2026 Best Value Sports Management Schools in Iowa
[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 19 schools to find the best return on investment for sports management students.
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2026 Best Value Sports Management Schools in Iowa
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in sports management, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Sports Management Schools
University Of Northern Iowa tops our 2026 list of the best value sports management schools in Iowa. Located in the city of Cedar Falls, University Of Northern Iowa is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,936, with out-of-state students paying around $21,712. Typical student debt for sports management graduates is $22,500. Sports Management graduates of University Of Northern Iowa earn a median of $46,054 early in their careers. Set against $22,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 93% of applicants are accepted.
A rank of #2 makes Des Moines Area Community College one of the best values for sports management. Located in the suburb of Ankeny, Des Moines Area Community College is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $5,790, while out-of-state students pay about $6,690. Sports Management graduates carry a median of $14,956 in student loans. Early-career sports management graduates make about $43,121. That is a strong return on a $14,956 median debt.
Buena Vista University came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the best value sports management schools. Set in the town of Storm Lake, Buena Vista University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $41,798. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the sports management program here. Early-career sports management graduates make about $38,356. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 78% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Iowa came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the best value sports management schools. Located in the city of Iowa City, University Of Iowa is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $11,283 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $33,371. Students borrow a median of $23,813 to complete the sports management program here. Early-career sports management graduates make about $32,737. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 84% of applicants are accepted.
Clarke University came in at #5 on our 2026 list of the best value sports management schools. Located in the city of Dubuque, Clarke University is a small private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $40,910. Typical student debt for sports management graduates is $26,974. Early-career sports management graduates make about $31,013. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Clarke University admits about 72% of applicants.
Loras College placed #6 among the best values for sports management. Set in the city of Dubuque, Loras College is a small private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $39,824. Typical student debt for sports management graduates is $27,000. Early-career sports management graduates make about $31,493. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. Roughly 100% of applicants are accepted.
Grand View University placed #7 among the best values for sports management. Set in the city of Des Moines, Grand View University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $34,762 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for sports management graduates is $26,921. Early-career sports management graduates make about $43,236. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Grand View University admits about 99% of applicants.
Briar Cliff University came in at #8 for value in sports management this year. Located in the city of Sioux City, Briar Cliff University is a small private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $35,642. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the sports management program here. Early-career sports management graduates make about $61,105. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Waldorf College landed the #9 spot for sports management value this year. Waldorf College is a mid-sized private for-profit school located in the rural area of Forest City. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $25,978. Sports Management graduates carry a median of $24,622 in student loans. Soon after graduation, sports management degree recipients from Waldorf College generally make around $63,346. That is a strong return on a $24,622 median debt. Roughly 77% of applicants are accepted.
Simpson College landed the #10 spot for sports management value this year. Simpson College is a small private not-for-profit school located in the town of Indianola. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $47,656. Typical student debt for sports management graduates is $27,000. Sports Management graduates of Simpson College earn a median of $38,158 early in their careers. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Simpson College admits about 86% of applicants.
William Penn University placed #11 among the best values for sports management. William Penn University is a small private not-for-profit school located in the town of Oskaloosa. Students from in state pay about $29,750 in tuition and fees. Sports Management graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Early-career sports management graduates make about $30,314. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. The acceptance rate is 52%.
Wartburg College placed #12 among the best values for sports management. Wartburg College is a small private not-for-profit school located in the town of Waverly. In-state tuition and fees average $26,250. Students borrow a median of $26,793 to complete the sports management program here. Soon after graduation, sports management degree recipients from Wartburg College generally make around $46,918. That is a strong return on a $26,793 median debt. The acceptance rate is 76%.
Saint Ambrose University came in at #13 for value in sports management this year. Set in the city of Davenport, Saint Ambrose University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $36,658 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for sports management graduates is $26,000. Early-career sports management graduates make about $26,608. That is a strong return on a $26,000 median debt. The acceptance rate is 77%.
Upper Iowa University landed the #14 spot for sports management value this year. Located in the rural area of Fayette, Upper Iowa University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $19,475 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $25,641 to complete the sports management program here. Early-career sports management graduates make about $35,361. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Upper Iowa University admits about 96% of applicants.
University Of Dubuque earned the #15 position for value in sports management this year. Located in the city of Dubuque, University Of Dubuque is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $42,095. Sports Management graduates carry a median of $27,560 in student loans. Soon after graduation, sports management degree recipients from University Of Dubuque generally make around $37,528. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 89% of applicants are accepted.
Northwestern College Iowa came in at #16 for value in sports management this year. Northwestern College Iowa is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the town of Orange City. Students from in state pay about $36,710 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for sports management graduates is $25,415. Soon after graduation, sports management degree recipients from Northwestern College Iowa generally make around $54,845. That is a strong return on a $25,415 median debt. Roughly 80% of applicants are accepted.
Dordt College placed #17 among the best values for sports management. Located in the town of Sioux Center, Dordt College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $37,050. Typical student debt for sports management graduates is $21,812. Soon after graduation, sports management degree recipients from Dordt College generally make around $54,926. Set against $21,812 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 68%.
More Sports Management Rankings
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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 · 19 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 9 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.
