2027 Best Value Sports Management Schools in Arkansas

[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 7 schools to build this 2027 ranking of the best value sports management schools.
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2027 Best Value Sports Management Schools in Arkansas
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in sports management, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Sports Management Schools
Arkansas State University Main Campus tops our 2027 list of the best value sports management schools in Arkansas. Located in the city of Jonesboro, Arkansas State University Main Campus is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,090, with out-of-state students paying around $14,522. Sports Management graduates carry a median of $26,000 in student loans. Soon after graduation, sports management degree recipients from Arkansas State University Main Campus generally make around $43,319. That is a strong return on a $26,000 median debt. Roughly 82% of applicants are accepted.
Central Baptist College came in at #2 on our 2027 list of the best value sports management schools. Central Baptist College is a small private not-for-profit school located in the city of Conway. In-state tuition and fees average $21,330. Typical student debt for sports management graduates is $46,694. Soon after graduation, sports management degree recipients from Central Baptist College generally make around $44,780. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Central Baptist College admits about 64% of applicants.
Southern Arkansas University Main Campus came in at #3 on our 2027 list of the best value sports management schools. Set in the town of Magnolia, Southern Arkansas University Main Campus is a moderately-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,960, with out-of-state students paying around $15,690. Students borrow a median of $20,169 to complete the sports management program here. Early-career sports management graduates make about $38,612. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 75% of applicants are accepted.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at University Of Central Arkansas earned it the #4 place for sports management. Set in the city of Conway, University Of Central Arkansas is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $10,523 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $18,023. Sports Management graduates carry a median of $25,000 in student loans. Sports Management graduates of University Of Central Arkansas earn a median of $38,372 early in their careers. Set against $25,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 90%.
Students looking for strong value in sports management will find it at Harding University, which ranked #5. Harding University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the town of Searcy. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $25,962. Typical student debt for sports management graduates is $26,054. Soon after graduation, sports management degree recipients from Harding University generally make around $29,178. That is a strong return on a $26,054 median debt. Roughly 70% of applicants are accepted.
Ouachita Baptist University ranked #6 on our 2027 list of the best value sports management schools. Set in the town of Arkadelphia, Ouachita Baptist University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $34,500 in tuition and fees. Sports Management graduates carry a median of $19,672 in student loans. Sports Management graduates of Ouachita Baptist University earn a median of $31,385 early in their careers. Set against $19,672 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 68% of applicants are accepted.
Henderson State University came in at #7 for value in sports management this year. Set in the town of Arkadelphia, Henderson State University is a mid-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $8,244, compared with $10,620 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $23,234 to complete the sports management program here. Early-career sports management graduates make about $40,629. That is a strong return on a $23,234 median debt.
More Sports Management Rankings
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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 · 7 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 7 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.