2026 Best Value Sports Studies Schools in Iowa
[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.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 4 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for sports studies students.
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2026 Best Value Sports Studies Schools in Iowa
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 University Of Iowa, our #1 best value for sports studies in Iowa. Set in the city of Iowa City, University Of Iowa is a very large public institution. 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 studies program here. Early-career sports studies graduates make about $32,737. Set against $23,813 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 84% of applicants are accepted.
A rank of #2 makes Saint Ambrose University one of the best values for sports studies. Located in the city of Davenport, Saint Ambrose University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $36,658. Typical student debt for sports studies graduates is $26,000. Early-career sports studies graduates make about $57,252. Set against $26,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 77%.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Upper Iowa University earned it the #3 place for sports studies. Upper Iowa University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the rural area of Fayette. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $19,475. Students borrow a median of $25,641 to complete the sports studies program here. Soon after graduation, sports studies degree recipients from Upper Iowa University generally make around $35,361. Set against $25,641 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 96% of applicants are accepted.
A rank of #4 makes University Of Dubuque one of the best values for sports studies. Set in the city of Dubuque, University Of Dubuque is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $42,095. Students borrow a median of $27,560 to complete the sports studies program here. Early-career sports studies graduates make about $53,808. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 89%.
More Sports Studies Rankings
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Notes and References
The ranking above is published 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 · 4 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 2 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.
