Key Takeaways
- The number of Division I tennis programs declines across several schools, reflecting ongoing college tennis program closures.
- The total number of programs stands at 237 for men and 304 for women.
- The youth participation drops by 23% for boys and 26% for girls.
- The international players account for 64% of men and 61% of women.
The NCAA men’s and women’s tennis tournaments opened with multiple schools announcing the closure of their programs, reflecting a rise in college tennis program closures. Several Division I institutions confirmed decisions to discontinue tennis, reflecting changes in how athletic departments allocate resources.
The University of Arkansas announced that it will end both its men’s and women’s tennis programs. Saint Louis University followed with a similar decision. Illinois State University confirmed that it will end its men’s team. The University of North Dakota stated that it will shut down both its men’s and women’s teams. Gardner-Webb University had earlier announced that the current season would be the last for both its programs.
Program Numbers And Participation Trends
The number of Division I schools sponsoring tennis during the 2024 to 2025 cycle stood at 237 for men’s teams and 304 for women’s teams. Updated figures for the 2025 to 2026 cycle are not yet available. The recent closures add to an ongoing reduction in tennis programs across colleges.
Participation data shows a decline in youth tennis engagement over the past two decades. In 2006, the number of boys and girls aged 12 to 17 who played tennis stood at 1.1 million each. Recent data shows that participation declined by 23% for boys, bringing the total to 849000, and by 26% for girls, reducing the number to 811000.
College-level data also shows a shift in player demographics. In 2022, international students accounted for 64% of first-year men’s players and 61% of first-year women’s players. In Arkansas, 7 of 9 men’s players and 7 of 11 women’s players on the 2025 to 2026 rosters were international students.
Costs And Resource Allocation
Financial data highlights the cost structure behind these decisions, contributing to college tennis program closures. Arkansas reported a combined expense of $2.35 million for its men’s and women’s tennis programs in the 2025 fiscal year. Revenue figures showed $3202 for the men’s team and $82 for the women’s team.
Operating costs per player were also among the highest within the athletic department. The men’s program at Arkansas recorded a per-player cost of $41772, while the women’s program reported $41582 per player.
Similar cost patterns were observed at other institutions. Tennis ranked among the most expensive sports per player at North Dakota and Gardner-Webb. At Illinois State, the cost per men’s player was $10224, which exceeded the costs of football and baseball programs at the same institution. At Saint Louis, tennis ranked third among six men’s sports and sixth among eight women’s sports in terms of cost per player.
Across college athletics, departments have adjusted budgets as resources are directed toward sports with higher revenue generation. Football and basketball programs continue to receive a larger share of funding due to their financial returns.
The current data shows a pattern of declining participation, rising operational costs, and shifting resource allocation. These factors continue to drive college tennis program closures and influence the structure and availability of college tennis programs within Division I institutions.
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