2026 Best Value Sports Management Schools in Kentucky
[Sports Management](/majors/parks-recreation-fitness/health-and-physical-education/sports-management/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
For its 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 17 schools to find the best return on investment for sports management students.
What’s on this page:
2026 Best Value Sports Management Schools in Kentucky
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 Kentucky State University this year. Set in the town of Frankfort, Kentucky State University is a mid-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,387, with out-of-state students paying around $13,578. Sports Management graduates carry a median of $29,774 in student loans. Sports Management graduates of Kentucky State University earn a median of $28,497 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $29,774 median debt. Kentucky State University admits about 96% of applicants.
Eastern Kentucky University came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the best value sports management schools. Located in the town of Richmond, Eastern Kentucky University is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $10,320, with out-of-state students paying around $21,230. Sports Management graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Sports Management graduates of Eastern Kentucky University earn a median of $33,722 early in their careers. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Eastern Kentucky University admits about 78% of applicants.
A rank of #3 makes Morehead State University one of the best values for sports management. Set in the town of Morehead, Morehead State University is a moderately-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $10,024, compared with $14,980 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $25,946 to complete the sports management program here. Soon after graduation, sports management degree recipients from Morehead State University generally make around $30,696. Set against $25,946 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 77% of applicants are accepted.
A rank of #4 makes Western Kentucky University one of the best values for sports management. Set in the city of Bowling Green, Western Kentucky University is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $11,652, compared with $27,000 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $24,593 to complete the sports management program here. Soon after graduation, sports management degree recipients from Western Kentucky University generally make around $25,858. That is a strong return on a $24,593 median debt. The acceptance rate is 94%.
A rank of #5 makes University Of The Cumberlands one of the best values for sports management. University Of The Cumberlands is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the town of Williamsburg. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,875. Students borrow a median of $22,630 to complete the sports management program here. Sports Management graduates of University Of The Cumberlands earn a median of $31,401 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 99% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Kentucky ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the best value sports management schools. Set in the city of Lexington, University Of Kentucky is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $13,502, compared with $34,140 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for sports management graduates is $24,094. Soon after graduation, sports management degree recipients from University Of Kentucky generally make around $43,994. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 93% of applicants are accepted.
Georgetown College came in at #7 for value in sports management this year. Set in the town of Georgetown, Georgetown College is a small private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $42,840. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the sports management program here. Early-career sports management graduates make about $37,620. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Georgetown College admits about 91% of applicants.
University Of Louisville ranked #8 on our 2026 list of the best value sports management schools. Set in the city of Louisville, University Of Louisville is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $13,136, with out-of-state students paying around $29,482. Typical student debt for sports management graduates is $22,053. Sports Management graduates of University Of Louisville earn a median of $36,995 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 79% of applicants are accepted.
Campbellsville University came in at #9 for value in sports management this year. Set in the town of Campbellsville, Campbellsville University is a large private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $27,998. Sports Management graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Early-career sports management graduates make about $43,474. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 80% of applicants are accepted.
Asbury University landed the #10 spot for sports management value this year. Located in the town of Wilmore, Asbury University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $33,640. Typical student debt for sports management graduates is $26,250. Early-career sports management graduates make about $50,086. Set against $26,250 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Asbury University admits about 63% of applicants.
Thomas More College earned the #11 position for value in sports management this year. Thomas More College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Crestview Hills. In-state tuition and fees average $39,025. Students borrow a median of $31,608 to complete the sports management program here. Early-career sports management graduates make about $57,440. Set against $31,608 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 90%.
Bellarmine University placed #12 among the best values for sports management. Set in the city of Louisville, Bellarmine University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $48,770. Students borrow a median of $25,944 to complete the sports management program here. Early-career sports management graduates make about $30,236. That is a strong return on a $25,944 median debt. Bellarmine University admits about 86% of applicants.
Midway College ranked #13 on our 2026 list of the best value sports management schools. Set in the rural area of Midway, Midway College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $19,110. Students borrow a median of $23,125 to complete the sports management program here. Early-career sports management graduates make about $42,586. Set against $23,125 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 95%.
Union College Kentucky came in at #14 for value in sports management this year. Located in the town of Barbourville, Union College Kentucky is a small private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $30,946. Typical student debt for sports management graduates is $27,852. Early-career sports management graduates make about $54,587. That is a strong return on a $27,852 median debt. Roughly 63% of applicants are accepted.
Kentucky Wesleyan College came in at #15 for value in sports management this year. Kentucky Wesleyan College is a small private not-for-profit school located in the city of Owensboro. In-state tuition and fees average $34,673. Typical student debt for sports management graduates is $25,000. Sports Management graduates of Kentucky Wesleyan College earn a median of $32,568 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 72%.
More Sports Management Rankings
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Notes and References
This list is compiled 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 · 17 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.
