2027 Best Value Sports Management Schools in Kentucky
[Sports Management](/majors/parks-recreation-fitness/health-and-physical-education/sports-management/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
To produce this 2027 ranking, College Factual evaluated 16 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for sports management students.
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2027 Best Value Sports Management Schools in Kentucky
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in sports management, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Sports Management Schools
Leading the list is Western Kentucky University, our #1 best value for sports management in Kentucky. Located in the city of Bowling Green, Western Kentucky University is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $11,652, while out-of-state students pay about $27,000. Typical student debt for sports management graduates is $24,593. Soon after graduation, sports management degree recipients from Western Kentucky University generally make around $25,858. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 94% of applicants are accepted.
Morehead State University is a great value for students pursuing a degree in sports management, landing the #2 spot this year. Morehead State University is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Morehead. In-state tuition and fees average $10,024, with out-of-state students paying around $14,980. Sports Management graduates carry a median of $25,946 in student loans. Sports Management graduates of Morehead State University earn a median of $30,696 early in their careers. Set against $25,946 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 77% of applicants are accepted.
A rank of #3 makes Kentucky State University one of the best values for sports management. Kentucky State University is a mid-sized public school located in the town of Frankfort. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,387, while out-of-state students pay about $13,578. Typical student debt for sports management graduates is $29,774. Sports Management graduates of Kentucky State University earn a median of $28,497 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Kentucky State University admits about 96% of applicants.
A rank of #4 makes Eastern Kentucky University one of the best values for sports management. Eastern Kentucky University is a large public school located in the town of Richmond. In-state tuition and fees average $10,320, with out-of-state students paying around $21,230. Typical student debt for sports management graduates is $27,000. Sports Management graduates of Eastern Kentucky University earn a median of $33,722 early in their careers. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 78% of applicants are accepted.
A rank of #5 makes University Of The Cumberlands one of the best values for sports management. Set in the town of Williamsburg, University Of The Cumberlands is a very large private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $9,875. Students borrow a median of $22,630 to complete the sports management program here. Sports Management graduates of University Of The Cumberlands earn a median of $31,401 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 99%.
Georgetown College earned the #6 position for value in sports management this year. Georgetown College is a small private not-for-profit school located in the town of Georgetown. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $42,840. Typical student debt for sports management graduates is $27,000. Early-career sports management graduates make about $37,620. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. Roughly 91% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Louisville earned the #7 position for value in sports management this year. University Of Louisville is a very large public school located in the city of Louisville. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $13,136, with out-of-state students paying around $29,482. Sports Management graduates carry a median of $22,053 in student loans. Sports Management graduates of University Of Louisville earn a median of $36,995 early in their careers. Set against $22,053 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of Louisville admits about 79% of applicants.
Kentucky Wesleyan College ranked #8 on our 2027 list of the best value sports management schools. Kentucky Wesleyan College is a small private not-for-profit school located in the city of Owensboro. In-state tuition and fees average $34,673. Sports Management graduates carry a median of $25,000 in student loans. Sports Management graduates of Kentucky Wesleyan College earn a median of $32,568 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $25,000 median debt. Roughly 72% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Kentucky placed #9 among the best values for sports management. Set in the city of Lexington, University Of Kentucky is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $13,502 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $34,140. Typical student debt for sports management graduates is $24,094. Early-career sports management graduates make about $43,994. That is a strong return on a $24,094 median debt. The acceptance rate is 93%.
Alice Lloyd College earned the #10 position for value in sports management this year. Located in the rural area of Pippa Passes, Alice Lloyd College is a small private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $13,960. Graduates go on to earn a median of $40,573 ten years after entry. Alice Lloyd College admits about 75% of applicants.
Campbellsville University came in at #11 for value in sports management this year. Campbellsville University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the town of Campbellsville. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $27,998. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the sports management program here. Soon after graduation, sports management degree recipients from Campbellsville University generally make around $43,474. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Campbellsville University admits about 80% of applicants.
Union College Kentucky earned the #12 position for value in sports management this year. Located in the town of Barbourville, Union College Kentucky is a small private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $30,946. Typical student debt for sports management graduates is $27,852. Early-career sports management graduates make about $54,587. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 63% of applicants are accepted.
Asbury University came in at #13 for value in sports management this year. Located in the town of Wilmore, Asbury University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $33,640 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for sports management graduates is $26,250. Early-career sports management graduates make about $50,086. That is a strong return on a $26,250 median debt. Asbury University admits about 63% of applicants.
Bellarmine University landed the #14 spot for sports management value this year. Bellarmine University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Louisville. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $48,770. Students borrow a median of $25,944 to complete the sports management program here. Early-career sports management graduates make about $30,236. Set against $25,944 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 86% of applicants are accepted.
Thomas More College earned the #15 position for value in sports management this year. Located in the suburb of Crestview Hills, Thomas More College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $39,025 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for sports management graduates is $31,608. Sports Management graduates of Thomas More College earn a median of $57,440 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $31,608 median debt. Thomas More College admits about 90% of applicants.
Midway College placed #16 among the best values for sports management. Set in the rural area of Midway, Midway College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $19,110. Sports Management graduates carry a median of $23,125 in student loans. Sports Management graduates of Midway College earn a median of $42,586 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Midway College admits about 95% of applicants.
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Notes and References
This ranking is produced 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 · 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.
