From Dow Jones & Company:

University of Alabama’s approach to recruiting top academic prospects came with clear instructions from then-president Robert Witt – approach it like recruiting top athletic prospects and recruit out of state. In 2007, hiring Nick Saban as head football coach provided a massive boost. Enrollment grew by 14,000, from 25,580 to 39,623. The University’s tuition for out of state students is $32,400 per year, more than triple the $11,100 for in-state students. Out of state students are thus more financially valuable and have brought in an estimated extra $1 billion in revenue during Saban’s tenure. Alabama and other flagship public colleges generally pursue this effort to raise tuition revenue, boost their prestige, and tap into declining in-state high-school populations.



Read more: Saban-omics: How Nick Saban fueled the University of Alabama’s big-money rise