2026 Best Value Sports Management Schools in Michigan
[Sports Management](/majors/parks-recreation-fitness/health-and-physical-education/sports-management/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 29 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for sports management students.
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2026 Best Value Sports Management Schools in Michigan
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in sports management, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Sports Management Schools
Our analysis ranked University Of Michigan Ann Arbor the best value for a degree in sports management in Michigan. University Of Michigan Ann Arbor is a very large public school located in the city of Ann Arbor. Students from in state pay about $18,848 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $63,081. Students borrow a median of $19,135 to complete the sports management program here. Sports Management graduates of University Of Michigan Ann Arbor earn a median of $42,490 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $19,135 median debt. Roughly 16% of applicants are accepted.
Students looking for strong value in sports management will find it at Delta College, which ranked #2. Set in the rural area of University Center, Delta College is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,820, while out-of-state students pay about $7,880. Typical student debt for sports management graduates is $14,075. Early-career sports management graduates make about $37,342. Set against $14,075 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Students looking for strong value in sports management will find it at Wayne State University, which ranked #3. Set in the city of Detroit, Wayne State University is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $16,159, compared with $34,650 for out-of-state students. Sports Management graduates carry a median of $26,689 in student loans. Sports Management graduates of Wayne State University earn a median of $45,568 early in their careers. Set against $26,689 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 81% of applicants are accepted.
Michigan Technological University is a great value for students pursuing a degree in sports management, landing the #4 spot this year. Michigan Technological University is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Houghton. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $20,532, compared with $44,807 for out-of-state students. Sports Management graduates carry a median of $20,091 in student loans. Soon after graduation, sports management degree recipients from Michigan Technological University generally make around $64,652. That is a strong return on a $20,091 median debt. Roughly 92% of applicants are accepted.
Students looking for strong value in sports management will find it at Central Michigan University, which ranked #5. Set in the town of Mount Pleasant, Central Michigan University is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $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.
Grand Valley State University landed the #6 spot for sports management value this year. Located in the town of Allendale, Grand Valley State University is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $15,502 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $21,894. Students borrow a median of $26,300 to complete the sports management program here. Soon after graduation, sports management degree recipients from Grand Valley State University generally make around $29,913. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Grand Valley State University admits about 83% of applicants.
Eastern Michigan University ranked #7 on our 2026 list of the best value sports management schools. Set in the suburb of Ypsilanti, Eastern Michigan University is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $16,990 in tuition and fees. Sports Management graduates carry a median of $26,894 in student loans. Early-career sports management graduates make about $34,499. That is a strong return on a $26,894 median debt. Eastern Michigan University admits about 80% of applicants.
Siena Heights University came in at #8 for value in sports management this year. Siena Heights University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the town of Adrian. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $30,778. Students borrow a median of $25,790 to complete the sports management program here. Soon after graduation, sports management degree recipients from Siena Heights University generally make around $52,293. That is a strong return on a $25,790 median debt. The acceptance rate is 69%.
Madonna University placed #9 among the best values for sports management. Located in the city of Livonia, Madonna University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $28,440 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for sports management graduates is $26,896. Soon after graduation, sports management degree recipients from Madonna University generally make around $56,984. Set against $26,896 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Madonna University admits about 63% of applicants.
Northern Michigan University came in at #10 for value in sports management this year. Located in the town of Marquette, Northern Michigan University is a moderately-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $14,322 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $19,944. Typical student debt for sports management graduates is $24,625. Sports Management graduates of Northern Michigan University earn a median of $22,113 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Northern Michigan University admits about 84% of applicants.
Western Michigan University placed #11 among the best values for sports management. Located in the city of Kalamazoo, Western Michigan University is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $15,987, while out-of-state students pay about $19,952. Sports Management graduates carry a median of $26,000 in student loans. Early-career sports management graduates make about $35,152. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Western Michigan University admits about 85% of applicants.
Aquinas College Michigan placed #12 among the best values for sports management. Located in the city of Grand Rapids, Aquinas College Michigan is a small private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $40,218. Typical student debt for sports management graduates is $24,500. Early-career sports management graduates make about $27,301. That is a strong return on a $24,500 median debt. Roughly 90% of applicants are accepted.
Rochester College placed #13 among the best values for sports management. Rochester College is a small private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Rochester Hills. In-state tuition and fees average $29,196. Sports Management graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Early-career sports management graduates make about $45,617. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 98%.
Michigan State University earned the #14 position for value in sports management this year. Located in the city of East Lansing, Michigan State University is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $18,079 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $44,850. Students borrow a median of $26,000 to complete the sports management program here. Soon after graduation, sports management degree recipients from Michigan State University generally make around $37,279. Set against $26,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Michigan State University admits about 85% of applicants.
Davenport University earned the #15 position for value in sports management this year. Davenport University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Grand Rapids. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $24,466. Sports Management graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Sports Management graduates of Davenport University earn a median of $34,380 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 98% of applicants are accepted.
Spring Arbor University came in at #16 for value in sports management this year. Located in the rural area of Spring Arbor, Spring Arbor University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $34,014. Sports Management graduates carry a median of $28,268 in student loans. Soon after graduation, sports management degree recipients from Spring Arbor University generally make around $53,080. That is a strong return on a $28,268 median debt. The acceptance rate is 52%.
Olivet College came in at #17 for value in sports management this year. Located in the rural area of Olivet, Olivet College is a small private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $34,068. Typical student debt for sports management graduates is $29,578. Sports Management graduates of Olivet College earn a median of $24,879 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $29,578 median debt. Roughly 83% of applicants are accepted.
Adrian College earned the #18 position for value in sports management this year. Set in the town of Adrian, Adrian College is a small private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $41,684. Typical student debt for sports management graduates is $27,000. Early-career sports management graduates make about $36,808. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. Roughly 72% of applicants are accepted.
Cornerstone University ranked #19 on our 2026 list of the best value sports management schools. Located in the city of Grand Rapids, Cornerstone University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $23,000. Typical student debt for sports management graduates is $27,000. Soon after graduation, sports management degree recipients from Cornerstone University generally make around $27,327. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Cornerstone University admits about 78% of applicants.
Concordia University Ann Arbor came in at #20 for value in sports management this year. Located in the city of Ann Arbor, Concordia University Ann Arbor is a small private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $35,410. Typical student debt for sports management graduates is $27,000. Early-career sports management graduates make about $27,522. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. Roughly 69% of applicants are accepted.
Northwood University Michigan earned the #21 position for value in sports management this year. Located in the city of Midland, Northwood University Michigan is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $34,400. Students borrow a median of $25,237 to complete the sports management program here. Early-career sports management graduates make about $28,569. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Northwood University Michigan admits about 64% of applicants.
More Sports Management Rankings
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Notes and References
The ranking above is published 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 · 29 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 12 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.
