2027 Best Value Sports Management Schools in Missouri
[Sports Management](/majors/parks-recreation-fitness/health-and-physical-education/sports-management/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
To produce this 2027 ranking, College Factual evaluated 17 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for sports management students.
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2027 Best Value Sports Management Schools in Missouri
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 Missouri Southern State University, our #1 best value for sports management in Missouri. Located in the city of Joplin, Missouri Southern State University is a moderately-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,600, while out-of-state students pay about $18,300. Students borrow a median of $24,947 to complete the sports management program here. Sports Management graduates of Missouri Southern State University earn a median of $34,465 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $24,947 median debt. Missouri Southern State University admits about 97% of applicants.
Students looking for strong value in sports management will find it at University Of Central Missouri, which ranked #2. University Of Central Missouri is a large public school located in the town of Warrensburg. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $10,050, while out-of-state students pay about $18,600. Sports Management graduates carry a median of $26,000 in student loans. Soon after graduation, sports management degree recipients from University Of Central Missouri generally make around $39,975. Set against $26,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 64%.
Students looking for strong value in sports management will find it at University Of Missouri St Louis, which ranked #3. Set in the suburb of Saint Louis, University Of Missouri St Louis is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $15,120, compared with $37,620 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $25,943 to complete the sports management program here. Sports Management graduates of University Of Missouri St Louis earn a median of $53,079 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $25,943 median debt. University Of Missouri St Louis admits about 63% of applicants.
A rank of #4 makes Missouri Western State University one of the best values for sports management. Located in the city of Saint Joseph, Missouri Western State University is a mid-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,545, with out-of-state students paying around $18,455. Students borrow a median of $24,815 to complete the sports management program here. Soon after graduation, sports management degree recipients from Missouri Western State University generally make around $36,557. That is a strong return on a $24,815 median debt.
Missouri State University Springfield came in at #5 on our 2027 list of the best value sports management schools. Set in the city of Springfield, Missouri State University Springfield is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $9,502, while out-of-state students pay about $18,770. Typical student debt for sports management graduates is $22,876. Soon after graduation, sports management degree recipients from Missouri State University Springfield generally make around $29,761. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 90%.
Southeast Missouri State University earned the #6 position for value in sports management this year. Southeast Missouri State University is a large public school located in the city of Cape Girardeau. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,903. Students borrow a median of $22,572 to complete the sports management program here. Soon after graduation, sports management degree recipients from Southeast Missouri State University generally make around $34,638. That is a strong return on a $22,572 median debt. Roughly 74% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Missouri Columbia ranked #7 on our 2027 list of the best value sports management schools. University Of Missouri Columbia is a very large public school located in the city of Columbia. Students from in state pay about $14,837 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $36,056. Sports Management graduates carry a median of $21,818 in student loans. Early-career sports management graduates make about $53,134. Set against $21,818 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of Missouri Columbia admits about 78% of applicants.
Evangel University earned the #8 position for value in sports management this year. Evangel University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Springfield. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $28,548. Sports Management graduates carry a median of $24,876 in student loans. Early-career sports management graduates make about $42,039. Set against $24,876 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Evangel University admits about 72% of applicants.
Lindenwood University earned the #9 position for value in sports management this year. Set in the city of Saint Charles, Lindenwood University is a large private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $21,600. Students borrow a median of $28,000 to complete the sports management program here. Sports Management graduates of Lindenwood University earn a median of $35,314 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 57%.
Southwest Baptist University ranked #10 on our 2027 list of the best value sports management schools. Set in the town of Bolivar, Southwest Baptist University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $30,566. Sports Management graduates carry a median of $19,550 in student loans. Soon after graduation, sports management degree recipients from Southwest Baptist University generally make around $30,837. That is a strong return on a $19,550 median debt. Roughly 68% of applicants are accepted.
Maryville University Of Saint Louis came in at #11 for value in sports management this year. Located in the suburb of Saint Louis, Maryville University Of Saint Louis is a large private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $27,166. Sports Management graduates carry a median of $23,250 in student loans. Early-career sports management graduates make about $32,480. Set against $23,250 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 95% of applicants are accepted.
Culver Stockton College landed the #12 spot for sports management value this year. Culver Stockton College is a small private not-for-profit school located in the rural area of Canton. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $30,875. Sports Management graduates carry a median of $27,252 in student loans. Sports Management graduates of Culver Stockton College earn a median of $38,725 early in their careers. Set against $27,252 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 99% of applicants are accepted.
Columbia College Missouri placed #13 among the best values for sports management. Set in the city of Columbia, Columbia College Missouri is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $12,276. Typical student debt for sports management graduates is $29,213. Sports Management graduates of Columbia College Missouri earn a median of $47,962 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Westminster College Missouri came in at #14 for value in sports management this year. Set in the town of Fulton, Westminster College Missouri is a small private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $35,214. Students borrow a median of $26,170 to complete the sports management program here. Sports Management graduates of Westminster College Missouri earn a median of $37,667 early in their careers. Set against $26,170 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 79%.
Saint Louis University Main Campus placed #15 among the best values for sports management. Saint Louis University Main Campus is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Saint Louis. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $55,760. Students borrow a median of $26,316 to complete the sports management program here. Sports Management graduates of Saint Louis University Main Campus earn a median of $65,599 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 75% of applicants are accepted.
William Woods University placed #16 among the best values for sports management. Set in the town of Fulton, William Woods University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $30,340. Typical student debt for sports management graduates is $25,545. Early-career sports management graduates make about $24,329. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 71%.
Missouri Baptist University came in at #17 for value in sports management this year. Missouri Baptist University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Saint Louis. In-state tuition and fees average $33,122. Typical student debt for sports management graduates is $26,001. Early-career sports management graduates make about $39,737. That is a strong return on a $26,001 median debt. Roughly 69% of applicants are accepted.
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Notes and References
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 · 17 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 17 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.
