2026 Best Value Sports Management Schools in Indiana
[Sports Management](/majors/parks-recreation-fitness/health-and-physical-education/sports-management/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong sports management education at a price that pays off.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 18 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for sports management students.
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2026 Best Value Sports Management Schools in Indiana
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in sports management, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Sports Management Schools
University Of Southern Indiana tops our 2026 list of the best value sports management schools in Indiana. Set in the suburb of Evansville, University Of Southern Indiana is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $10,066, compared with $22,907 for out-of-state students. Sports Management graduates carry a median of $22,375 in student loans. Sports Management graduates of University Of Southern Indiana earn a median of $40,508 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $22,375 median debt. Roughly 96% of applicants are accepted.
Indiana University Kokomo came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the best value sports management schools. Set in the city of Kokomo, Indiana University Kokomo is a moderately-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,424, while out-of-state students pay about $22,811. Typical student debt for sports management graduates is $24,619. Sports Management graduates of Indiana University Kokomo earn a median of $46,902 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $24,619 median debt. Roughly 86% of applicants are accepted.
A rank of #3 makes Indiana State University one of the best values for sports management. Located in the city of Terre Haute, Indiana State University is a moderately-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $10,258 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $22,322. Sports Management graduates carry a median of $25,000 in student loans. Soon after graduation, sports management degree recipients from Indiana State University generally make around $36,582. Set against $25,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 81% of applicants are accepted.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Ball State University earned it the #4 place for sports management. Located in the city of Muncie, Ball State University is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $11,082, with out-of-state students paying around $29,630. Sports Management graduates carry a median of $25,962 in student loans. Early-career sports management graduates make about $36,829. That is a strong return on a $25,962 median debt. The acceptance rate is 86%.
Students looking for strong value in sports management will find it at Grace College And Theological Seminary, which ranked #5. Located in the town of Winona Lake, Grace College And Theological Seminary is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $29,645. Sports Management graduates carry a median of $23,250 in student loans. Early-career sports management graduates make about $32,549. That is a strong return on a $23,250 median debt. Grace College And Theological Seminary admits about 82% of applicants.
University Of Indianapolis ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the best value sports management schools. University Of Indianapolis is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Indianapolis. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $37,200. Sports Management graduates carry a median of $26,786 in student loans. Early-career sports management graduates make about $35,461. Set against $26,786 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 66%.
Manchester College earned the #7 position for value in sports management this year. Set in the town of North Manchester, Manchester College is a small private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $37,135. Sports Management graduates carry a median of $25,500 in student loans. Soon after graduation, sports management degree recipients from Manchester College generally make around $29,936. That is a strong return on a $25,500 median debt. Roughly 71% of applicants are accepted.
Bethel College Mishawaka placed #8 among the best values for sports management. Located in the city of Mishawaka, Bethel College Mishawaka is a small private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $34,600. Typical student debt for sports management graduates is $27,000. Sports Management graduates of Bethel College Mishawaka earn a median of $26,799 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. Bethel College Mishawaka admits about 98% of applicants.
Anderson University Indiana came in at #9 for value in sports management this year. Anderson University Indiana is a small private not-for-profit school located in the city of Anderson. In-state tuition and fees average $37,240. Sports Management graduates carry a median of $26,581 in student loans. Early-career sports management graduates make about $36,742. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 79%.
Indiana Wesleyan University ranked #10 on our 2026 list of the best value sports management schools. Set in the town of Marion, Indiana Wesleyan University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $32,352. Sports Management graduates carry a median of $31,454 in student loans. Soon after graduation, sports management degree recipients from Indiana Wesleyan University generally make around $36,739. That is a strong return on a $31,454 median debt. The acceptance rate is 89%.
Trine University earned the #11 position for value in sports management this year. Located in the town of Angola, Trine University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $36,560. Sports Management graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Sports Management graduates of Trine University earn a median of $25,812 early in their careers. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 86% of applicants are accepted.
Saint Mary Of The Woods College placed #12 among the best values for sports management. Set in the rural area of Saint Mary of the Woods, Saint Mary Of The Woods College is a small private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $34,240. Sports Management graduates carry a median of $28,366 in student loans. Sports Management graduates of Saint Mary Of The Woods College earn a median of $48,088 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 72% of applicants are accepted.
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Notes and References
The ranking above is published 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 · 18 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 8 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.
