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What is Sports Management?

Sports management is the area of employment that is responsible for managing sports programs, teams, leagues and associations The business model of sports teams is often different than those of normal business, requiring individuals with specialized education and understanding to effectively manage such large businesses.

Career Summary

MEDIAN SALARY

$86,560

PERCENT ABOVE NATIONAL
INCOME AVERAGE

57.18%

TOTAL SECTOR EMPLOYMENT

13,470

Degree Median Salary vs Adjacent Degree Types

Source: BLS, US Census, and IPEDS

2024 Best Sports Management Degree

A top rated MS in Sports Management degree is available at Columbia SPS. It is the only home of sports management graduate programs in the Ivy League. It is designed to take advantage of Columbia’s New York City setting that can provide extensive industry internships as well as the high rate of employment opportunities across a variety of sports. This curriculum’s features are leading-edge and market-influenced not to mention the access it offers to sports industry experts and leaders. It is true that Columbia University is one of the top universities in the world. 

Acceptance Rate

5.45

Student to Faculty Ratio

6:1

The Bachelor's Degree in Physical Education at Averett University prepares students for a career as coach, sports management professional, personal trainer or physical education teacher. They offer six concentration options, Coaching, Health Physical Education and Driver Education, Personal Training, Physical Education, Sport Management, and Wellness/Sports Medicine. The Sport Management degree helps develop the business administration skills to their students. They do this by first imparting knowledge and understanding of the business of sport.

Acceptance Rate

23.64

Student to Faculty Ratio

5:1

The Master’s degree in Sports Industry Management is designed to prepare students to excel in the global sports industry. With the help of this program, students gain fuller understanding of the dynamics, planning and operations relevant to the success of multi-million-dollar athletes, brands and events. This is also structured to immerse students in the multifaceted worlds of sports. They combined a focused study with hands-on practice.

Acceptance Rate

14.36

Student to Faculty Ratio

11:1

Northwestern University offers an interdisciplinary professional program in Sports Administration. They are dedicated in teaching their students the effective ways in leading enterprising sports organizations in this evolving environment. Students also learn how to synthesize data to support evidence-based decision making. They will be trained to be able to create business plans that set the strategic direction of a sports entity.

Acceptance Rate

9.05

Student to Faculty Ratio

6:1

The top ranked Sports Management degree at Rice University is an interdisciplinary field of study which draws from a wide range of academic disciplines. Business law, management and communication are also included in the studies. They conduct a thorough interdisciplinary emphasis of the sport management major to ensure that they educate their students with the skills and theory that are much needed for leadership roles in and out of the sport industry. Graduates of this program are ready for both leadership and entrepreneurial positions.

Acceptance Rate

8.72

Student to Faculty Ratio

N.A

The Major in Sport Management program at the University of Michigan-Ann Arbor trains students for careers in the global sport industry. This program will let the students explore the cultural and business impact of sport as they gain hands-on and real-world case studies. They will also consult projects that are led by world-renowned faculty. Students can expect that they will be actively engaged with faculty, alumni mentors, academic/career advisors.

Acceptance Rate

22.91

Student to Faculty Ratio

11:1

A highly regarded Master of Science in Sports Administration program is offered at Boston College. This program is designed to address both the challenges and opportunities of a certain industry in rapid growth. They will propose new thinking and they broaden leadership competencies for those who are in sports management, administrators and coaches. This degree program focuses on balancing the needs of the many stakeholders within an athletic system. 

Acceptance Rate

27.22

Student to Faculty Ratio

13:1

Entertainment, Media and Sports Management degrees are available for qualified students at Pepperdine University. These are designed to equip students with the knowledge that will help them become creative innovators, effective operational managers and insightful strategists. The world has undergone a radical transformation, that resulted in major transformation of both traditional media and entertainment. These courses aim to develop new generation leaders and responsible managers that can blend into this ever-changing sports industry.

Acceptance Rate

31.72

Student to Faculty Ratio

14:1

The Department of Kinesiology and Health Education at the University of Texas at Austin offers an online program for students seeking a M.Ed. with a Sport Management concentration. Online version of this degree program provides the same benefits as the in-person program, the only difference is that online programs can be completed anywhere. This can be completed in as few as two years and there will be no thesis required. Since this allows for flexibility, it will be possible for students to continue their professional career while they complete the course schedule.

Acceptance Rate

31.82

Student to Faculty Ratio

N.A

The Bachelor of Science in Sport Management program at the University of Florida aims to enable the students to ethically apply fundamental concepts of management, marketing, law and finance to sport organizations. The coursework is designed to prepare students for a range of opportunities in the sport industry. Students here will acquire internal and external factors which influence sport in society. As a result, they will be able to use accepted techniques of discovery and critical thinking when solving problems, determining outcomes and evaluating opinions.

Acceptance Rate

36.58

Student to Faculty Ratio

18:1

University of Miami offers a B.S.ED., M.S.ED., and Minor in Sports Management. These programs are structured to capitalize on the visibility as well as availability of multiple sport organizations in the Miami area. There is a diverse population in the Miami area and opportunities for a variety of different field experiences and internships are available, this makes a variety of research possible. In addition to that, they also provide a strong contingent of faculty in the sport administration.

Acceptance Rate

27.13

Student to Faculty Ratio

12:1

BBC or Baptist Bible College is a small, private university located in Springfield, Missouri.  The school espouses a Christian faith-based curricular design within all offered programs.  The school is accredited by HLC, ABHE, and NC-SARA for its rigorous coursework.  BBC offers both online degree programs in addition to the traditional campus-based degree tracks.  A full list of academic programs at Baptist Bible College can be found via the school’s primary web portal. 

