2027 Best Value Sports Management Schools in Tennessee
[Sports Management](/majors/parks-recreation-fitness/health-and-physical-education/sports-management/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
To produce this 2027 ranking, College Factual evaluated 21 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for sports management students.
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2027 Best Value Sports Management Schools in Tennessee
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
University Of Memphis earned the #1 spot for value among sports management schools in Tennessee. Set in the city of Memphis, University Of Memphis is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $10,728, while out-of-state students pay about $15,384. Typical student debt for sports management graduates is $27,500. Early-career sports management graduates make about $35,610. That is a strong return on a $27,500 median debt. University Of Memphis admits about 72% of applicants.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Middle Tennessee State University earned it the #2 place for sports management. Middle Tennessee State University is a very large public school located in the city of Murfreesboro. Students from in state pay about $10,266 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $31,574. Students borrow a median of $23,500 to complete the sports management program here. Early-career sports management graduates make about $36,462. That is a strong return on a $23,500 median debt. Middle Tennessee State University admits about 69% of applicants.
A rank of #3 makes Martin Methodist College one of the best values for sports management. Martin Methodist College is a small public school located in the town of Pulaski. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $10,924. Sports Management graduates carry a median of $23,125 in student loans. Early-career sports management graduates make about $28,069. Set against $23,125 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Martin Methodist College admits about 87% of applicants.
Students looking for strong value in sports management will find it at Bethel University Tennessee, which ranked #4. Bethel University Tennessee is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the town of McKenzie. Students from in state pay about $18,712 in tuition and fees. Sports Management graduates carry a median of $29,677 in student loans. Sports Management graduates of Bethel University Tennessee earn a median of $31,638 early in their careers. Set against $29,677 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Bethel University Tennessee admits about 60% of applicants.
East Tennessee State University is a great value for students pursuing a degree in sports management, landing the #5 spot this year. Located in the city of Johnson City, East Tennessee State University is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $10,216, while out-of-state students pay about $13,726. Sports Management graduates carry a median of $22,036 in student loans. Early-career sports management graduates make about $34,043. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 86% of applicants are accepted.
Cumberland University came in at #6 for value in sports management this year. Set in the town of Lebanon, Cumberland University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $27,840. Sports Management graduates carry a median of $21,902 in student loans. Soon after graduation, sports management degree recipients from Cumberland University generally make around $47,696. That is a strong return on a $21,902 median debt. The acceptance rate is 67%.
Trevecca Nazarene University landed the #7 spot for sports management value this year. Located in the city of Nashville, Trevecca Nazarene University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $31,300. Sports Management graduates carry a median of $24,962 in student loans. Sports Management graduates of Trevecca Nazarene University earn a median of $52,004 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 69%.
Tennessee Wesleyan College came in at #8 for value in sports management this year. Tennessee Wesleyan College is a small private not-for-profit school located in the town of Athens. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $30,814. Sports Management graduates carry a median of $29,750 in student loans. Early-career sports management graduates make about $58,859. That is a strong return on a $29,750 median debt. Roughly 69% of applicants are accepted.
The University Of Tennessee earned the #9 position for value in sports management this year. Located in the city of Knoxville, The University Of Tennessee is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $13,812, compared with $33,256 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $21,500 to complete the sports management program here. Early-career sports management graduates make about $35,175. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 42%.
Lee University placed #10 among the best values for sports management. Set in the city of Cleveland, Lee University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $23,790 in tuition and fees. Sports Management graduates carry a median of $24,750 in student loans. Soon after graduation, sports management degree recipients from Lee University generally make around $22,135. That is a strong return on a $24,750 median debt. Roughly 70% of applicants are accepted.
Carson Newman College ranked #11 on our 2027 list of the best value sports management schools. Set in the suburb of Jefferson City, Carson Newman College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $34,700. Students borrow a median of $25,625 to complete the sports management program here. Soon after graduation, sports management degree recipients from Carson Newman College generally make around $25,972. That is a strong return on a $25,625 median debt. Carson Newman College admits about 90% of applicants.
Bryan College Dayton placed #12 among the best values for sports management. Located in the town of Dayton, Bryan College Dayton is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $19,800. Students borrow a median of $26,077 to complete the sports management program here. Sports Management graduates of Bryan College Dayton earn a median of $44,067 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Milligan College ranked #13 on our 2027 list of the best value sports management schools. Set in the suburb of Milligan, Milligan College is a small private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $40,450 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $23,601 to complete the sports management program here. Early-career sports management graduates make about $64,327. Set against $23,601 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Milligan College admits about 72% of applicants.
Tusculum College landed the #14 spot for sports management value this year. Set in the town of Greeneville, Tusculum College is a small private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $29,250. Typical student debt for sports management graduates is $24,000. Sports Management graduates of Tusculum College earn a median of $22,825 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Tusculum College admits about 72% of applicants.
Freed Hardeman University ranked #15 on our 2027 list of the best value sports management schools. Freed Hardeman University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the town of Henderson. In-state tuition and fees average $25,620. Typical student debt for sports management graduates is $24,479. Soon after graduation, sports management degree recipients from Freed Hardeman University generally make around $54,530. Set against $24,479 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 60%.
Johnson University landed the #16 spot for sports management value this year. Located in the rural area of Knoxville, Johnson University is a small private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $21,122. Sports Management graduates carry a median of $23,819 in student loans. Sports Management graduates of Johnson University earn a median of $34,290 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $23,819 median debt. Johnson University admits about 65% of applicants.
King College landed the #17 spot for sports management value this year. King College is a small private not-for-profit school located in the city of Bristol. In-state tuition and fees average $20,397. Sports Management graduates carry a median of $25,579 in student loans. Early-career sports management graduates make about $49,297. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 100% of applicants are accepted.
Southern Adventist University came in at #18 for value in sports management this year. Southern Adventist University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Collegedale. In-state tuition and fees average $27,300. Sports Management graduates carry a median of $25,975 in student loans. Soon after graduation, sports management degree recipients from Southern Adventist University generally make around $61,366. Set against $25,975 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 66% of applicants are accepted.
Lipscomb University came in at #19 for value in sports management this year. Set in the city of Nashville, Lipscomb University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $40,572. Sports Management graduates carry a median of $24,975 in student loans. Early-career sports management graduates make about $48,949. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 68%.
Union University came in at #20 for value in sports management this year. Union University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Jackson. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $37,398. Sports Management graduates carry a median of $28,605 in student loans. Soon after graduation, sports management degree recipients from Union University generally make around $68,508. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 60% of applicants are accepted.
Belmont University ranked #21 on our 2027 list of the best value sports management schools. Set in the city of Nashville, Belmont University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $42,540. Typical student debt for sports management graduates is $20,000. Early-career sports management graduates make about $37,139. That is a strong return on a $20,000 median debt. Belmont University 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 · 21 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 21 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.
