Most big State college football programs are $$ makers for the school. Winning teams also draw in big contributions from Alumni.
Here are the main problems:
— Professors who make big salaries, but only teach 1-2 classes per semester (just Fall & Spring — not summer). This is sustainable if they bring in grants to cover their time, but many don’t.
— Administrators up the wazoo. Deans, associate & assistant deans, vice provosts, vice president for Diversity, etc, etc. And, of course, these people all need secretaries, assistants, and student helpers.
— Health care and pensions for all of the above.
— Building sprees. New facilities do help bring in students. But the fact that some colleges take it to excess drives most colleges to try to keep up (whether they can afford it or not).
— Student perks. Cafeterias that resemble cruise ship buffets. The ability to get an omlet at 2AM. When I was an undergrade, we got 3 meals per day in a lunch line that looked like the one in my high school.
— Charging more for an online course (taught by an adjunct professor) than for an in-residence course. Many schools do this.
Truth in advertising: I’m a college professor.
Oh, a couple more things:
— Pseudo-academic centers - These things are started to explore a niche area that was hot once, but is now a $$ drain on the university. Unfortunately, like Government programs, once started, these are difficult to kill.
— Theft - Newer computers, printers, and flat panel displays, etc are attractive targets for thieves. At my school, theft is a big problem.
— Campus Security - Once a sleepy operation run by retired police officers, many Campus Security departments resemble modern police departments. Unfortunately, this is driven by increased incidents of violence and theft.