MADISON – The University of Wisconsin athletic department ranked in the top three of the Big Ten Conference in operating revenue and expenses for the 2015-’16 fiscal year.

Ohio State and Michigan were Nos. 1 and 2 in the league, respectively, in revenue and expenses in 2015-’16, according to figures provided to USA Today by the schools.

Ohio State reported $170,789,765 in operating revenue and $166,811,018 in expenses, for a net operating surplus of $3,978,747.

Michigan reported $163,850,616 in revenue and $157,872,099 in expenses, for a net of $5,978,517.

UW reported $132,788,726 in revenue (up 7.2% from 2014-'15) and $130,433,373 in expenses (up 9.9%), for a net of $2,355,353.

Nationally, Wisconsin's revenue ranked No. 11 among the 230 public schools reporting their finances. Ohio State was No. 3 and Michigan No. 5. Texas A&M was No. 1 with operating revenue of $194,388,450.

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UW’s net operating surplus was the sixth-highest among Big Ten schools.

Nebraska led the way at $8,397,186, followed by Michigan ($5,978,517), Ohio State ($3,978,747), Penn State ($2,898,927), Minnesota ($2,832,455) and UW ($2,355,353).

Three Big Ten schools reported expenses that outpaced revenue.

They were: Illinois, with expenses of $102,912,910 and revenue of $96,249,500; Iowa, with expenses of $116,168,740 and revenue of $113,249,020; and Purdue, with expenses of $78,778,953 and revenue of $78,699,976.

UW was fifth in the Big Ten in total ticket sales.

Ohio State led the way with $61,362,320, followed by Michigan ($49,617,039), Nebraska ($37,198,005), Penn State ($35,188,377) and UW ($30,959,974).

Fiscal information from Northwestern, the only private school in the Big Ten, was not available for this report.

Wisconsin's two other Division 1 programs both reported expenses that exceeded revenue.

UW-Milwaukee reported total operating expenses of $13,683,620 and revenue of $13,304,385 for a deficit of $379,235. Ticket sales brought in $193,374.

UW-Green Bay reported total operating expenses of $9,205,556 and revenue of $9,031,105 for a deficit of $174,451. Ticket sales totaled $721,062.