[Performance And Sport](/majors/psychology/clinical-counseling-applied-psychology/performance-and-sport/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
For its 2027 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 13 schools to find the best return on investment for performance and sport students.
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If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the performance and sport degrees they offer, see the list below.
University Of Wisconsin Green Bay tops our 2027 list of the best value performance and sport schools in the United States. Located in the city of Green Bay, University Of Wisconsin Green Bay is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,700, compared with $17,288 for out-of-state students. Performance And Sport graduates carry a median of $24,477 in student loans. Performance And Sport graduates of University Of Wisconsin Green Bay earn a median of $42,853 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 89% of applicants are accepted.
A rank of #2 makes Capella University one of the best values for performance and sport. Capella University is a very large private for-profit school located in the city of Minneapolis. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $14,400. Performance And Sport graduates carry a median of $35,998 in student loans. Performance And Sport graduates of Capella University earn a median of $52,074 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $35,998 median debt.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at University Of The Southwest earned it the #3 place for performance and sport. Set in the town of Hobbs, University Of The Southwest is a small private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $16,670. Performance And Sport graduates carry a median of $26,162 in student loans. Performance And Sport graduates of University Of The Southwest earn a median of $45,907 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Pennsylvania Western University is a great value for students pursuing a degree in performance and sport, landing the #4 spot this year. Set in the town of California, Pennsylvania Western University is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $11,436, while out-of-state students pay about $16,054. Students borrow a median of $28,263 to complete the performance and sport program here. Performance And Sport graduates of Pennsylvania Western University earn a median of $52,204 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 94% of applicants are accepted.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at University Of Kentucky earned it the #5 place for performance and sport. Located in the city of Lexington, University Of Kentucky is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $13,502, with out-of-state students paying around $34,140. Students borrow a median of $24,094 to complete the performance and sport program here. 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. University Of Kentucky admits about 93% of applicants.
Loras College ranked #6 on our 2027 list of the best value performance and sport schools. Loras College is a small private not-for-profit school located in the city of Dubuque. Students from in state pay about $39,824 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $26,528 to complete the performance and sport program here. Performance And Sport graduates of Loras College earn a median of $43,117 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 100% of applicants are accepted.
Kent State University At Kent ranked #7 on our 2027 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. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $12,220, while out-of-state students pay about $21,575. Performance And Sport graduates carry a median of $25,174 in student loans. Soon after graduation, performance and sport degree recipients from Kent State University At Kent generally make around $58,818. Set against $25,174 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Kent State University At Kent admits about 86% of applicants.
National University earned the #8 position for value in performance and sport this year. Located in the city of San Diego, National University is a very large private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $13,284. Typical student debt for performance and sport graduates is $30,426. Performance And Sport graduates of National University earn a median of $57,834 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
California Baptist University earned the #9 position for value in performance and sport this year. California Baptist University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Riverside. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $41,228. Typical student debt for performance and sport graduates is $28,169. Soon after graduation, performance and sport degree recipients from California Baptist University generally make around $55,299. Set against $28,169 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 85% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Western States landed the #10 spot for performance and sport value this year. Set in the city of Portland, University Of Western States is a small private not-for-profit institution. Soon after graduation, performance and sport degree recipients from University Of Western States generally make around $55,904.
Northcentral University placed #11 among the best values for performance and sport. Northcentral University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of San Diego. In-state tuition and fees average $12,594. Performance And Sport graduates carry a median of $42,500 in student loans. Early-career performance and sport graduates make about $45,417. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Northwest Nazarene University landed the #12 spot for performance and sport value this year. Northwest Nazarene University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Nampa. In-state tuition and fees average $40,824. Typical student debt for performance and sport graduates is $27,562. Soon after graduation, performance and sport degree recipients from Northwest Nazarene University generally make around $50,330. That is a strong return on a $27,562 median debt. The acceptance rate is 65%.
Dominican University Of California placed #13 among the best values for performance and sport. Dominican University Of California is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of San Rafael. In-state tuition and fees average $52,161. Performance And Sport graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. 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. Dominican University Of California admits about 84% of applicants.
Explore the best-value performance and sport schools at other degree levels:
View All Performance And Sport Rankings >
Notes and References
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 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 · 13 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 13 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.
