2026 Best Value Sports Studies Schools in Kentucky
[Sports Studies](/majors/parks-recreation-fitness/health-and-physical-education/sports-studies/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong sports studies education at a price that pays off.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 2 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for sports studies students.
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2026 Best Value Sports Studies Schools in Kentucky
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in sports studies, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Sports Studies Schools
Our analysis ranked Western Kentucky University the best value for a degree in sports studies in Kentucky. Western Kentucky University is a large public school located in the city of Bowling Green. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $11,652, compared with $27,000 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for sports studies graduates is $24,593. Early-career sports studies graduates make about $25,858. Set against $24,593 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 94%.
University Of Kentucky is a great value for students pursuing a degree in sports studies, landing the #2 spot this year. University Of Kentucky is a very large public school located in the city of Lexington. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $13,502, with out-of-state students paying around $34,140. Typical student debt for sports studies graduates is $24,094. Sports Studies graduates of University Of Kentucky earn a median of $49,568 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $24,094 median debt. University Of Kentucky admits about 93% of applicants.
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Notes and References
This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. The methodology weighs the cost of a degree against the earnings graduates go on to achieve, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 2 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 1 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.
