by our College Data Analytics Team
[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.
For its 2027 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 37 schools to find the best return on investment for sports management students.
What’s on this page:
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the sports management degrees they offer, see the list below.
For return on investment in sports management, no school beat Lee College this year. Lee College is a large public school located in the city of Baytown. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,520, with out-of-state students paying around $5,045. Sports Management graduates carry a median of $10,941 in student loans. Sports Management graduates of Lee College earn a median of $53,448 early in their careers. Set against $10,941 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
A rank of #2 makes University Of Houston Victoria one of the best values for sports management. Set in the city of Victoria, University Of Houston Victoria is a moderately-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $7,149, compared with $16,941 for out-of-state students. Sports Management graduates carry a median of $24,081 in student loans. Early-career sports management graduates make about $47,345. Set against $24,081 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 96% of applicants are accepted.
Rice University is a great value for students pursuing a degree in sports management, landing the #3 spot this year. Located in the city of Houston, Rice University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $61,247 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for sports management graduates is $10,000. Soon after graduation, sports management degree recipients from Rice University generally make around $51,110. That is a strong return on a $10,000 median debt. Roughly 8% of applicants are accepted.
Students looking for strong value in sports management will find it at Collin County Community College District, which ranked #4. Located in the suburb of McKinney, Collin County Community College District is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,014, with out-of-state students paying around $6,064. Sports Management graduates carry a median of $9,716 in student loans. Sports Management graduates of Collin County Community College District earn a median of $42,177 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Texas A And M University Commerce came in at #5 on our 2027 list of the best value sports management schools. Located in the town of Commerce, Texas A And M University Commerce is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $10,026, with out-of-state students paying around $22,326. Sports Management graduates carry a median of $23,007 in student loans. Soon after graduation, sports management degree recipients from Texas A And M University Commerce generally make around $45,653. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 92%.
Lamar University placed #6 among the best values for sports management. Set in the city of Beaumont, Lamar University is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,905, while out-of-state students pay about $18,745. Sports Management graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Sports Management graduates of Lamar University earn a median of $31,935 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. Lamar University admits about 86% of applicants.
Midwestern State University earned the #7 position for value in sports management this year. Set in the city of Wichita Falls, Midwestern State University is a moderately-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,950, with out-of-state students paying around $11,770. Students borrow a median of $26,415 to complete the sports management program here. Soon after graduation, sports management degree recipients from Midwestern State University generally make around $41,123. That is a strong return on a $26,415 median debt. Midwestern State University admits about 94% of applicants.
University Of Houston placed #8 among the best values for sports management. Located in the city of Houston, University Of Houston is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $9,717 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $22,547. Students borrow a median of $22,298 to complete the sports management program here. Soon after graduation, sports management degree recipients from University Of Houston generally make around $35,968. Set against $22,298 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 74%.
Angelo State University came in at #9 for value in sports management this year. Angelo State University is a large public school located in the city of San Angelo. In-state tuition and fees average $8,460, with out-of-state students paying around $18,300. Sports Management graduates carry a median of $21,093 in student loans. Sports Management graduates of Angelo State University earn a median of $40,472 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Angelo State University admits about 83% of applicants.
Sul Ross State University came in at #10 for value in sports management this year. Set in the town of Alpine, Sul Ross State University is a mid-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $7,592 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $17,672. Sports Management graduates carry a median of $27,670 in student loans. Soon after graduation, sports management degree recipients from Sul Ross State University generally make around $49,891. Set against $27,670 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Sul Ross State University admits about 99% of applicants.
Texas A And M University Kingsville placed #11 among the best values for sports management. Located in the town of Kingsville, Texas A And M University Kingsville is a moderately-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,892, while out-of-state students pay about $25,746. Sports Management graduates carry a median of $27,957 in student loans. Soon after graduation, sports management degree recipients from Texas A And M University Kingsville generally make around $44,510. That is a strong return on a $27,957 median debt. Roughly 91% of applicants are accepted.
Sam Houston State University earned the #12 position for value in sports management this year. Set in the town of Huntsville, Sam Houston State University is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $9,228 in tuition and fees, compared with $19,068 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for sports management graduates is $26,500. Early-career sports management graduates make about $37,005. Set against $26,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 90%.
