by our College Data Analytics Team
[Sports Management](/majors/parks-recreation-fitness/health-and-physical-education/sports-management/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong sports management education at a price that pays off.
College Factual analyzed 46 schools to build this 2027 ranking of the best value sports management schools.
What’s on this page:
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the sports management degrees they offer, see the list below.
Lorain County Community College tops our 2027 list of the best value sports management schools in Ohio. Set in the suburb of Elyria, Lorain County Community College is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,265, while out-of-state students pay about $8,860. Sports Management graduates carry a median of $17,611 in student loans. Early-career sports management graduates make about $40,095. Set against $17,611 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Cuyahoga Community College District earned it the #2 place for sports management. Located in the city of Cleveland, Cuyahoga Community College District is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $3,249, with out-of-state students paying around $7,249. Typical student debt for sports management graduates is $14,636. Sports Management graduates of Cuyahoga Community College District earn a median of $39,394 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Sinclair Community College came in at #3 on our 2027 list of the best value sports management schools. Sinclair Community College is a very large public school located in the city of Dayton. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,675, while out-of-state students pay about $8,556. Typical student debt for sports management graduates is $12,525. Soon after graduation, sports management degree recipients from Sinclair Community College generally make around $35,348. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Columbus State Community College earned it the #4 place for sports management. Located in the city of Columbus, Columbus State Community College is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $5,488 in tuition and fees, compared with $11,224 for out-of-state students. Sports Management graduates carry a median of $9,041 in student loans. Median earnings reach $39,435 ten years out. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at University Of Cincinnati Clermont College earned it the #5 place for sports management. University Of Cincinnati Clermont College is a large public school located in the suburb of Batavia. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,639, compared with $13,871 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for sports management graduates is $12,000. Early-career sports management graduates make about $39,221. That is a strong return on a $12,000 median debt.
Ohio State University Main Campus ranked #6 on our 2027 list of the best value sports management schools. Ohio State University Main Campus is a very large public school located in the city of Columbus. Students from in state pay about $13,244 in tuition and fees, compared with $40,022 for out-of-state students. Sports Management graduates carry a median of $23,000 in student loans. Early-career sports management graduates make about $42,137. Set against $23,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Ohio State University Main Campus admits about 61% of applicants.
Hocking College landed the #7 spot for sports management value this year. Set in the rural area of Nelsonville, Hocking College is a mid-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $5,646, with out-of-state students paying around $10,290. Typical student debt for sports management graduates is $16,535. Early-career sports management graduates make about $37,713. Set against $16,535 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Ursuline College came in at #8 for value in sports management this year. Set in the suburb of Pepper Pike, Ursuline College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $38,990. Sports Management graduates carry a median of $35,000 in student loans. Soon after graduation, sports management degree recipients from Ursuline College generally make around $80,267. That is a strong return on a $35,000 median debt. Roughly 75% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Cincinnati Blue Ash College earned the #9 position for value in sports management this year. Located in the suburb of Blue Ash, University Of Cincinnati Blue Ash College is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $7,106 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $15,904. Students borrow a median of $12,000 to complete the sports management program here. Sports Management graduates of University Of Cincinnati Blue Ash College earn a median of $42,936 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Cleveland State University ranked #10 on our 2027 list of the best value sports management schools. Located in the city of Cleveland, Cleveland State University is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $12,982, with out-of-state students paying around $18,502. Typical student debt for sports management graduates is $26,336. Early-career sports management graduates make about $38,787. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 91%.
University Of Akron Main Campus landed the #11 spot for sports management value this year. Set in the city of Akron, University Of Akron Main Campus is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $13,135, while out-of-state students pay about $20,815. Students borrow a median of $31,000 to complete the sports management program here. Sports Management graduates of University Of Akron Main Campus earn a median of $34,060 early in their careers. Set against $31,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 60% of applicants are accepted.
Wittenberg University landed the #12 spot for sports management value this year. Set in the city of Springfield, Wittenberg University is a small private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $45,940. Sports Management graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Early-career sports management graduates make about $40,093. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 72% of applicants are accepted.
