2026 Best Value Sports Management Schools in North Carolina
[Sports Management](/majors/parks-recreation-fitness/health-and-physical-education/sports-management/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
For its 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 31 schools to find the best return on investment for sports management students.
What’s on this page:
2026 Best Value Sports Management Schools in North Carolina
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
Western Carolina University tops our 2026 list of the best value sports management schools in North Carolina. Set in the town of Cullowhee, Western Carolina University is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $4,630, compared with $8,630 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $25,000 to complete the sports management program here. Early-career sports management graduates make about $41,176. Set against $25,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Western Carolina University admits about 82% of applicants.
Students looking for strong value in sports management will find it at North Carolina State University At Raleigh, which ranked #2. Located in the city of Raleigh, North Carolina State University At Raleigh is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $8,799, while out-of-state students pay about $32,847. Sports Management graduates carry a median of $21,500 in student loans. Sports Management graduates of North Carolina State University At Raleigh earn a median of $33,717 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $21,500 median debt. Roughly 42% of applicants are accepted.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at University Of North Carolina At Pembroke earned it the #3 place for sports management. Located in the town of Pembroke, University Of North Carolina At Pembroke is a moderately-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,648, compared with $7,648 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $26,000 to complete the sports management program here. Sports Management graduates of University Of North Carolina At Pembroke earn a median of $25,623 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 93% of applicants are accepted.
Students looking for strong value in sports management will find it at Elizabeth City State University, which ranked #4. Elizabeth City State University is a mid-sized public school located in the town of Elizabeth City. Students from in state pay about $6,536 in tuition and fees, compared with $10,536 for out-of-state students. Sports Management graduates carry a median of $26,992 in student loans. Sports Management graduates of Elizabeth City State University earn a median of $26,821 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 64%.
North Carolina A And T State University came in at #5 on our 2026 list of the best value sports management schools. Set in the city of Greensboro, North Carolina A And T State University is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,813, while out-of-state students pay about $20,673. Typical student debt for sports management graduates is $30,000. Soon after graduation, sports management degree recipients from North Carolina A And T State University generally make around $26,498. That is a strong return on a $30,000 median debt. Roughly 50% of applicants are accepted.
East Carolina University ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the best value sports management schools. East Carolina University is a very large public school located in the city of Greenville. In-state tuition and fees average $7,361, compared with $23,638 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for sports management graduates is $27,000. Soon after graduation, sports management degree recipients from East Carolina University generally make around $38,488. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. Roughly 89% of applicants are accepted.
Winston Salem State University ranked #7 on our 2026 list of the best value sports management schools. Located in the city of Winston-Salem, Winston Salem State University is a moderately-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,126, compared with $16,782 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $26,000 to complete the sports management program here. Soon after graduation, sports management degree recipients from Winston Salem State University generally make around $26,467. That is a strong return on a $26,000 median debt. Winston Salem State University admits about 78% of applicants.
Chowan University ranked #8 on our 2026 list of the best value sports management schools. Located in the rural area of Murfreesboro, Chowan University is a small private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $27,910. Sports Management graduates carry a median of $31,581 in student loans. Sports Management graduates of Chowan University earn a median of $25,983 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $31,581 median debt. Roughly 69% of applicants are accepted.
Mount Olive College came in at #9 for value in sports management this year. Mount Olive College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the rural area of Mount Olive. In-state tuition and fees average $27,366. Sports Management graduates carry a median of $25,820 in student loans. Sports Management graduates of Mount Olive College earn a median of $27,413 early in their careers. Set against $25,820 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Mount Olive College admits about 76% of applicants.
North Carolina Wesleyan College earned the #10 position for value in sports management this year. North Carolina Wesleyan College is a small private not-for-profit school located in the city of Rocky Mount. Students from in state pay about $35,586 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $26,713 to complete the sports management program here. Soon after graduation, sports management degree recipients from North Carolina Wesleyan College generally make around $40,202. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 80%.
Meredith College came in at #11 for value in sports management this year. Meredith College is a small private not-for-profit school located in the city of Raleigh. Students from in state pay about $45,630 in tuition and fees. Sports Management graduates carry a median of $26,000 in student loans. Early-career sports management graduates make about $40,537. Set against $26,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 74% of applicants are accepted.
