Compare 36 Sports Studies. programs in North Carolina. Average earnings: $39,376.
The highest-earning Sports Studies program isn't at the most prestigious school. With a $30K earnings gap across 36 programs, the data confirms: program-level factors drive outcomes more than institutional brand.
Wake Forest University's Sports Studies program leads with graduates earning $68,083, well above the state average of $39,376. But North Carolina State follows closely at $61,801, proving that strong outcomes aren't limited to private institutions. Even third-place Elon University at $55,945 demonstrates how program quality varies independently of school reputation.
High earnings don't tell the whole story—debt burden matters. Wake Forest graduates borrow $21,500 and face just a 6.5% payment burden, landing in the 'Excellent' category. For families, NC State leads with a 16.3% family burden compared to Elon's concerning 30.5%—proof that the best choice depends on who's paying.
Highest program earnings: $68,083
Strong outcomes ($55,945) with 67% acceptance
6.5% payment burden | Excellent
16.3% family burden | Manageable
| Rank | School | Program Earnings | Cohort Size | Student Debt | Student GPS | Parent Debt | Parent GPS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | Wake Forest UniversityPrivate | $68,083 | 70 | $21,500 | Excellent | $30,000 | Manageable |
| #2 | $61,801 | 89 | $20,121 | Excellent | $23,000 | Manageable | |
| #3 | Elon UniversityPrivate | $55,945 | 70 | $20,500 | Good | $46,609 | High |
| #4 | $47,623 | 346 | $14,000 | Excellent | $25,072 | Challenging | |
| #5 | Wingate UniversityPrivate | $44,230 | 58 | $25,000 | Manageable | $27,506 | High |
| #6 | University Of Mount OlivePrivate | $44,128 | 27 | $27,209 | Manageable | $15,000 | High |
| #7 | Lenoir-Rhyne UniversityPrivate | $44,101 | 45 | $26,000 | Manageable | $28,512 | High |
| #8 | Gardner-Webb UniversityPrivate | $43,815 | 16 | $24,222 | Manageable | $19,524 | High |
| #9 | East Carolina UniversityPublic | $42,598 | 122 | $22,750 | Manageable | $19,710 | High |
| #10 | $42,587 | 64 | $28,250 | Challenging | $19,245 | High | |
| #11 | Campbell UniversityPrivate | $42,327 | 94 | $22,500 | Manageable | $40,055 | High |
| #12 | $41,774 | 235 | $20,231 | Manageable | $21,919 | High | |
| #13 | $40,728 | 175 | $19,500 | Manageable | $22,737 | High | |
| #14 | $40,186 | 190 | $21,500 | Manageable | $19,809 | High | |
| #15 | $39,153 | 101 | $25,000 | Challenging | $10,984 | High | |
| #16 | $39,000 | 9 | $25,000 | Challenging | $15,146 | High | |
| #17 | Guilford CollegePrivate | $38,932 | 35 | $26,000 | Challenging | $37,100 | High |
| #18 | Belmont Abbey CollegePrivate | $38,867 | 23 | $26,000 | Challenging | $38,303 | High |
| #19 | Meredith CollegePrivate | $38,525 | 14 | $25,000 | Challenging | $44,613 | High |
| #20 | Methodist UniversityPrivate | $38,394 | 33 | $27,000 | Challenging | $36,335 | High |
| #21 | Chowan UniversityPrivate | $38,326 | 21 | $29,491 | High | $27,319 | High |
| #22 | $37,418 | 146 | $22,858 | Challenging | $14,638 | High | |
| #23 | $37,021 | 142 | $27,000 | High | $20,004 | High | |
| #24 | Barton CollegePrivate | $36,515 | 31 | $25,877 | High | $26,818 | High |
| #25 | St. Andrews UniversityPrivate | $36,456 | 8 | $25,250 | Challenging | $24,764 | 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 →