Shawnee State University placed #13 among the best values for sports management. Set in the town of Portsmouth, Shawnee State University is a mid-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $9,448 in tuition and fees, compared with $16,032 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $31,000 to complete the sports management program here. Soon after graduation, sports management degree recipients from Shawnee State University generally make around $42,878. That is a strong return on a $31,000 median debt.
Wright State University Main Campus landed the #14 spot for sports management value this year. Located in the suburb of Dayton, Wright State University Main Campus is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $10,991, while out-of-state students pay about $20,691. Sports Management graduates carry a median of $28,250 in student loans. Early-career sports management graduates make about $35,640. That is a strong return on a $28,250 median debt. Wright State University Main Campus admits about 96% of applicants.
Otterbein University earned the #15 position for value in sports management this year. Located in the suburb of Westerville, Otterbein University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $35,548. Typical student debt for sports management graduates is $25,000. Sports Management graduates of Otterbein University earn a median of $31,851 early in their careers. Set against $25,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 84% of applicants are accepted.
College Of Mount St Joseph came in at #16 for value in sports management this year. Set in the suburb of Cincinnati, College Of Mount St Joseph is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $38,150. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the sports management program here. Early-career sports management graduates make about $31,870. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 59%.
Kent State University At Kent earned the #17 position for value in sports management this year. Located in the suburb of Kent, Kent State University At Kent is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $12,220, while out-of-state students pay about $21,575. Typical student debt for sports management graduates is $25,000. Sports Management graduates of Kent State University At Kent earn a median of $36,030 early in their careers. Set against $25,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 86% of applicants are accepted.
Ohio Dominican University landed the #18 spot for sports management value this year. Located in the city of Columbus, Ohio Dominican University is a small private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $35,720. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the sports management program here. Early-career sports management graduates make about $40,467. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. The acceptance rate is 94%.
Walsh University placed #19 among the best values for sports management. Walsh University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of North Canton. In-state tuition and fees average $33,030. Students borrow a median of $26,805 to complete the sports management program here. Early-career sports management graduates make about $53,629. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Walsh University admits about 71% of applicants.
Bluffton University placed #20 among the best values for sports management. Located in the rural area of Bluffton, Bluffton University is a small private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $37,362. Sports Management graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Sports Management graduates of Bluffton University earn a median of $28,602 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Bluffton University admits about 67% of applicants.
Muskingum University came in at #21 for value in sports management this year. Set in the rural area of New Concord, Muskingum University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $31,701. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the sports management program here. Soon after graduation, sports management degree recipients from Muskingum University generally make around $16,067. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 82% of applicants are accepted.
Heidelberg University earned the #22 position for value in sports management this year. Set in the town of Tiffin, Heidelberg University is a small private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $33,600. Sports Management graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Soon after graduation, sports management degree recipients from Heidelberg University generally make around $42,334. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 86%.
Ohio University Main Campus ranked #23 on our 2027 list of the best value sports management schools. Set in the town of Athens, Ohio University Main Campus is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $14,158, while out-of-state students pay about $24,838. Sports Management graduates carry a median of $25,000 in student loans. Soon after graduation, sports management degree recipients from Ohio University Main Campus generally make around $45,420. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Ohio University Main Campus admits about 85% of applicants.
Ohio Wesleyan University earned the #24 position for value in sports management this year. Ohio Wesleyan University is a small private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Delaware. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $54,248. Typical student debt for sports management graduates is $27,000. Soon after graduation, sports management degree recipients from Ohio Wesleyan University generally make around $28,294. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 56%.
Marietta College came in at #25 for value in sports management this year. Marietta College is a small private not-for-profit school located in the town of Marietta. In-state tuition and fees average $39,652. Sports Management graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Soon after graduation, sports management degree recipients from Marietta College generally make around $79,641. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. Marietta College admits about 79% of applicants.
Not far behind, these schools also offered excellent value in sports management:
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 edition. Schools are scored on the balance of cost (tuition and student debt) against student outcomes (post-graduation earnings) — a measure of return on investment, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 46 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 46 ranked schools only.
More about our data sources and methodologies.