Compare 20 Sports Studies. programs in Indiana. Average earnings: $43,993.
Sports Studies programs produce graduates earning between $24,181 and $65,300—a $41K spread that demonstrates why program selection matters independently of school prestige. Across 20 ranked programs in Indiana, outcomes vary dramatically based on program quality, not institutional reputation.
Topping the list, DePauw University's program delivers $65,300 in median earnings, well above the state average of $44,000. University of Evansville follows at $55,141, while Purdue's program produces $53,337—proving that smaller schools can outperform larger institutions in specialized fields.
High earnings don't tell the whole story—debt burden matters. DePauw graduates borrow $27,000 and face just an 8.7% payment burden, landing in the 'Good' category. That means loan payments take a manageable bite out of their post-grad income, with excellent debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.41.
| Rank | School | Program Earnings | Cohort Size | Student Debt | Student GPS | Parent Debt | Parent GPS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | Depauw UniversityPrivate | $65,300 | 24 | $27,000 | Good | $35,134 | Challenging |
| #2 | University Of EvansvillePrivate | $55,141 | 36 | $24,606 | Good | $26,848 | Challenging |
| #3 | $53,337 | 88 | $19,500 | Good | $29,448 | Challenging | |
| #4 | $53,142 | 347 | $19,509 | Good | $32,850 | High | |
| #5 | Trine UniversityPrivate | $51,996 | 67 | $25,000 | Good | $32,897 | High |
| #6 | $50,577 | 124 | $20,000 | Good | $17,205 | Challenging | |
| #7 | University Of IndianapolisPrivate | $49,930 | 94 | $26,864 | Manageable | $23,490 | High |
| #8 | Ball State UniversityPublic | $47,355 | 137 | $23,250 | Manageable | $20,800 | High |
| #9 | Hanover CollegePrivate | $46,500 | 44 | $25,250 | Manageable | $41,531 | High |
| #10 | $46,368 | 88 | $20,105 | Good | $13,626 | Challenging | |
| #11 | Anderson UniversityPrivate | $44,938 | 16 | $27,000 | Manageable | $29,048 | High |
| #12 | Taylor UniversityPrivate | $44,887 | 7 | $20,500 | Manageable | $45,174 | High |
| #13 | Valparaiso UniversityPrivate | $41,366 | 26 | $26,942 | Challenging | $28,500 | High |
| #14 | Marian UniversityPrivate | $41,060 | 30 | $27,000 | Challenging | $24,800 | High |
| #15 | Indiana State UniversityPublic | $40,903 | 52 | $24,000 | Manageable | $17,049 | High |
| #16 | Manchester UniversityPrivate | $39,082 | 24 | $26,854 | Challenging | $30,398 | High |
| #17 | $31,798 | 24 | $19,500 | High | $31,412 | High | |
| #18 | Bethel UniversityPrivate | $26,799 | 16 | $25,000 | High | $15,256 | High |
| #19 | $25,194 | 15 | $24,250 | High | $12,987 | High | |
| #20 | Franklin CollegePrivate | $24,181 | 23 | $27,000 | High | $40,380 | 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 →