2027 Best Value Sports Management Schools in Iowa
[Sports Management](/majors/parks-recreation-fitness/health-and-physical-education/sports-management/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
To produce this 2027 ranking, College Factual evaluated 18 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for sports management students.
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2027 Best Value Sports Management Schools in Iowa
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 University Of Northern Iowa, our #1 best value for sports management in Iowa. Set in the city of Cedar Falls, University Of Northern Iowa is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $9,936 in tuition and fees, compared with $21,712 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for sports management graduates is $22,500. Sports Management graduates of University Of Northern Iowa earn a median of $37,954 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 93%.
Des Moines Area Community College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in sports management, landing the #2 spot this year. Des Moines Area Community College is a very large public school located in the suburb of Ankeny. Students from in state pay about $5,790 in tuition and fees, compared with $6,690 for out-of-state students. Sports Management graduates carry a median of $14,956 in student loans. Soon after graduation, sports management degree recipients from Des Moines Area Community College generally make around $43,121. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
A rank of #3 makes Buena Vista University one of the best values for sports management. Set in the town of Storm Lake, Buena Vista University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $41,798 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the sports management program here. Soon after graduation, sports management degree recipients from Buena Vista University generally make around $38,356. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 78% of applicants are accepted.
Waldorf College came in at #4 on our 2027 list of the best value sports management schools. Waldorf College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the rural area of Forest City. In-state tuition and fees average $25,978. Typical student debt for sports management graduates is $24,622. Early-career sports management graduates make about $63,346. Set against $24,622 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Waldorf College admits about 77% of applicants.
Graceland University Lamoni came in at #5 on our 2027 list of the best value sports management schools. Graceland University Lamoni is a small private not-for-profit school located in the rural area of Lamoni. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $19,848. Typical student debt for sports management graduates is $27,000. Sports Management graduates of Graceland University Lamoni earn a median of $22,051 early in their careers. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 81%.
Loras College placed #6 among the best values for sports management. Located in the city of Dubuque, Loras College is a small private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $39,824. Sports Management graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Sports Management graduates of Loras College earn a median of $31,493 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Loras College admits about 100% of applicants.
Grand View University came in at #7 for value in sports management this year. Located in the city of Des Moines, Grand View University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $34,762. Sports Management graduates carry a median of $26,921 in student loans. Sports Management graduates of Grand View University earn a median of $43,236 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $26,921 median debt. The acceptance rate is 99%.
University Of Iowa ranked #8 on our 2027 list of the best value sports management schools. Located in the city of Iowa City, University Of Iowa is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $11,283, with out-of-state students paying around $33,371. Students borrow a median of $23,813 to complete the sports management program here. Soon after graduation, sports management degree recipients from University Of Iowa generally make around $32,737. Set against $23,813 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 84%.
Upper Iowa University landed the #9 spot for sports management value this year. Located in the rural area of Fayette, Upper Iowa University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $19,475. Typical student debt for sports management graduates is $25,641. Soon after graduation, sports management degree recipients from Upper Iowa University generally make around $35,361. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 96%.
Simpson College placed #10 among the best values for sports management. Located in the town of Indianola, Simpson College is a small private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $47,656 in tuition and fees. Sports Management graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Early-career sports management graduates make about $38,158. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Simpson College admits about 86% of applicants.
William Penn University came in at #11 for value in sports management this year. William Penn University is a small private not-for-profit school located in the town of Oskaloosa. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $29,750. Sports Management graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Early-career sports management graduates make about $30,314. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. William Penn University admits about 52% of applicants.
University Of Dubuque ranked #12 on our 2027 list of the best value sports management schools. Set in the city of Dubuque, University Of Dubuque is a small private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $42,095 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for sports management graduates is $27,560. Soon after graduation, sports management degree recipients from University Of Dubuque generally make around $37,528. That is a strong return on a $27,560 median debt. The acceptance rate is 89%.
Briar Cliff University earned the #13 position for value in sports management this year. Briar Cliff University is a small private not-for-profit school located in the city of Sioux City. Students from in state pay about $35,642 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for sports management graduates is $27,000. Early-career sports management graduates make about $61,105. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Clarke University placed #14 among the best values for sports management. Clarke University is a small private not-for-profit school located in the city of Dubuque. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $40,910. Sports Management graduates carry a median of $26,974 in student loans. Sports Management graduates of Clarke University earn a median of $31,013 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 72%.
Saint Ambrose University earned the #15 position for value in sports management this year. Set in the city of Davenport, Saint Ambrose University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $36,658 in tuition and fees. Sports Management graduates carry a median of $26,000 in student loans. Sports Management graduates of Saint Ambrose University earn a median of $26,608 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $26,000 median debt. The acceptance rate is 77%.
Dordt College placed #16 among the best values for sports management. Dordt College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the town of Sioux Center. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $37,050. Students borrow a median of $21,812 to complete the sports management program here. Early-career sports management graduates make about $54,926. Set against $21,812 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 68%.
Northwestern College Iowa came in at #17 for value in sports management this year. Set in the town of Orange City, Northwestern College Iowa is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $36,710. Students borrow a median of $25,415 to complete the sports management program here. Sports Management graduates of Northwestern College Iowa earn a median of $54,845 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 80%.
Wartburg College landed the #18 spot for sports management value this year. Located in the town of Waverly, Wartburg College is a small private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $26,250 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $26,793 to complete the sports management program here. Soon after graduation, sports management degree recipients from Wartburg College generally make around $46,918. Set against $26,793 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 76% of applicants are accepted.
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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 · 18 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 18 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.
