Compare 8 Sports Studies. programs in West Virginia. Average earnings: $38,635.
With top graduates earning $55,966, Sports Studies stands out as a field where program choice matters more than school name. The gap between the best and median programs exceeds $17K—proof that evaluating programs individually beats relying on institutional prestige.
Marshall University's Sports Studies program leads with graduates earning $55,966, well above the $38,635 average across West Virginia's 8 programs. West Virginia Wesleyan follows at $49,842, while West Virginia University reaches $47,427—demonstrating that program-specific factors drive outcomes more than overall school reputation.
High earnings don't tell the whole story—debt burden matters. Marshall University graduates borrow $23,250 and face just a 9.5% payment burden, landing in the 'Good' category. That means loan payments take a manageable bite out of their post-grad income, with a debt-to-earnings ratio of just 0.42.
| Rank | School | Program Earnings | Cohort Size | Student Debt | Student GPS | Parent Debt | Parent GPS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | Marshall UniversityPublic | $55,966 | 63 | $23,250 | Good | $13,944 | Manageable |
| #2 | $49,842 | 22 | $27,000 | Manageable | $24,356 | High | |
| #3 | West Virginia UniversityPublic | $47,427 | 172 | $22,500 | Manageable | $32,980 | High |
| #4 | $45,731 | 34 | $21,000 | Manageable | $12,589 | Challenging | |
| #5 | West Liberty UniversityPublic | $39,855 | 18 | $23,250 | Challenging | $16,248 | High |
| #6 | University Of CharlestonPrivate | $26,353 | 13 | $19,500 | High | $18,300 | High |
| #7 | $25,138 | 21 | $25,000 | High | $11,776 | High | |
| #8 | $18,771 | 17 | $23,338 | High | $13,810 | 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 →
