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2026 Best Value Sports Studies Schools in Minnesota

[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.

To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 3 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for sports studies students.

What’s on this page:

• Best Value Sports Studies Schools in Minnesota

2026 Best Value Sports Studies Schools in Minnesota

Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in sports studies, balancing cost against outcomes.

Best Value Sports Studies Schools

1

Concordia University Saint Paul
Saint Paul, MN

$25,600 In-State Tuition & Fees

$29,156 Avg Student Debt

$59,871 Median Earnings (10yr)

Leading the list is Concordia University Saint Paul, our #1 best value for sports studies in Minnesota. Concordia University Saint Paul is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Saint Paul. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $25,600. Typical student debt for sports studies graduates is $29,156. Sports Studies graduates of Concordia University Saint Paul earn a median of $39,033 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 79%.

2

Minnesota State University Mankato
Mankato, MN

$9,572 In-State Tuition & Fees

$24,420 Avg Student Debt

$56,922 Median Earnings (10yr)

Minnesota State University Mankato came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the best value sports studies schools. Located in the city of Mankato, Minnesota State University Mankato is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $9,572, compared with $18,942 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for sports studies graduates is $24,420. Soon after graduation, sports studies degree recipients from Minnesota State University Mankato generally make around $42,512. Set against $24,420 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 88% of applicants are accepted.

View All Sports Studies Rankings >

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 · 3 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.