2026 Best Sports Studies Schools in the The Plains States Region
Sports Studies is a field worth a close look when choosing where to study. While the number of schools offering the program varies, there are still top-quality ones to be found.
For its 2026 ranking, College Factual looked at 13 schools in the United States to determine which ones were the best for sports studies students pursuing a degree.
What’s on this page:
Best Schools for Sports Studies in the The Plains States Region
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest overall sports studies education in the The Plains States Region.
Top Schools in Sports Studies
No school ranked higher than University Of Iowa this year for sports studies. Located in the city of Iowa City, University Of Iowa is a very large public university. The six-year graduation rate is 75%. University Of Iowa awarded about 10 sports studies degrees in the most recent data year. Sports Studies graduates of University Of Iowa earn a median of $32,737 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $23,813 to complete this degree.
Read more about the sports studies program at University Of Iowa
Minnesota State University Mankato is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in sports studies, ranking #2. This large public university is located in the city of Mankato. The six-year graduation rate is 54%. About 14 sports studies degrees were awarded at Minnesota State University Mankato in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, sports studies degree recipients from Minnesota State University Mankato generally make around $42,512. Minnesota State University Mankato graduates carry a median of $24,420 in student loans.
See the full sports studies program report for Minnesota State University Mankato
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Notes and References
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. Schools are scored on a blend of student outcomes (graduation rate, post-graduation earnings), affordability, and program focus, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Top Ranked · 13 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).
More about our data sources and methodologies.
