting, team travel, nutrition, medical care, academic support and facilities while providing the stable funding we need to remain competitive.”
UH ²Ñ¨¡²Ô´Ç²¹ currently generates about $1.66 million annually from the fee, substantially less than athletics programs at peer institutions. Even with the proposed increase, estimated fee revenue per enrolled student would remain below the Mountain West Conference average.
Students receive complimentary admission to regular-season home athletics events. During the 2025–26 season, 5,928 individual students attended at least one athletics contest, with 20,596 total student admissions recorded across six sports.
“Athletics is a valuable part of the student experience at UH ²Ñ¨¡²Ô´Ç²¹, and we will ensure that the proposed increase directly benefits all students,” Elliott said. “The additional funding would allow us to significantly expand H Rewards for the general student body and invest more in the game-day experiences, entertainment, activities and opportunities that bring students together and build a stronger sense of connection to the campus.”
Athletics leaders and students met with the Associated Students of UH ²Ñ¨¡²Ô´Ç²¹ (ASUH) and the Graduate Student Organization (GSO) in August. ASUH members raised questions about the justification for the increase and student outreach, while GSO representatives at the meeting opposed the proposal on affordability grounds and questioned the benefit to graduate students.
UH ²Ñ¨¡²Ô´Ç²¹ is also seeking feedback from the broader student body through an anonymous survey emailed to registered students on August 19. The survey, administered by the ²Ñ¨¡²Ô´Ç²¹ Institutional Research Office, is open through September 4, and the aggregated results will be presented to university leadership and the Board of Regents as part of the review process.
The proposed increase requires approval by the UH Board of Regents and, if approved, would take effect in the 2027–28 academic year.