2026 Best Value Sports Management Schools in South Carolina
[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.
For its 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 17 schools to find the best return on investment for sports management students.
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2026 Best Value Sports Management Schools in South Carolina
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in sports management, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Sports Management Schools
Coastal Carolina University tops our 2026 list of the best value sports management schools in South Carolina. Set in the city of Conway, Coastal Carolina University is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $11,640 in tuition and fees, compared with $29,628 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $26,997 to complete the sports management program here. Sports Management graduates of Coastal Carolina University earn a median of $36,399 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $26,997 median debt. The acceptance rate is 75%.
A rank of #2 makes Winthrop University one of the best values for sports management. Winthrop University is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Rock Hill. In-state tuition and fees average $14,678, with out-of-state students paying around $28,676. Sports Management graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Early-career sports management graduates make about $35,704. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. Roughly 79% of applicants are accepted.
Allen University came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the best value sports management schools. Set in the city of Columbia, Allen University is a small private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $14,304 in tuition and fees. Sports Management graduates carry a median of $39,771 in student loans. Sports Management graduates of Allen University earn a median of $23,346 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 72%.
A rank of #4 makes Newberry College one of the best values for sports management. Set in the town of Newberry, Newberry College is a small private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $31,100. Students borrow a median of $28,375 to complete the sports management program here. Soon after graduation, sports management degree recipients from Newberry College generally make around $33,159. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 90%.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Benedict College earned it the #5 place for sports management. Set in the city of Columbia, Benedict College is a small private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $17,748. Students borrow a median of $37,311 to complete the sports management program here. Sports Management graduates of Benedict College earn a median of $25,769 early in their careers. Set against $37,311 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Benedict College admits about 96% of applicants.
Coker College ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the best value sports management schools. Set in the town of Hartsville, Coker College is a small private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $33,416 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for sports management graduates is $26,475. Early-career sports management graduates make about $30,333. That is a strong return on a $26,475 median debt. Coker College admits about 94% of applicants.
Bob Jones University placed #7 among the best values for sports management. Set in the city of Greenville, Bob Jones University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $22,892. Students borrow a median of $23,000 to complete the sports management program here. Sports Management graduates of Bob Jones University earn a median of $32,481 early in their careers. Set against $23,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Citadel Military College Of South Carolina came in at #8 for value in sports management this year. Citadel Military College Of South Carolina is a mid-sized public school located in the city of Charleston. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $12,570, with out-of-state students paying around $38,508. Typical student debt for sports management graduates is $22,250. Soon after graduation, sports management degree recipients from Citadel Military College Of South Carolina generally make around $43,409. Set against $22,250 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 23% of applicants are accepted.
North Greenville University landed the #9 spot for sports management value this year. North Greenville University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the rural area of Tigerville. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $25,800. Sports Management graduates carry a median of $28,000 in student loans. Soon after graduation, sports management degree recipients from North Greenville University generally make around $27,537. That is a strong return on a $28,000 median debt. The acceptance rate is 67%.
Columbia International University ranked #10 on our 2026 list of the best value sports management schools. Located in the city of Columbia, Columbia International University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $27,900 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for sports management graduates is $21,667. Early-career sports management graduates make about $32,296. Set against $21,667 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 94% of applicants are accepted.
Claflin University came in at #11 for value in sports management this year. Claflin University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the town of Orangeburg. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $17,046. Students borrow a median of $35,425 to complete the sports management program here. Early-career sports management graduates make about $22,642. That is a strong return on a $35,425 median debt. Claflin University admits about 65% of applicants.
Erskine College And Seminary came in at #12 for value in sports management this year. Erskine College And Seminary is a small private not-for-profit school located in the rural area of Due West. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $36,710. Sports Management graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Early-career sports management graduates make about $35,695. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Erskine College And Seminary admits about 63% of applicants.
Limestone College landed the #13 spot for sports management value this year. Set in the town of Gaffney, Limestone College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $27,800. Typical student debt for sports management graduates is $27,000. Sports Management graduates of Limestone College earn a median of $38,973 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. Roughly 97% of applicants are accepted.
Clemson University landed the #14 spot for sports management value this year. Set in the suburb of Clemson, Clemson University is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $15,554 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $40,866. Sports Management graduates carry a median of $23,783 in student loans. Soon after graduation, sports management degree recipients from Clemson University generally make around $47,774. Set against $23,783 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Clemson University admits about 38% of applicants.
University Of South Carolina Columbia ranked #15 on our 2026 list of the best value sports management schools. Located in the city of Columbia, University Of South Carolina Columbia is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $12,688, with out-of-state students paying around $36,298. Students borrow a median of $25,000 to complete the sports management program here. Early-career sports management graduates make about $37,903. Set against $25,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 60% of applicants are accepted.
Anderson University Sc earned the #16 position for value in sports management this year. Set in the city of Anderson, Anderson University Sc is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $34,970. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the sports management program here. Sports Management graduates of Anderson University Sc earn a median of $49,036 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. Roughly 55% of applicants are accepted.
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Notes and References
This ranking is produced 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 · 17 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.
