2026 Best Value Sports Studies Schools in Indiana
[Sports Studies](/majors/parks-recreation-fitness/health-and-physical-education/sports-studies/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
College Factual analyzed 5 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best value sports studies schools.
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2026 Best Value Sports Studies Schools in Indiana
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in sports studies, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Sports Studies Schools
Ball State University earned the #1 spot for value among sports studies schools in Indiana. Set in the city of Muncie, Ball State University is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $11,082, with out-of-state students paying around $29,630. Students borrow a median of $25,962 to complete the sports studies program here. Sports Studies graduates of Ball State University earn a median of $36,829 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Ball State University admits about 86% of applicants.
Students looking for strong value in sports studies will find it at Bethel College Mishawaka, which ranked #2. Bethel College Mishawaka is a small private not-for-profit school located in the city of Mishawaka. Students from in state pay about $34,600 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the sports studies program here. Sports Studies graduates of Bethel College Mishawaka earn a median of $26,799 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. Roughly 98% of applicants are accepted.
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Notes and References
This list is compiled 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 · 5 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 1 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.
