Compare 19 Sports Studies. programs in Iowa. Average earnings: $45,134.
With top graduates earning $53,773, Sports Studies stands out as a field where program choice matters more than school name. The gap between the best and median programs exceeds $8K—proof that evaluating programs individually beats relying on institutional prestige.
Iowa State University's Sports Studies program leads with graduates earning $53,773, followed closely by Upper Iowa University at $52,336 and University of Iowa at $52,028. The average across all 19 programs is $45,134, showing how the top performers cluster together despite varying institutional profiles.
High earnings don't tell the whole story—debt burden matters. Iowa State graduates borrow $22,869 and face just a 10% payment burden, landing in the 'Good' category. For families including parent loans, Buena Vista University leads with an 18.4% family burden, proving the best choice depends on who's paying.
Highest program earnings: $53,773
Strong outcomes with 89% acceptance
10.0% payment burden | Good - payment 8-12% of discretionary
18.4% family burden | Challenging - payment 18-25% of discretionary
| Rank | School | Program Earnings | Cohort Size | Student Debt | Student GPS | Parent Debt | Parent GPS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | Iowa State UniversityPublic | $53,773 | 238 | $22,869 | Good | $25,950 | Challenging |
| #2 | Upper Iowa UniversityPrivate | $52,336 | 11 | $25,000 | Good | $14,000 | Challenging |
| #3 | University Of IowaPublic | $52,028 | 585 | $22,500 | Good | $27,975 | High |
| #4 | Simpson CollegePrivate | $51,909 | 25 | $26,000 | Manageable | $23,702 | Challenging |
| #5 | Buena Vista UniversityPrivate | $51,571 | 18 | $25,000 | Good | $12,074 | Challenging |
| #6 | Grand View UniversityPrivate | $49,457 | 66 | $22,500 | Good | $20,398 | Challenging |
| #7 | Coe CollegePrivate | $48,522 | 11 | $27,000 | Manageable | $30,674 | High |
| #8 | Wartburg CollegePrivate | $47,888 | 12 | $27,000 | Manageable | $27,152 | High |
| #9 | Loras CollegePrivate | $47,324 | 33 | $26,000 | Manageable | $30,983 | High |
| #10 | Saint Ambrose UniversityPrivate | $47,163 | 64 | $25,000 | Manageable | $30,948 | High |
| #11 | University Of DubuquePrivate | $46,564 | 27 | $25,750 | Manageable | $21,000 | High |
| #12 | Briar Cliff UniversityPrivate | $45,408 | 23 | $23,250 | Manageable | $19,260 | High |
| #13 | $44,149 | 65 | $19,691 | Manageable | $17,670 | High | |
| #14 | Graceland University-LamoniPrivate | $42,250 | 24 | $21,212 | Manageable | $16,646 | High |
| #15 | Dordt UniversityPrivate | $40,515 | 12 | $21,500 | Manageable | $18,000 | High |
| #16 | Luther CollegePrivate | $39,927 | 7 | $27,000 | Challenging | $40,923 | High |
| #17 | Cornell CollegePrivate | $35,439 | 24 | $27,000 | High | $46,564 | High |
| #18 | Clarke UniversityPrivate | $31,013 | 10 | $26,717 | High | $33,000 | High |
| #19 | William Penn UniversityPrivate | $30,314 | 38 | $22,415 | High | $15,943 | 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 →
