Compare 79 Sports Studies. programs in the West. Average earnings: $42,241.
With top graduates earning $72,554, Sports Studies stands out as a field where program choice matters more than school name. The gap between the best and median programs exceeds $30K—proof that evaluating programs individually beats relying on institutional prestige.
Pepperdine University's Sports Studies program leads with graduates earning $72,554, well above the $42K average across 79 Western programs. But San Jose State University ($58,866) demonstrates how regional publics compete effectively, producing strong outcomes while maintaining an 80% acceptance rate versus Pepperdine's 50%.
High earnings don't tell the whole story—debt burden matters. San Jose State graduates borrow $15,000 and face just a 5.7% payment burden, landing in the 'Excellent' category. That means loan payments take a minimal bite out of their post-grad income, while Utah Valley offers the best family value at 10.4% burden.
| Rank | School | Program Earnings | Cohort Size | Student Debt | Student GPS | Parent Debt | Parent GPS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | Pepperdine UniversityPrivate | $72,554 | 67 | $23,510 | Excellent | $41,309 | Challenging |
| #2 | $58,866 | 232 | $15,000 | Excellent | $20,820 | Manageable | |
| #3 | University Of San FranciscoPrivate | $57,937 | 55 | $23,000 | Good | $44,413 | High |
| #4 | University Of WyomingPublic | $57,692 | 78 | $18,000 | Excellent | $16,000 | Manageable |
| #5 | $57,273 | 178 | $19,500 | Excellent | $29,968 | Challenging | |
| #6 | Utah Valley UniversityPublic | $56,514 | 114 | $14,750 | Excellent | $9,582 | Good |
| #7 | Pacific Union CollegePrivate | $56,152 | 6 | $27,500 | Good | $23,122 | Challenging |
| #8 | Rocky Mountain CollegePrivate | $55,806 | 17 | $26,000 | Good | $19,971 | Challenging |
| #9 | University Of UtahPublic | $52,242 | 241 | $19,000 | Good | $18,886 | Challenging |
| #10 | $52,213 | 317 | $15,000 | Excellent | $16,507 | Manageable | |
| #11 | University Of The PacificPrivate | $51,888 | 63 | $19,500 | Good | $50,438 | High |
| #12 | Sonoma State UniversityPublic | $51,845 | 102 | $16,705 | Excellent | $27,986 | Challenging |
| #13 | University Of Puget SoundPrivate | $51,762 | 26 | $25,000 | Good | $52,058 | High |
| #14 | $50,883 | 212 | $15,371 | Excellent | $19,732 | Challenging | |
| #15 | $50,462 | 160 | $16,000 | Excellent | $15,000 | Manageable | |
| #16 | Westmont CollegePrivate | $50,319 | 34 | $23,250 | Good | $61,820 | High |
| #17 | Pacific UniversityPrivate | $50,162 | 35 | $23,223 | Good | $33,960 | High |
| #18 | $49,313 | 218 | $14,289 | Excellent | $15,177 | Manageable | |
| #19 | $49,062 | 41 | $21,669 | Good | $32,125 | High | |
| #20 | $48,862 | 57 | $23,691 | Manageable | $58,000 | High | |
| #21 | $48,117 | 136 | $19,000 | Good | $23,489 | Challenging | |
| #22 | $47,478 | 159 | $16,544 | Good | $15,738 | Challenging | |
| #23 | Pacific Lutheran UniversityPrivate | $47,438 | 52 | $22,578 | Manageable | $25,000 | High |
| #24 | Oregon State UniversityPublic | $47,101 | 215 | $21,221 | Good | $28,923 | High |
| #25 | $47,101 | 8 | $21,221 | Good | $28,923 | 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 →
