2027 Best Value Sports Management Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region
[Sports Management](/majors/parks-recreation-fitness/health-and-physical-education/sports-management/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
College Factual analyzed 16 schools to build this 2027 ranking of the best value sports management schools.
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2027 Best Value Sports Management Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the sports management degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Sports Management Schools
Utah State University tops our 2027 list of the best value sports management schools in the Rocky Mountains Region. Located in the city of Logan, Utah State University is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $8,560, compared with $24,993 for out-of-state students. Sports Management graduates carry a median of $16,191 in student loans. Sports Management graduates of Utah State University earn a median of $50,348 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 92%.
Laramie County Community College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in sports management, landing the #2 spot this year. Set in the rural area of Cheyenne, Laramie County Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,613, while out-of-state students pay about $10,913. Sports Management graduates carry a median of $15,309 in student loans. Sports Management graduates of Laramie County Community College earn a median of $51,302 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $15,309 median debt.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Metropolitan State College Of Denver earned it the #3 place for sports management. Located in the city of Denver, Metropolitan State College Of Denver is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $11,124 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $30,684. Students borrow a median of $22,292 to complete the sports management program here. Sports Management graduates of Metropolitan State College Of Denver earn a median of $41,161 early in their careers. Set against $22,292 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 99%.
Mesa State College came in at #4 on our 2027 list of the best value sports management schools. Set in the city of Grand Junction, Mesa State College is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $9,927 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $25,124. Students borrow a median of $25,900 to complete the sports management program here. Soon after graduation, sports management degree recipients from Mesa State College generally make around $31,253. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 82% of applicants are accepted.
Students looking for strong value in sports management will find it at Lewis Clark State College, which ranked #5. Lewis Clark State College is a mid-sized public school located in the city of Lewiston. In-state tuition and fees average $7,610, while out-of-state students pay about $22,028. Students borrow a median of $21,475 to complete the sports management program here. Soon after graduation, sports management degree recipients from Lewis Clark State College generally make around $33,176. Set against $21,475 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 88%.
Dixie State College Of Utah ranked #6 on our 2027 list of the best value sports management schools. Dixie State College Of Utah is a large public school located in the city of Saint George. Students from in state pay about $6,306 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $18,246. Sports Management graduates carry a median of $18,437 in student loans. Sports Management graduates of Dixie State College Of Utah earn a median of $30,912 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Montana State University Billings came in at #7 for value in sports management this year. Located in the city of Billings, Montana State University Billings is a moderately-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $7,280, compared with $22,897 for out-of-state students. Sports Management graduates carry a median of $25,465 in student loans. Early-career sports management graduates make about $48,764. That is a strong return on a $25,465 median debt.
Western State College Of Colorado ranked #8 on our 2027 list of the best value sports management schools. Western State College Of Colorado is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Gunnison. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $11,318, while out-of-state students pay about $24,434. Sports Management graduates carry a median of $25,050 in student loans. Early-career sports management graduates make about $21,038. That is a strong return on a $25,050 median debt. Roughly 100% of applicants are accepted.
The College Of Idaho landed the #9 spot for sports management value this year. The College Of Idaho is a small private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Caldwell. Students from in state pay about $37,845 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for sports management graduates is $23,789. Soon after graduation, sports management degree recipients from The College Of Idaho generally make around $30,968. That is a strong return on a $23,789 median debt. The College Of Idaho admits about 49% of applicants.
Fort Lewis College landed the #10 spot for sports management value this year. Set in the town of Durango, Fort Lewis College is a mid-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,958, while out-of-state students pay about $21,526. Students borrow a median of $15,000 to complete the sports management program here. Soon after graduation, sports management degree recipients from Fort Lewis College generally make around $24,419. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 77%.
Colorado State University Fort Collins landed the #11 spot for sports management value this year. Located in the city of Fort Collins, Colorado State University Fort Collins is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $13,373, compared with $35,061 for out-of-state students. Sports Management graduates carry a median of $22,000 in student loans. Sports Management graduates of Colorado State University Fort Collins earn a median of $35,326 early in their careers. Set against $22,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 88%.
Rocky Mountain College earned the #12 position for value in sports management this year. Located in the city of Billings, Rocky Mountain College is a small private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $35,582. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the sports management program here. Early-career sports management graduates make about $30,025. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 70%.
Boise State University placed #13 among the best values for sports management. Set in the city of Boise, Boise State University is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $9,048, while out-of-state students pay about $27,788. Typical student debt for sports management graduates is $22,524. Soon after graduation, sports management degree recipients from Boise State University generally make around $35,617. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 87%.
Montana State University landed the #14 spot for sports management value this year. Set in the city of Bozeman, Montana State University is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $8,460, with out-of-state students paying around $33,287. Sports Management graduates carry a median of $23,635 in student loans. Soon after graduation, sports management degree recipients from Montana State University generally make around $47,703. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 82%.
Colorado Christian University landed the #15 spot for sports management value this year. Set in the suburb of Lakewood, Colorado Christian University is a large private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $28,846. Sports Management graduates carry a median of $36,092 in student loans. Early-career sports management graduates make about $47,333. Set against $36,092 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Northwest Nazarene University came in at #16 for value in sports management this year. Set in the suburb of Nampa, Northwest Nazarene University is a large private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $40,824. Sports Management graduates carry a median of $27,562 in student loans. Soon after graduation, sports management degree recipients from Northwest Nazarene University generally make around $50,330. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 65% of applicants are accepted.
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Notes and References
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 edition. The methodology weighs the cost of a degree against the earnings graduates go on to achieve, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 16 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 16 ranked schools only.
- The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a branch of the U.S. Department of Education (DOE), serves as the core of our data about colleges.
- Some other college data, including much of the graduate earnings data, comes from the U.S. Department of Education’s (College Scorecard).
More about our data sources and methodologies.
