Compare 18 Sports Studies. programs in Minnesota. Average earnings: $42,615.
With top graduates earning $56,819, Sports Studies stands out as a field where program choice matters more than school name. The gap between the best and median programs exceeds $14K—proof that evaluating programs individually beats relying on institutional prestige.
The University of Minnesota-Duluth leads with Sports Studies graduates earning $56,819, followed by Twin Cities at $54,452. Both public Minnesota programs outperform the private University of Northwestern-St Paul ($53,550), demonstrating how regional publics compete effectively in specialized fields regardless of overall institutional prestige.
High earnings don't tell the whole story—debt burden matters. Minnesota-Twin Cities graduates borrow $19,500 and face just an 8.4% payment burden, landing in the 'Good' category. At Duluth, students achieve a 0.39 debt-to-earnings ratio, meaning graduates can pay off student loans with about 5 months of salary.
Highest program earnings: $56,819
Strong outcomes with 82% acceptance
8.4% payment burden | Good - payment 8-12% of discretionary
19.0% family burden | Challenging - payment 18-25% of discretionary
| Rank | School | Program Earnings | Cohort Size | Student Debt | Student GPS | Parent Debt | Parent GPS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | $56,819 | 45 | $22,024 | Good | $22,127 | Challenging | |
| #2 | $54,452 | 75 | $19,500 | Good | $25,729 | Challenging | |
| #3 | $53,550 | 20 | $21,325 | Good | $28,694 | Challenging | |
| #4 | Bethel UniversityPrivate | $51,431 | 19 | $21,500 | Good | $24,157 | Challenging |
| #5 | Winona State UniversityPublic | $51,253 | 69 | $21,500 | Good | $19,316 | Challenging |
| #6 | $48,805 | 110 | $21,106 | Good | $13,695 | Challenging | |
| #7 | St Catherine UniversityPrivate | $47,788 | 23 | $24,181 | Manageable | $21,883 | High |
| #8 | $47,029 | 9 | $26,847 | Manageable | $29,471 | High | |
| #9 | $44,463 | 58 | $20,500 | Manageable | $11,750 | Challenging | |
| #10 | Gustavus Adolphus CollegePrivate | $43,101 | 41 | $26,774 | Manageable | $34,265 | High |
| #11 | St Olaf CollegePrivate | $41,239 | 32 | $26,000 | Challenging | $40,568 | High |
| #12 | $40,035 | 37 | $20,000 | Manageable | $10,000 | Challenging | |
| #13 | $37,275 | 99 | $17,832 | Manageable | $15,277 | High | |
| #14 | Bemidji State UniversityPublic | $36,795 | 30 | $19,750 | Challenging | $12,173 | High |
| #15 | $33,281 | 8 | $18,995 | Challenging | $11,398 | High | |
| #16 | $30,771 | 13 | $20,500 | High | $11,092 | High | |
| #17 | Augsburg UniversityPrivate | $27,476 | 32 | $25,347 | High | $17,901 | High |
| #18 | Hamline UniversityPrivate | $21,508 | 13 | $23,770 | High | $22,739 | 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 →
