2027 Best Sports Studies Schools in the The Plains States Region
Sports Studies degree programs prepare students for a range of careers in the field. While the number of schools offering the program varies, there are still top-quality ones to be found.
For its 2027 ranking, College Factual looked at 2 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
If you are not interested in a particular degree level and want to know which schools are the overall best at delivering an education for the sports studies degrees they offer, see the list below.
Top Schools in Sports Studies
Minnesota State University Mankato is one of the finest schools in the country for getting a degree in sports studies. This large public university is located in the city of Mankato. About 54% of students finish within six years. About 13 sports studies degrees were awarded at Minnesota State University Mankato in the most recent year. Students who receive their sports studies degree from Minnesota State University Mankato earn around $42,512 in the first couple years of their career. Minnesota State University Mankato graduates carry a median of $24,420 in student loans.
Read more about the sports studies program at Minnesota State University Mankato
A rank of #2 makes Southwestern College one of the top schools for sports studies. This small private not-for-profit university is located in the town of Winfield. Roughly 36% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 17 sports studies students who graduated with this degree at Southwestern College in the most recent data year. Students who receive their sports studies degree from Southwestern College earn around $58,036 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $31,875.
More information about a degree in sports studies from Southwestern College
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Notes and References
This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 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 · 2 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.