Compare 22 Sports Studies. programs in Illinois. Average earnings: $44,239.
The highest-earning Sports Studies program isn't at the most prestigious school. With a $27K earnings gap across 22 programs, the data confirms: program-level factors drive outcomes more than institutional brand.
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign's Sports Studies program leads with graduates earning $60,121. Illinois State University follows at $58,378, while UIC reaches $53,754. The average across all programs is $44,239, showing how these top programs significantly outperform the field through program quality, not just school reputation.
High earnings don't tell the whole story—debt burden matters. UIUC graduates borrow $19,500 and face just a 7.1% payment burden, landing in the 'Excellent' category. That means loan payments take a minimal bite out of their post-grad income, with a debt-to-earnings ratio of just 0.32.
Highest program earnings: $60,121
Strong outcomes ($58,378) with 89% acceptance
7.1% payment burden | Excellent
19.6% family burden | Challenging
| Rank | School | Program Earnings | Cohort Size | Student Debt | Student GPS | Parent Debt | Parent GPS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | $60,121 | 179 | $19,500 | Excellent | $34,511 | Challenging | |
| #2 | $58,378 | 71 | $20,482 | Excellent | $28,767 | Challenging | |
| #3 | $53,754 | 160 | $16,704 | Excellent | $24,323 | Challenging | |
| #4 | $52,779 | 35 | $25,251 | Good | $20,764 | Challenging | |
| #5 | $50,919 | 12 | $26,082 | Manageable | $19,098 | Challenging | |
| #6 | $50,586 | 89 | $20,500 | Good | $21,500 | Challenging | |
| #7 | Concordia University-ChicagoPrivate | $50,212 | 71 | $23,000 | Good | $18,968 | Challenging |
| #8 | North Central CollegePrivate | $49,126 | 55 | $24,500 | Manageable | $30,000 | High |
| #9 | Elmhurst UniversityPrivate | $46,756 | 28 | $20,489 | Good | $27,470 | High |
| #10 | Lewis UniversityPrivate | $46,063 | 31 | $21,500 | Manageable | $23,044 | High |
| #11 | North Park UniversityPrivate | $46,059 | 17 | $25,500 | Manageable | $24,179 | High |
| #12 | Olivet Nazarene UniversityPrivate | $45,492 | 26 | $25,000 | Manageable | $21,966 | High |
| #13 | $43,029 | 62 | $22,162 | Manageable | $19,508 | High | |
| #14 | $41,406 | 84 | $21,500 | Manageable | $17,781 | High | |
| #15 | Quincy UniversityPrivate | $40,813 | 21 | $24,000 | Challenging | $16,609 | High |
| #16 | $40,396 | 73 | $21,543 | Manageable | $19,500 | High | |
| #17 | Aurora UniversityPrivate | $37,256 | 56 | $20,318 | Challenging | $19,500 | High |
| #18 | Monmouth CollegePrivate | $35,754 | 23 | $27,000 | High | $27,185 | High |
| #19 | Greenville UniversityPrivate | $34,931 | 12 | $23,875 | High | $29,985 | High |
| #20 | Mckendree UniversityPrivate | $32,925 | 28 | $23,250 | High | $22,582 | High |
| #21 | Millikin UniversityPrivate | $31,307 | 24 | $27,000 | High | $25,486 | High |
| #22 | Benedictine UniversityPrivate | $25,194 | 14 | $22,500 | High | $22,900 | High |
Our program rankings answer: "Which schools have the best outcomes for graduates of this specific major?"
Unlike traditional rankings that measure overall school quality, these rankings focus on program-level outcomes. A school that's #200 overall might have a top-10 nursing program — and that matters if you're studying nursing.
Data based on 2024-2025 Dept of Education reporting standards. Learn about our methodology →