Livingstone College ranked #12 on our 2026 list of the best value sports management schools. Set in the suburb of Salisbury, Livingstone College is a small private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $18,296. Students borrow a median of $35,000 to complete the sports management program here. Soon after graduation, sports management degree recipients from Livingstone College generally make around $21,427. That is a strong return on a $35,000 median debt. Livingstone College admits about 59% of applicants.
Catawba College ranked #13 on our 2026 list of the best value sports management schools. Located in the suburb of Salisbury, Catawba College is a small private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $34,300. Students borrow a median of $26,703 to complete the sports management program here. Soon after graduation, sports management degree recipients from Catawba College generally make around $27,305. Set against $26,703 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 75%.
Saint Augustines College placed #14 among the best values for sports management. Set in the city of Raleigh, Saint Augustines College is a small private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $16,896. Sports Management graduates carry a median of $40,375 in student loans. Sports Management graduates of Saint Augustines College earn a median of $23,500 early in their careers. Set against $40,375 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Saint Augustines College admits about 34% of applicants.
Wingate University placed #15 among the best values for sports management. Set in the suburb of Wingate, Wingate University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $42,576. Students borrow a median of $25,000 to complete the sports management program here. Soon after graduation, sports management degree recipients from Wingate University generally make around $34,936. Set against $25,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Wingate University admits about 91% of applicants.
Johnson C Smith University earned the #16 position for value in sports management this year. Located in the city of Charlotte, Johnson C Smith University is a small private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $21,300. Typical student debt for sports management graduates is $34,078. Early-career sports management graduates make about $29,678. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 45%.
Guilford College landed the #17 spot for sports management value this year. Located in the city of Greensboro, Guilford College is a small private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $41,362. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the sports management program here. Soon after graduation, sports management degree recipients from Guilford College generally make around $28,802. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Guilford College admits about 80% of applicants.
Peace College came in at #18 for value in sports management this year. Located in the city of Raleigh, Peace College is a small private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $34,176. Sports Management graduates carry a median of $27,080 in student loans. Sports Management graduates of Peace College earn a median of $38,047 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $27,080 median debt. Roughly 94% of applicants are accepted.
Lenoir Rhyne University came in at #19 for value in sports management this year. Lenoir Rhyne University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Hickory. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $31,900. Sports Management graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Sports Management graduates of Lenoir Rhyne University earn a median of $22,695 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. Roughly 85% of applicants are accepted.
Pfeiffer University came in at #20 for value in sports management this year. Set in the rural area of Misenheimer, Pfeiffer University is a small private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $35,070. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the sports management program here. Early-career sports management graduates make about $26,744. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. Roughly 96% of applicants are accepted.
Belmont Abbey College ranked #21 on our 2026 list of the best value sports management schools. Belmont Abbey College is a small private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Belmont. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $19,500. Sports Management graduates carry a median of $25,250 in student loans. Early-career sports management graduates make about $27,739. That is a strong return on a $25,250 median debt. The acceptance rate is 75%.
Campbell University landed the #22 spot for sports management value this year. Set in the town of Buies Creek, Campbell University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $41,600. Sports Management graduates carry a median of $25,250 in student loans. Soon after graduation, sports management degree recipients from Campbell University generally make around $32,167. That is a strong return on a $25,250 median debt. Campbell University admits about 87% of applicants.
Barton College placed #23 among the best values for sports management. Located in the town of Wilson, Barton College is a small private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $37,000. Typical student debt for sports management graduates is $27,000. Soon after graduation, sports management degree recipients from Barton College generally make around $29,374. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Barton College admits about 94% of applicants.
Gardner Webb University ranked #24 on our 2026 list of the best value sports management schools. Located in the rural area of Boiling Springs, Gardner Webb University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $34,750. Students borrow a median of $25,033 to complete the sports management program here. Soon after graduation, sports management degree recipients from Gardner Webb University generally make around $63,220. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 77%.
Methodist University placed #25 among the best values for sports management. Located in the city of Fayetteville, Methodist University is a small private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $41,250. Students borrow a median of $30,124 to complete the sports management program here. Early-career sports management graduates make about $28,270. Set against $30,124 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Methodist University admits about 75% of applicants.
Rest of the Top 30 Best Value Sports Management Schools
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s sports management value ranking:
More Sports Management Rankings
View All Sports Management Rankings >
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 · 31 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 21 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.
