2026 Best Value Sports Management Schools in the Rocky Mountains 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 schools below stand out for delivering a strong sports management education at a price that pays off.
For its 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 18 schools to find the best return on investment for sports management students.
What’s on this page:
2026 Best Value Sports Management Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the sports management degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Sports Management Schools
For return on investment in sports management, no school beat Utah State University this year. Located in the city of Logan, Utah State University is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $8,560, while out-of-state students pay about $24,993. Sports Management graduates carry a median of $16,191 in student loans. Soon after graduation, sports management degree recipients from Utah State University generally make around $50,348. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 92%.
Lewis Clark State College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in sports management, landing the #2 spot this year. Set in the city of Lewiston, Lewis Clark State College is a mid-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $7,610, compared with $22,028 for out-of-state students. Sports Management graduates carry a median of $21,475 in student loans. Sports Management graduates of Lewis Clark State College earn a median of $33,176 early in their careers. Set against $21,475 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 88% of applicants are accepted.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Metropolitan State College Of Denver earned it the #3 place for sports management. Metropolitan State College Of Denver is a very large public school located in the city of Denver. In-state tuition and fees average $11,124, while out-of-state students pay about $30,684. Sports Management graduates carry a median of $22,292 in student loans. Sports Management graduates of Metropolitan State College Of Denver earn a median of $41,161 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $22,292 median debt. Metropolitan State College Of Denver admits about 99% of applicants.
Dixie State College Of Utah is a great value for students pursuing a degree in sports management, landing the #4 spot this year. Located in the city of Saint George, Dixie State College Of Utah is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,306, compared with $18,246 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for sports management graduates is $18,437. Early-career sports management graduates make about $42,266. Set against $18,437 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Montana State University Billings is a great value for students pursuing a degree in sports management, landing the #5 spot this year. Set in the city of Billings, Montana State University Billings is a moderately-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $7,280 in tuition and fees, compared with $22,897 for out-of-state students. Sports Management graduates carry a median of $25,465 in student loans. Early-career sports management graduates make about $48,764. Set against $25,465 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Mesa State College landed the #6 spot for sports management value this year. Set in the city of Grand Junction, Mesa State College is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $9,927 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $25,124. Typical student debt for sports management graduates is $25,900. Sports Management graduates of Mesa State College earn a median of $31,253 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $25,900 median debt. Mesa State College admits about 82% of applicants.
Fort Lewis College came in at #7 for value in sports management this year. Set in the town of Durango, Fort Lewis College is a mid-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,958, while out-of-state students pay about $21,526. Sports Management graduates carry a median of $15,000 in student loans. Sports Management graduates of Fort Lewis College earn a median of $24,419 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $15,000 median debt. The acceptance rate is 77%.
Boise State University came in at #8 for value in sports management this year. Boise State University is a very large public school located in the city of Boise. In-state tuition and fees average $9,048, compared with $27,788 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $22,524 to complete the sports management program here. Soon after graduation, sports management degree recipients from Boise State University generally make around $35,617. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 87% of applicants are accepted.
Rocky Mountain College landed the #9 spot for sports management value this year. Set in the city of Billings, Rocky Mountain College is a small private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $35,582. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the sports management program here. Early-career sports management graduates make about $30,025. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 70% of applicants are accepted.
Colorado State University Fort Collins landed the #10 spot for sports management value this year. Located in the city of Fort Collins, Colorado State University Fort Collins is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $13,373 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $35,061. Sports Management graduates carry a median of $22,000 in student loans. Sports Management graduates of Colorado State University Fort Collins earn a median of $35,326 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 88%.
The College Of Idaho came in at #11 for value in sports management this year. Set in the suburb of Caldwell, The College Of Idaho is a small private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $37,845. Typical student debt for sports management graduates is $23,789. Sports Management graduates of The College Of Idaho earn a median of $30,968 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $23,789 median debt. The acceptance rate is 49%.
Montana State University came in at #12 for value in sports management this year. Set in the city of Bozeman, Montana State University is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,460, with out-of-state students paying around $33,287. Typical student debt for sports management graduates is $23,635. Soon after graduation, sports management degree recipients from Montana State University generally make around $47,703. That is a strong return on a $23,635 median debt. Montana State University admits about 82% of applicants.
Colorado Christian University came in at #13 for value in sports management this year. Set in the suburb of Lakewood, Colorado Christian University is a large private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $28,846. Students borrow a median of $36,092 to complete the sports management program here. Early-career sports management graduates make about $47,333. Set against $36,092 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
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Notes and References
This list is compiled 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 7 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.
