[Performance And Sport](/majors/psychology/clinical-counseling-applied-psychology/performance-and-sport/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
College Factual analyzed 19 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best value performance and sport schools.
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Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in performance and sport, balancing cost against outcomes.
Leading the list is University Of Wisconsin Green Bay, our #1 best value for performance and sport in the United States. Set in the city of Green Bay, University Of Wisconsin Green Bay is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,700, compared with $17,288 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for performance and sport graduates is $24,477. Soon after graduation, performance and sport degree recipients from University Of Wisconsin Green Bay generally make around $42,853. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 89%.
Students looking for strong value in performance and sport will find it at University Of Kentucky, which ranked #2. University Of Kentucky is a very large public school located in the city of Lexington. In-state tuition and fees average $13,502, compared with $34,140 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for performance and sport graduates is $24,094. Performance And Sport graduates of University Of Kentucky earn a median of $49,893 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 93%.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Pennsylvania Western University earned it the #3 place for performance and sport. Located in the town of California, Pennsylvania Western University is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $11,436, with out-of-state students paying around $16,054. Graduates go on to earn a median of $47,295 ten years after entry. Roughly 94% of applicants are accepted.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Capella University earned it the #4 place for performance and sport. Set in the city of Minneapolis, Capella University is a very large private for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $14,400. Performance And Sport graduates carry a median of $35,998 in student loans. Soon after graduation, performance and sport degree recipients from Capella University generally make around $52,074. Set against $35,998 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Kent State University At Kent came in at #5 on our 2026 list of the best value performance and sport schools. Set in the suburb of Kent, Kent State University At Kent is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $12,220, compared with $21,575 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $25,174 to complete the performance and sport program here. Soon after graduation, performance and sport degree recipients from Kent State University At Kent generally make around $44,776. That is a strong return on a $25,174 median debt. The acceptance rate is 86%.
University Of Western States earned the #6 position for value in performance and sport this year. University Of Western States is a small private not-for-profit school located in the city of Portland. Early-career performance and sport graduates make about $55,904.
California Baptist University earned the #7 position for value in performance and sport this year. Set in the city of Riverside, California Baptist University is a large private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $41,228. Students borrow a median of $28,169 to complete the performance and sport program here. Soon after graduation, performance and sport degree recipients from California Baptist University generally make around $55,299. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. California Baptist University admits about 85% of applicants.
Northcentral University landed the #8 spot for performance and sport value this year. Located in the city of San Diego, Northcentral University is a large private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $12,594. Students borrow a median of $42,500 to complete the performance and sport program here. Performance And Sport graduates of Northcentral University earn a median of $45,417 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $42,500 median debt.
National University earned the #9 position for value in performance and sport this year. Set in the city of San Diego, National University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $13,284. Performance And Sport graduates carry a median of $30,426 in student loans. Soon after graduation, performance and sport degree recipients from National University generally make around $57,834. That is a strong return on a $30,426 median debt.
Dominican University Of California landed the #10 spot for performance and sport value this year. Located in the city of San Rafael, Dominican University Of California is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $52,161. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the performance and sport program here. Soon after graduation, performance and sport degree recipients from Dominican University Of California generally make around $34,509. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 84%.
Explore the best-value performance and sport schools at other degree levels:
View All Performance And Sport Rankings >
Notes and References
This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 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 · 19 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 2 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.