Texas A And M University Corpus Christi landed the #13 spot for sports management value this year. Set in the city of Corpus Christi, Texas A And M University Corpus Christi is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,748, compared with $20,794 for out-of-state students. Sports Management graduates carry a median of $26,000 in student loans. Early-career sports management graduates make about $29,632. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 89%.
Jarvis Christian College placed #14 among the best values for sports management. Jarvis Christian College is a small private not-for-profit school located in the rural area of Hawkins. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $11,720. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the sports management program here. Soon after graduation, sports management degree recipients from Jarvis Christian College generally make around $30,308. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Texas State University San Marcos placed #15 among the best values for sports management. Set in the city of San Marcos, Texas State University San Marcos is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $11,450, while out-of-state students pay about $22,930. Typical student debt for sports management graduates is $24,500. Early-career sports management graduates make about $36,866. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 89%.
Texas Tech University ranked #16 on our 2027 list of the best value sports management schools. Located in the city of Lubbock, Texas Tech University is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $11,852 in tuition and fees, compared with $24,157 for out-of-state students. Sports Management graduates carry a median of $23,490 in student loans. Sports Management graduates of Texas Tech University earn a median of $38,090 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 73% of applicants are accepted.
The University Of Texas At Austin placed #17 among the best values for sports management. Located in the city of Austin, The University Of Texas At Austin is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $11,688, compared with $44,908 for out-of-state students. Sports Management graduates carry a median of $22,361 in student loans. Soon after graduation, sports management degree recipients from The University Of Texas At Austin generally make around $35,583. That is a strong return on a $22,361 median debt. The University Of Texas At Austin admits about 27% of applicants.
Texas Southern University earned the #18 position for value in sports management this year. Texas Southern University is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Houston. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $8,637, while out-of-state students pay about $21,473. Students borrow a median of $30,000 to complete the sports management program here. Early-career sports management graduates make about $32,409. Set against $30,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 97% of applicants are accepted.
Hardin Simmons University landed the #19 spot for sports management value this year. Hardin Simmons University is a small private not-for-profit school located in the city of Abilene. In-state tuition and fees average $32,960. Students borrow a median of $26,850 to complete the sports management program here. Soon after graduation, sports management degree recipients from Hardin Simmons University generally make around $38,247. Set against $26,850 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 90%.
Wayland Baptist University earned the #20 position for value in sports management this year. Set in the town of Plainview, Wayland Baptist University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $23,782. Students borrow a median of $30,204 to complete the sports management program here. Early-career sports management graduates make about $51,930. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 56%.
Tarleton State University ranked #21 on our 2027 list of the best value sports management schools. Located in the town of Stephenville, Tarleton State University is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $8,302, while out-of-state students pay about $18,142. Students borrow a median of $20,500 to complete the sports management program here. Soon after graduation, sports management degree recipients from Tarleton State University generally make around $36,117. That is a strong return on a $20,500 median debt. The acceptance rate is 90%.
Texas A And M University College Station landed the #22 spot for sports management value this year. Set in the city of College Station, Texas A And M University College Station is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $12,995, with out-of-state students paying around $40,124. Students borrow a median of $20,414 to complete the sports management program here. Sports Management graduates of Texas A And M University College Station earn a median of $42,358 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 57% of applicants are accepted.
Mcmurry University earned the #23 position for value in sports management this year. Mcmurry University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Abilene. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $32,100. Sports Management graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Sports Management graduates of Mcmurry University earn a median of $41,609 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Mcmurry University admits about 57% of applicants.
Houston Baptist University landed the #24 spot for sports management value this year. Located in the city of Houston, Houston Baptist University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $39,430. Typical student debt for sports management graduates is $21,000. Soon after graduation, sports management degree recipients from Houston Baptist University generally make around $34,720. Set against $21,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 84% of applicants are accepted.
Austin College came in at #25 for value in sports management this year. Located in the city of Sherman, Austin College is a small private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $48,121. Typical student debt for sports management graduates is $24,264. Sports Management graduates of Austin College earn a median of $32,287 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 48%.
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s sports management value ranking:
The ranking above is published 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 · 37 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 37 ranked schools only.
More about our data sources and methodologies.