2026 Best Value Sports Management Schools in the Great Lakes Region
[Sports Management](/majors/parks-recreation-fitness/health-and-physical-education/sports-management/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
College Factual analyzed 145 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best value sports management schools.
What’s on this page:
2026 Best Value Sports Management Schools in the Great Lakes Region
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in sports management, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Sports Management Schools
Leading the list is Triton College, our #1 best value for sports management in the Great Lakes Region. Triton College is a large public school located in the suburb of River Grove. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,070, with out-of-state students paying around $15,330. Sports Management graduates carry a median of $12,994 in student loans. Sports Management graduates of Triton College earn a median of $43,278 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
A rank of #2 makes University Of Michigan Ann Arbor one of the best values for sports management. Set in the city of Ann Arbor, University Of Michigan Ann Arbor is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $18,848, while out-of-state students pay about $63,081. Sports Management graduates carry a median of $19,135 in student loans. Sports Management graduates of University Of Michigan Ann Arbor earn a median of $42,490 early in their careers. Set against $19,135 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of Michigan Ann Arbor admits about 16% of applicants.
Saint Xavier University is a great value for students pursuing a degree in sports management, landing the #3 spot this year. Located in the city of Chicago, Saint Xavier University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $38,945. Typical student debt for sports management graduates is $25,735. Early-career sports management graduates make about $51,753. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 84% of applicants are accepted.
Delta College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in sports management, landing the #4 spot this year. Located in the rural area of University Center, Delta College is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $4,820, compared with $7,880 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $14,075 to complete the sports management program here. Early-career sports management graduates make about $37,342. That is a strong return on a $14,075 median debt.
Sinclair Community College came in at #5 on our 2026 list of the best value sports management schools. Set in the city of Dayton, Sinclair Community College is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $3,675 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $8,556. Students borrow a median of $12,525 to complete the sports management program here. Sports Management graduates of Sinclair Community College earn a median of $35,348 early in their careers. Set against $12,525 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
University Of Southern Indiana ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the best value sports management schools. Set in the suburb of Evansville, University Of Southern Indiana is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $10,066 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $22,907. Typical student debt for sports management graduates is $22,375. Early-career sports management graduates make about $40,508. Set against $22,375 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 96%.
Indiana University Kokomo earned the #7 position for value in sports management this year. Indiana University Kokomo is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Kokomo. In-state tuition and fees average $8,424, while out-of-state students pay about $22,811. Sports Management graduates carry a median of $24,619 in student loans. Early-career sports management graduates make about $46,902. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Indiana University Kokomo admits about 86% of applicants.
Columbus State Community College placed #8 among the best values for sports management. Set in the city of Columbus, Columbus State Community College is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $5,488 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $11,224. Students borrow a median of $9,041 to complete the sports management program here. Median earnings reach $39,435 ten years out. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Cuyahoga Community College District came in at #9 for value in sports management this year. Set in the city of Cleveland, Cuyahoga Community College District is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,249, compared with $7,249 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $14,636 to complete the sports management program here. Sports Management graduates of Cuyahoga Community College District earn a median of $39,394 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
University Of Wisconsin Parkside earned the #10 position for value in sports management this year. University Of Wisconsin Parkside is a mid-sized public school located in the rural area of Kenosha. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $8,270, while out-of-state students pay about $17,429. Sports Management graduates carry a median of $25,349 in student loans. Early-career sports management graduates make about $30,655. That is a strong return on a $25,349 median debt. The acceptance rate is 75%.
University Of Wisconsin Oshkosh came in at #11 for value in sports management this year. University Of Wisconsin Oshkosh is a large public school located in the city of Oshkosh. Students from in state pay about $8,532 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $16,446. Typical student debt for sports management graduates is $24,619. Sports Management graduates of University Of Wisconsin Oshkosh earn a median of $50,590 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $24,619 median debt. University Of Wisconsin Oshkosh admits about 86% of applicants.
University Of Wisconsin Platteville placed #12 among the best values for sports management. University Of Wisconsin Platteville is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Platteville. Students from in state pay about $8,644 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $17,603. Sports Management graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Early-career sports management graduates make about $46,027. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 89% of applicants are accepted.
