Study reveals NFL’s biggest paychecks: which colleges are home to the highest-earning players – did your college make the list?
- Fresno State University produces the highest-earning NFL players, with alumni averaging an impressive $32.82 million, led by Derek Carr.
- University of Louisville ranks second with $18.2 million in average earnings per player, largely due to Lamar Jackson’s success.
- Louisiana–Lafayette shows that smaller programs can still produce top-paid players, ranking third at $15.85 million, boosted by Elijah Mitchell.
- Texas A&M, Alabama State, and Clemson tie for fourth place, each averaging $15.5 million, with stars like Myles Garrett, Eddie Robinson Jr., and Deshaun Watson.
- Texas Christian University (TCU) ranks last, with its alumni earning a modest $1.58 million on average.
- Some of the biggest college football programs are missing from the top spots. Schools like Alabama, Ohio State, and LSU, known for producing top-tier talent, do not dominate this ranking.
Every year, college football programs across the U.S. send top talent to the NFL, but which universities are home to the biggest earners?
A new study analyzed the average earnings of NFL players based on their alma mater, revealing which schools consistently develop high-paid pros.
The research team at SportsMillions analyzed earnings data and the number of NFL players that attended each college, providing a clear picture of the schools that consistently produce high-earning talent. While no college can guarantee NFL success, the data highlights certain programs that are proven to be breeding grounds for future NFL stars.
Surprisingly, traditional football powerhouses don’t always top the list. Fresno State University claims the No. 1 spot, producing NFL players with the highest average earnings. The school’s alumni rake in an impressive $32.82 million on average, thanks largely to star quarterback Derek Carr.
The University of Louisville follows at No. 2, with former players averaging $18.2 million in earnings. The school owes much of its ranking to Lamar Jackson, whose lucrative contracts have helped boost the university’s standing.
Coming in at No. 3 is Louisiana–Lafayette, where players average $15.85 million in career earnings. Despite not being a household name in college football, the university proves that smaller programs can still produce highly paid NFL stars like Elijah Mitchell.
Tied for fourth place are Texas A&M, Alabama State, and Clemson, each with an average of $15.5 million per player. Texas A&M boasts defensive powerhouse Myles Garrett, Alabama State is represented by longtime linebacker Eddie Robinson Jr., and Clemson has high-earning talent like quarterback Deshaun Watson.
At No. 7, Michigan State University players average $14.68 million, bolstered by stars like quarterback Kirk Cousins. Eastern Michigan University follows closely behind, with an average of $14.37 million, helped by standout Maxx Crosby.
In ninth position is Southern Methodist University (SMU) at $13.5 million, which has produced notable talent like Emmanuel Sanders, while University of Charlotte rounds out the top 10.
The top 20 list of colleges that produce the highest-earning NFL players. For the full list, please access Sheet after the table:
| Rank | University | Average Amount of Earning $ |
| 1 | Fresno State University | 32,820,000 |
| 2 | University of Louisville | 18,200,000 |
| 3 | Louisiana–Lafayette | 15,850,000 |
| 4 | University of Texas at A&M | 15,500,000 |
| 5 | Alabama State University | 15,500,000 |
| 6 | University of Clemson | 15,500,000 |
| 7 | Michigan State University | 14,678,063 |
| 8 | Eastern Michigan University | 14,368,000 |
| 9 | Southern Methodist University | 13,500,000 |
| 10 | University of Charlotte | 13,000,000 |
| 11 | University of Auburn | 12,500,000 |
| 12 | University of Nevada, Reno | 12,256,500 |
| 13 | Mississippi State University | 12,240,603 |
| 14 | Utah State University | 11,900,000 |
| 15 | Northwestern University | 11,639,000 |
| 16 | University of Colorado Boulder | 11,490,000 |
| 17 | Louisiana Tech University | 11,260,000 |
| 18 | Temple University | 11,045,000 |
| 19 | University of Mississippi (Ole Miss) | 11,009,818 |
| 20 | University of California, Berkeley | 11,000,000 |
Methodology
The study identified which colleges produce the highest-earning NFL players by analyzing player earnings for the 2025 season. To do this, the research team focused on the top 500 highest-earning NFL players based on their base salary. For each of these players, data were collected on the university they attended. For each university, the team calculated the average earnings of the players who attended that institution, and universities with higher average earnings ranked higher on the list.
Sources
Spotrac NFL Player Earnings Database
ESPN College Football Database