2027 Best Value Sports Management Schools in Virginia
[Sports Management](/majors/parks-recreation-fitness/health-and-physical-education/sports-management/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong sports management education at a price that pays off.
To produce this 2027 ranking, College Factual evaluated 13 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for sports management students.
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2027 Best Value Sports Management Schools in Virginia
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
For return on investment in sports management, no school beat Old Dominion University this year. Located in the city of Norfolk, Old Dominion University is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $12,750, compared with $33,780 for out-of-state students. Sports Management graduates carry a median of $26,375 in student loans. Early-career sports management graduates make about $37,596. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 90%.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Radford University earned it the #2 place for sports management. Radford University is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Radford. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $12,548, with out-of-state students paying around $25,633. Sports Management graduates carry a median of $25,514 in student loans. Soon after graduation, sports management degree recipients from Radford University generally make around $47,271. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 90%.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at George Mason University earned it the #3 place for sports management. Located in the suburb of Fairfax, George Mason University is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $14,220 in tuition and fees, compared with $38,688 for out-of-state students. Sports Management graduates carry a median of $25,033 in student loans. Early-career sports management graduates make about $36,484. Set against $25,033 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 88% of applicants are accepted.
A rank of #4 makes Emory And Henry College one of the best values for sports management. Set in the rural area of Emory, Emory And Henry College is a small private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $39,000 in tuition and fees. Sports Management graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Soon after graduation, sports management degree recipients from Emory And Henry College generally make around $28,146. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 84% of applicants are accepted.
A rank of #5 makes Virginia State University one of the best values for sports management. Located in the suburb of Petersburg, Virginia State University is a moderately-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $10,043 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $22,650. Typical student debt for sports management graduates is $29,010. Early-career sports management graduates make about $34,682. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Virginia State University admits about 89% of applicants.
Virginia Wesleyan College came in at #6 for value in sports management this year. Set in the city of Virginia Beach, Virginia Wesleyan College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $37,500. Sports Management graduates carry a median of $27,925 in student loans. Early-career sports management graduates make about $45,517. Set against $27,925 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Virginia Wesleyan College admits about 73% of applicants.
Lynchburg College landed the #7 spot for sports management value this year. Located in the city of Lynchburg, Lynchburg College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $36,750. Soon after graduation, sports management degree recipients from Lynchburg College generally make around $107,159. Roughly 43% of applicants are accepted.
James Madison University earned the #8 position for value in sports management this year. Located in the city of Harrisonburg, James Madison University is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $13,966, while out-of-state students pay about $31,312. Typical student debt for sports management graduates is $21,500. Sports Management graduates of James Madison University earn a median of $40,528 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 72% of applicants are accepted.
Virginia Commonwealth University placed #9 among the best values for sports management. Set in the city of Richmond, Virginia Commonwealth University is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $16,720, with out-of-state students paying around $39,884. Sports Management graduates carry a median of $23,813 in student loans. Sports Management graduates of Virginia Commonwealth University earn a median of $45,781 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 93%.
Roanoke College landed the #10 spot for sports management value this year. Roanoke College is a small private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Salem. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $38,068. Sports Management graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Sports Management graduates of Roanoke College earn a median of $27,304 early in their careers. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roanoke College admits about 83% of applicants.
Hampton University landed the #11 spot for sports management value this year. Set in the suburb of Hampton, Hampton University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $30,592. Typical student debt for sports management graduates is $26,000. Sports Management graduates of Hampton University earn a median of $27,633 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $26,000 median debt. The acceptance rate is 62%.
Liberty University landed the #12 spot for sports management value this year. Liberty University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Lynchburg. In-state tuition and fees average $16,173. Sports Management graduates carry a median of $25,645 in student loans. Soon after graduation, sports management degree recipients from Liberty University generally make around $35,930. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 99%.
Shenandoah University placed #13 among the best values for sports management. Set in the city of Winchester, Shenandoah University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $36,950 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for sports management graduates is $27,000. Sports Management graduates of Shenandoah University earn a median of $62,948 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. Shenandoah University admits about 77% of applicants.
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Notes and References
This list is compiled 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 · 13 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 13 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.