Northern Illinois University came in at #13 for value in sports management this year. Northern Illinois University is a large public school located in the suburb of Dekalb. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $13,060. Students borrow a median of $27,418 to complete the sports management program here. Early-career sports management graduates make about $36,011. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 70% of applicants are accepted.
Eastern Illinois University earned the #14 position for value in sports management this year. Located in the town of Charleston, Eastern Illinois University is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $13,377, while out-of-state students pay about $15,859. Students borrow a median of $25,000 to complete the sports management program here. Sports Management graduates of Eastern Illinois University earn a median of $36,776 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 65%.
Michigan Technological University placed #15 among the best values for sports management. Located in the town of Houghton, Michigan Technological University is a moderately-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $20,532 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $44,807. Typical student debt for sports management graduates is $20,091. Soon after graduation, sports management degree recipients from Michigan Technological University generally make around $64,652. Set against $20,091 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 92% of applicants are accepted.
Ball State University placed #16 among the best values for sports management. Ball State University is a very large public school located in the city of Muncie. In-state tuition and fees average $11,082, with out-of-state students paying around $29,630. Sports Management graduates carry a median of $25,962 in student loans. Sports Management graduates of Ball State University earn a median of $36,829 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $25,962 median debt. Roughly 86% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Wisconsin Madison earned the #17 position for value in sports management this year. Set in the city of Madison, University Of Wisconsin Madison is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $11,603, with out-of-state students paying around $42,103. Typical student debt for sports management graduates is $26,000. Soon after graduation, sports management degree recipients from University Of Wisconsin Madison generally make around $29,866. Set against $26,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 45%.
Wayne State University came in at #18 for value in sports management this year. Located in the city of Detroit, Wayne State University is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $16,159, compared with $34,650 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $26,689 to complete the sports management program here. Early-career sports management graduates make about $45,568. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 81% of applicants are accepted.
Indiana State University placed #19 among the best values for sports management. Located in the city of Terre Haute, Indiana State University is a moderately-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $10,258, with out-of-state students paying around $22,322. Students borrow a median of $25,000 to complete the sports management program here. Early-career sports management graduates make about $36,582. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Indiana State University admits about 81% of applicants.
Millikin University came in at #20 for value in sports management this year. Millikin University is a small private not-for-profit school located in the city of Decatur. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $26,792. Sports Management graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Early-career sports management graduates make about $26,065. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. The acceptance rate is 67%.
Western Illinois University ranked #21 on our 2026 list of the best value sports management schools. Set in the town of Macomb, Western Illinois University is a moderately-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $14,572. Sports Management graduates carry a median of $31,000 in student loans. Early-career sports management graduates make about $33,473. That is a strong return on a $31,000 median debt. The acceptance rate is 71%.
Central Michigan University placed #22 among the best values for sports management. Located in the town of Mount Pleasant, Central Michigan University is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $15,480. Sports Management graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Early-career sports management graduates make about $36,910. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. Central Michigan University admits about 90% of applicants.
Hocking College ranked #23 on our 2026 list of the best value sports management schools. Hocking College is a mid-sized public school located in the rural area of Nelsonville. In-state tuition and fees average $5,646, compared with $10,290 for out-of-state students. Sports Management graduates carry a median of $16,535 in student loans. Early-career sports management graduates make about $37,713. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Ohio State University Main Campus earned the #24 position for value in sports management this year. Ohio State University Main Campus is a very large public school located in the city of Columbus. In-state tuition and fees average $13,244, while out-of-state students pay about $40,022. Students borrow a median of $23,000 to complete the sports management program here. Soon after graduation, sports management degree recipients from Ohio State University Main Campus generally make around $42,137. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 61%.
Grand Valley State University placed #25 among the best values for sports management. Set in the town of Allendale, Grand Valley State University is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $15,502, while out-of-state students pay about $21,894. Sports Management graduates carry a median of $26,300 in student loans. Sports Management graduates of Grand Valley State University earn a median of $29,913 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Grand Valley State University admits about 83% of applicants.
Rest of the Top 50 Best Value Sports Management Schools
Not far behind, these schools also offered excellent value in sports management:
Narrow Sports Management Schools by State
More Sports Management Rankings
View All Sports Management Rankings >
Notes and References
This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. The methodology weighs the cost of a degree against the earnings graduates go on to achieve, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 145 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 59 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.
