Sports Studies programs are offered at a focused set of schools across the country. The schools below stand out for the quality of their sports studies programs.
To produce this 2027 ranking, College Factual evaluated 20 schools to find the best for sports studies students.
The school you choose for sports studies can shape your career. That is why we built our Best Sports Studies Schools rankings. Our overall ranking combines our degree-level rankings, weighted by degrees awarded at each level.
In order to find the schools that are the best fit for you, you may want to filter to one of the degree levels below.
We offer several rankings, including this Best Sports Studies Schools list, to help you decide. Want schools in a particular part of the country? Narrow the list by region or state.
To further help you make the college decision, we have developed a unique tool called College Combat that lets you compare schools on the factors that matter most to you.
Tulane University Of Louisiana tops our 2027 ranking of the best sports studies schools. Set in the city of New Orleans, Tulane University Of Louisiana is a large private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 86%. Tulane University Of Louisiana awarded about 18 sports studies degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the sports studies program make about $53,507 in their early career. Tulane University Of Louisiana graduates carry a median of $22,077 in student loans.
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Arizona State University is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in sports studies, ranking #2. This very large public university is located in the city of Tempe. Arizona State University graduates 68% of students within six years. About 20 sports studies degrees were awarded at Arizona State University in the most recent year. Graduates of the sports studies program make about $41,428 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $21,170 to complete this degree.
Read more about the sports studies program at Arizona State University
Students looking for a strong sports studies program will find one at Denison University, which ranked #3. Located in the suburb of Granville, Denison University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. The six-year graduation rate is 79%. About 27 sports studies degrees were awarded at Denison University in the most recent year. Sports Studies graduates of Denison University earn a median of $39,797 early in their careers. Denison University graduates carry a median of $25,360 in student loans.
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Cumberland University is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in sports studies, landing the #4 spot this year. This mid-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the town of Lebanon. Roughly 42% of students complete a degree within six years here. Cumberland University awarded about 12 sports studies degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the sports studies program make about $47,696 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $21,902.
More information about a degree in sports studies from Cumberland University
A rank of #5 makes Adler School Of Professional Psychology one of the top schools for sports studies. Set in the city of Chicago, Adler School Of Professional Psychology is a small private not-for-profit institution. There were roughly 21 sports studies students who graduated with this degree at Adler School Of Professional Psychology in the most recent data year. Students who receive their sports studies degree from Adler School Of Professional Psychology earn around $55,542 in the first couple years of their career.
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Minnesota State University Mankato landed the #6 spot for sports studies this year. Minnesota State University Mankato is a large public school located in the city of Mankato. About 54% of students finish within six years. Minnesota State University Mankato awarded about 13 sports studies degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, sports studies degree recipients from Minnesota State University Mankato generally make around $42,512. Typical student debt for the program is $24,420.
See the full sports studies program report for Minnesota State University Mankato
University Of Massachusetts Boston earned the #7 position for sports studies this year. This large public university is located in the city of Boston. University Of Massachusetts Boston graduates 49% of students within six years. There were roughly 27 sports studies students who graduated with this degree at University Of Massachusetts Boston in the most recent data year. Students who receive their sports studies degree from University Of Massachusetts Boston earn around $37,703 in the first couple years of their career. University Of Massachusetts Boston graduates carry a median of $26,808 in student loans.
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University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus ranked #8 on our 2027 list of the best sports studies schools. Located in the city of Pittsburgh, University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus is a very large public university. Roughly 86% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 45 sports studies degrees were awarded at University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus in the most recent year. Students who receive their sports studies degree from University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus earn around $24,916 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $27,000.
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Springfield College landed the #9 spot for sports studies this year. Located in the city of Springfield, Springfield College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Roughly 74% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 13 sports studies degrees were awarded at Springfield College in the most recent year. Graduates of the sports studies program make about $39,402 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete this degree.
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Shenandoah University came in at #10 for sports studies this year. Set in the city of Winchester, Shenandoah University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. About 66% of students finish within six years. About 10 sports studies degrees were awarded at Shenandoah University in the most recent year. Graduates of the sports studies program make about $37,676 in their early career. Shenandoah University graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans.
More information about a degree in sports studies from Shenandoah University
John Carroll University placed #11 among the best sports studies schools. Set in the suburb of University Heights, John Carroll University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. John Carroll University graduates 79% of students within six years. John Carroll University awarded about 14 sports studies degrees in the most recent data year. Sports Studies graduates of John Carroll University earn a median of $27,971 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $27,000.
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Manhattanville College came in at #12 for sports studies this year. Located in the suburb of Purchase, Manhattanville College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Manhattanville College graduates 58% of students within six years. There were roughly 33 sports studies students who graduated with this degree at Manhattanville College in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, sports studies degree recipients from Manhattanville College generally make around $38,197. Students borrow a median of $26,000 to complete this degree.
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Western Kentucky University landed the #13 spot for sports studies this year. Located in the city of Bowling Green, Western Kentucky University is a large public university. Roughly 58% of students complete a degree within six years here. Western Kentucky University awarded about 70 sports studies degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the sports studies program make about $25,858 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $24,593.
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Adams State College came in at #14 for sports studies this year. Set in the town of Alamosa, Adams State College is a mid-sized public institution. Adams State College graduates 32% of students within six years. About 19 sports studies degrees were awarded at Adams State College in the most recent year. Sports Studies graduates of Adams State College earn a median of $30,045 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $21,451.
More information about a degree in sports studies from Adams State College
Springfield College School Of Professional And Continuing Studies came in at #15 for sports studies this year. Located in the city of Springfield, Springfield College School Of Professional And Continuing Studies is a small private not-for-profit university. Springfield College School Of Professional And Continuing Studies awarded about 30 sports studies degrees in the most recent data year. Sports Studies graduates of Springfield College School Of Professional And Continuing Studies earn a median of $39,402 early in their careers. Springfield College School Of Professional And Continuing Studies graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans.
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Erie Community College ranked #16 on our 2027 list of the best sports studies schools. This large public university is located in the city of Buffalo. There were roughly 10 sports studies students who graduated with this degree at Erie Community College in the most recent data year. Sports Studies graduates of Erie Community College earn a median of $37,069 early in their careers. Erie Community College graduates carry a median of $12,580 in student loans.
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Randolph College came in at #17 for sports studies this year. Located in the city of Lynchburg, Randolph College is a small private not-for-profit university. Roughly 46% of students complete a degree within six years here. Randolph College awarded about 20 sports studies degrees in the most recent data year. Sports Studies graduates of Randolph College earn a median of $43,197 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $23,750.
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Young Harris College earned the #18 position for sports studies this year. Young Harris College is a small private not-for-profit school located in the rural area of Young Harris. Young Harris College graduates 42% of students within six years. Young Harris College awarded about 11 sports studies degrees in the most recent data year. Students borrow a median of $24,689 to complete this degree.
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Southwestern College placed #19 among the best sports studies schools. This small private not-for-profit university is located in the town of Winfield. The six-year graduation rate is 36%. There were roughly 17 sports studies students who graduated with this degree at Southwestern College in the most recent data year. Graduates of the sports studies program make about $58,036 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $31,875.
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Texas Southern University placed #20 among the best sports studies schools. This moderately-sized public university is located in the city of Houston. About 22% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 12 sports studies students who graduated with this degree at Texas Southern University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the sports studies program make about $32,409 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $30,000.
Read more about the sports studies program at Texas Southern University
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 edition. The methodology weighs graduation rate, post-graduation earnings, cost, and program quality, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Top Ranked · 20 schools evaluated.
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).
