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Utah taxpayers and students subsidized the state's NCAA athletics programs to the tune of $56 million in 2014, according to an analysis released Tuesday.

The state auditor's office found a wide range of self-reliance in annual reports sent to the NCAA from 2012-14 by Utah's eight colleges and universities.

Most of the numbers have previously been published in USA Today's annual database, which shows that at 85.8 percent, Utah Valley received a higher percentage of its total revenue from subsidies in 2014 than all but 11 of the nation's Division I schools.

Only seven of 230 Division I schools were subsidy-free in 2014. The other 223 got something from their students, their institution or their state.

It's worth noting that athletics departments write their own schools a check for the scholarships they award, and many schools give them a discounted rate. The difference between the usual cost of tuition and the amount paid by athletic departments is reflected as athletic department revenue.

All but two Utah schools — Snow College and Dixie State — were less reliant on subsidies in 2014 than they were in 2012, the state's report shows, although six received a greater subsidy per full-time student in 2014.

"I would say there is no right number," said Utah State Auditor John Dougall. "We're providing transparency of the lay of the land."

The University of Utah had the lowest overall percent subsidy, at 17.5 percent, and generated more than twice as much of its own revenue ($47 million) than the other schools put together ($22 million).

Before Utah State sought and received an additional $1.5 million from the Legislature in January, 56.4 percent of its revenues came from subsidies, or $709 per full-time student.

The highest per-student athletics subsidy was at Southern Utah, which received $1,165 per full-time student, compared to just $99 per student at Salt Lake Community College.

The auditor's office, which said it encourages lawmakers to consider what extent NCAA athletics should be subsidized by the state and its students, did not parse the numbers to determine the source of the subsidies.

Of the five local Division I schools in the USA Today database, Utah State received the highest total amount of institutional support, at $10.2 million, while Utah received the most student fees, at $6.1 million.

Students generally receive benefits in return for their fees. They are admitted to football and basketball games for free or reduced prices at Southern Utah, Utah Valley and Utah State, for instance, and a $50 student section membership at the U. reserves a seat at all home football games.

Twitter: @matthew_piper —

2014 subsidies

Utah • Total subsidy: $9,862,106; Percent of total revenue: 17.5%; Amount per full-time student: $334.33

Utah State • Total subsidy: $14,179,545; Percent of total revenue: 56.4; Amount per full-time student: $708.62

Weber State • Total subsidy: $8,883,487; Percent of total revenue: 66.4%; Amount per full-time student: $614.86

Utah Valley • Total subsidy: $9,601,419; Percent of total revenue: 85.8%; Amount per full-time student: $488.82

Southern Utah • Total subsidy: $7,090757; Percent of total revenue: 72.9%; Amount per full-time student: $1,164.90

Dixie State • Total subsidy: $3,600,486; Percent of total revenue: 66.1%; Amount per full-time student: $602.39

Salt Lake Community College • Total subsidy: $1,966,175; Percent of total revenue: 88.0%; Amount per full-time student: $98.97

Snow College • Total subsidy: $1,294,510; Percent of total revenue: 77.6%; Amount per full-time student: $403.27