2026 Best Value Sports Management Schools in Missouri
[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 best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 18 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for sports management students.
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2026 Best Value Sports Management Schools in Missouri
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in sports management, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Sports Management Schools
Leading the list is University Of Missouri St Louis, our #1 best value for sports management in Missouri. University Of Missouri St Louis is a large public school located in the suburb of Saint Louis. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $15,120, while out-of-state students pay about $37,620. Students borrow a median of $25,943 to complete the sports management program here. Early-career sports management graduates make about $53,079. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 63% of applicants are accepted.
Students looking for strong value in sports management will find it at Missouri Southern State University, which ranked #2. Missouri Southern State University is a mid-sized public school located in the city of Joplin. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,600, while out-of-state students pay about $18,300. Students borrow a median of $24,947 to complete the sports management program here. Soon after graduation, sports management degree recipients from Missouri Southern State University generally make around $34,465. Set against $24,947 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 97% of applicants are accepted.
Students looking for strong value in sports management will find it at Missouri Western State University, which ranked #3. Located in the city of Saint Joseph, Missouri Western State University is a mid-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,545, with out-of-state students paying around $18,455. Students borrow a median of $24,815 to complete the sports management program here. Soon after graduation, sports management degree recipients from Missouri Western State University generally make around $36,557. Set against $24,815 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Southeast Missouri State University earned it the #4 place for sports management. Southeast Missouri State University is a large public school located in the city of Cape Girardeau. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,903. Sports Management graduates carry a median of $22,572 in student loans. Sports Management graduates of Southeast Missouri State University earn a median of $34,638 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 74% of applicants are accepted.
Students looking for strong value in sports management will find it at University Of Central Missouri, which ranked #5. Set in the town of Warrensburg, University Of Central Missouri is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $10,050, with out-of-state students paying around $18,600. Typical student debt for sports management graduates is $26,000. Sports Management graduates of University Of Central Missouri earn a median of $39,975 early in their careers. Set against $26,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of Central Missouri admits about 64% of applicants.
Missouri State University Springfield placed #6 among the best values for sports management. Located in the city of Springfield, Missouri State University Springfield is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $9,502, while out-of-state students pay about $18,770. Students borrow a median of $22,876 to complete the sports management program here. Early-career sports management graduates make about $29,761. That is a strong return on a $22,876 median debt. Roughly 90% of applicants are accepted.
Fontbonne University ranked #7 on our 2026 list of the best value sports management schools. Located in the suburb of Saint Louis, Fontbonne University is a small private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $29,976 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $33,503 to complete the sports management program here. Soon after graduation, sports management degree recipients from Fontbonne University generally make around $46,039. That is a strong return on a $33,503 median debt.
University Of Missouri Columbia landed the #8 spot for sports management value this year. Located in the city of Columbia, University Of Missouri Columbia is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $14,837, with out-of-state students paying around $36,056. Typical student debt for sports management graduates is $21,818. Early-career sports management graduates make about $53,134. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 78% of applicants are accepted.
Lindenwood University landed the #9 spot for sports management value this year. Located in the city of Saint Charles, Lindenwood University is a large private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $21,600 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for sports management graduates is $28,000. Soon after graduation, sports management degree recipients from Lindenwood University generally make around $35,314. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 57% of applicants are accepted.
Evangel University placed #10 among the best values for sports management. Evangel University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Springfield. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $28,548. Sports Management graduates carry a median of $24,876 in student loans. Early-career sports management graduates make about $42,039. Set against $24,876 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 72% of applicants are accepted.
Southwest Baptist University landed the #11 spot for sports management value this year. Located in the town of Bolivar, Southwest Baptist University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $30,566. Students borrow a median of $19,550 to complete the sports management program here. Early-career sports management graduates make about $30,837. That is a strong return on a $19,550 median debt. Southwest Baptist University admits about 68% of applicants.
Culver Stockton College placed #12 among the best values for sports management. Culver Stockton College is a small private not-for-profit school located in the rural area of Canton. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $30,875. Students borrow a median of $27,252 to complete the sports management program here. Soon after graduation, sports management degree recipients from Culver Stockton College generally make around $38,725. That is a strong return on a $27,252 median debt. Culver Stockton College admits about 99% of applicants.
William Woods University earned the #13 position for value in sports management this year. Located in the town of Fulton, William Woods University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $30,340. Typical student debt for sports management graduates is $25,545. Sports Management graduates of William Woods University earn a median of $24,329 early in their careers. Set against $25,545 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. William Woods University admits about 71% of applicants.
Columbia College Missouri came in at #14 for value in sports management this year. Located in the city of Columbia, Columbia College Missouri is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $12,276 in tuition and fees. Sports Management graduates carry a median of $29,213 in student loans. Soon after graduation, sports management degree recipients from Columbia College Missouri generally make around $47,962. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Missouri Baptist University landed the #15 spot for sports management value this year. Located in the suburb of Saint Louis, Missouri Baptist University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $33,122. Students borrow a median of $26,001 to complete the sports management program here. Soon after graduation, sports management degree recipients from Missouri Baptist University generally make around $39,737. That is a strong return on a $26,001 median debt. Missouri Baptist University admits about 69% of applicants.
Maryville University Of Saint Louis placed #16 among the best values for sports management. Set in the suburb of Saint Louis, Maryville University Of Saint Louis is a large private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $27,166 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $23,250 to complete the sports management program here. Soon after graduation, sports management degree recipients from Maryville University Of Saint Louis generally make around $32,480. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 95%.
Westminster College Missouri placed #17 among the best values for sports management. Westminster College Missouri is a small private not-for-profit school located in the town of Fulton. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $35,214. Students borrow a median of $26,170 to complete the sports management program here. Sports Management graduates of Westminster College Missouri earn a median of $37,667 early in their careers. Set against $26,170 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 79% of applicants are accepted.
Saint Louis University Main Campus earned the #18 position for value in sports management this year. Saint Louis University Main Campus is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Saint Louis. In-state tuition and fees average $55,760. Sports Management graduates carry a median of $26,316 in student loans. Early-career sports management graduates make about $65,599. Set against $26,316 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 75% of applicants are accepted.
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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 · 18 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.
