2026 Best Value Sports Studies Schools in Virginia
[Sports Studies](/majors/parks-recreation-fitness/health-and-physical-education/sports-studies/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong sports studies education at a price that pays off.
For its 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 2 schools to find the best return on investment for sports studies students.
What’s on this page:
2026 Best Value Sports Studies Schools in Virginia
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the sports studies degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Sports Studies Schools
Leading the list is Randolph College, our #1 best value for sports studies in Virginia. Randolph College is a small private not-for-profit school located in the city of Lynchburg. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $30,310. Students borrow a median of $23,750 to complete the sports studies program here. Sports Studies graduates of Randolph College earn a median of $43,197 early in their careers. Set against $23,750 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 94% of applicants are accepted.
A rank of #2 makes Shenandoah University one of the best values for sports studies. Located in the city of Winchester, Shenandoah University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $36,950 in tuition and fees. Sports Studies graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Early-career sports studies graduates make about $37,676. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 77% of applicants are accepted.
More Sports Studies Rankings
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Notes and References
This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. The methodology weighs the cost of a degree against the earnings graduates go on to achieve, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 2 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.
