The University of Hawaii’s athletic department receives the lowest percentage of subsidies from student fees and state funds among the nine Big West Conference members, according to data from a survey of public Division I schools.

The study by USA Today and Indiana University showed UH athletics was subsidized at a 43.93 percent rate for 2013-’14. Every other school in the conference was subsidized at a 63.62 percent rate or better. Six received subsidies of 75 percent or more. 

Most UH teams compete in the Big West. Football is a member of the Mountain West, where UH ranked sixth among 12 schools in percentage of subsidies.

Subsidies include student fees, direct and indirect state and institutional funds, the study said.  

UH , Cal Poly and UC Davis are the only schools in the Big West that offer football.

Big West 

Rank  School                Percentage

1.  UH                             43.93

2.  Long Beach St.           63.62

3.  Cal Poly                     74.06

4.  Cal State Fullerton      77.56

5.  UC Irvine                    79.75

6.  UC Santa Barbara       79.85

7.  UC Davis                    80.92

8.  CS Northridge              88.26

9.  UC Riverside               89.05 

Mountain West

Rank  School                Percentage

1.  Boise State               25.82

2.  Fresno State             36.35

3.  New Mexico              36.52

4.  Nevada                     39.10

5.  San Diego St.            39.39

6.  UH                            43.93 

7.  Nevada-Las Vegas     44.90

8.  Wyoming                   49.78

9.  Colorado St.               51.70

10  Utah St.                    56.37

11. San Jose St.             61.61

12. Air Force                   66.32