Acceptance Rate

40.58

Student to Faculty Ratio

11:1

The Sport Management Graduate degree programs at Florida State University teaches business facility, marketing promotion, field research and more. They provide hands-on experience and mentorship through their renowned faculty members. What makes them unique is the close relationship they developed with many successful alumni and sports organizations. These connections benefit the students, it allows them to gain professional experience in various forms, such as graduate assistantships, volunteer partnerships, class speakers, etc.

Acceptance Rate

35.97

Student to Faculty Ratio

21:1

The MS in Sport Management program can be taken at George Washington University. This program will prepare students for executive careers, working with professional teams, leagues, and in collegiate athletics. Students will be trained in recognizing issues that are faced by sports industry leaders and be able to make a sound ethical business decision. They will learn how to apply analytic and research skills in solving problems.

Acceptance Rate

40.84

Student to Faculty Ratio

13:1

A BSED in Sport Management is offered at the University of Georgia provides experiential learning opportunities at the top sport business organizations worldwide. Students under this program are trained to prepare for graduate or industry work in business, law, and kinesiology. They blended the academic coursework with additional resources that the University of Georgia provides. They also guarantee that they have faculty members that are expert on their field.

Acceptance Rate

45.3

Student to Faculty Ratio

17:1

The Sports Management and Media degree program is available at American University. This is best suited for people with passion for sports and wants to be a part of the professional world. The professors that will guide the students can provide excellent resources and connections in the sports industry. This program that they offer is known to exceed one’s expectations.

Acceptance Rate

36.08

Student to Faculty Ratio

12:1

A top ranked Sports Management degree is offered at Syracuse University.  This exciting degree program provides marketable skills through courses and research opportunities with faculty. They also offer internships that are proven effective in preparing the students for a wide range of careers. They advocate to make a change in the world and lead the change.

Acceptance Rate

44.38

Student to Faculty Ratio

15:1

The Sports Management major at North Carolina State University at Raleigh aims to take their students from being just fans and instill to them that there is more to the business of sport than the play on the field. Their students can volunteer to a range of community-based collegiate and professional sports organizations. This program has ties to more than 50 sport organizations nationwide, which gives internships opportunity specifically to their students. Their geo-visualization lab effectively trains their students on state-of-the-art technology.

Acceptance Rate

45.13

Student to Faculty Ratio

14:1

The Sports Management degree at the University of Connecticut is structured to give educational experience through effective blend of classroom and research and field experiences. They give constant effort to provide an opportunity to each student to acquire disciplinary knowledge. They aim to help their students develop the necessary skills in order to be successful in any area of the sport industry. They promote team huddles, where their students meet with a group of students and instructors to build connections, engage in shared learning and consistently work together.

Acceptance Rate

49.42

Student to Faculty Ratio

16:1

MSED in Sport Management program at Baylor University was launched in 1985 and since then they have proven to be the leading master’s program in Sport Management throughout the nation. Their mission is to provide their students with research, internship and work experiences to achieve a productive career within the sport industry. They maintain small class settings to make face-to-face instruction possible. As a result, maximal relational development with faculty and student peers are being done. Graduates of this program serve in leadership roles in the sport industry.

Acceptance Rate

45.33

Student to Faculty Ratio

14:1

Southern Methodist University offers an MS degree in Sport Management and BS program with a specialization in Sport Management.  Master of Science in Sport Management Degree is for students who are passionate with the business of sports and to those who aspire to hold senior-management positions in the sports industry. This degree program is led by sport management professionals that possess decades of executive experience in a wide range of segments. The undergraduate major program provides a specialization in Sport Management which provides rigorous curriculum in an aim to gain understanding on management principles.

Acceptance Rate

47.29

Student to Faculty Ratio

N.A

University of Tulsa offers a minor in Sport Management that is designed to prepare students for entry-level positions in the sport industry. This program can also enhance sport administration knowledge that is needed for advancement in current positions. This minor subject focuses on the issues as well as the practices involved in business management in a sport context. They put effort in helping their students develop critical thinking and problem-solving skills.

Acceptance Rate

35.84

Student to Faculty Ratio

11:1

Clemson University offers top rated degrees in Sport Management. These programs will prepare the students for a productive career in many exciting industries. They can pursue to be an event coordinator, agent, contract administrator, coach and many more. Their primary goal is to train the students to fit-in in these growing and exciting careers.

Acceptance Rate

51.26

Student to Faculty Ratio

16:1

A Master’s degree in Sports Management is available at Ohio State University. This program is 100% online and can be completed in as little as 16 months. A concentration in Leadership is offered. They designed this program based on sport business which can equip students with an advanced understanding and analytic base in management.

Acceptance Rate

53.74

Student to Faculty Ratio

19:1

The Master in Sport Business Management degree at the University of Central Florida is the only program of its kind that emphasizes diversity, moral, social, and ethical issues in sports. They also make sure to provide a rigorous leadership education without sacrificing the emphasis on sports leadership. Students in this program spend a minimum of two weeks in helping post-Katrina New Orleans rebuild their homes. With this activity, students gain an understanding about the power of sport in building communities.

Acceptance Rate

44.36

Student to Faculty Ratio

30:1

Top Sports Management Degree

Earning a college degree in sports management can lead to an exciting, rewarding vocation for the right type of individual.  As a sports manager, you will be required to perform a number of duties such as: planning, organizing, conducting meetings, establishing strategic initiatives, enforcing rules, engaging with team members, negotiating with employees, leading an organization, and enacting regulations to benefit the organization and its members.

Performing these types of duties will take a person who loves sports, enjoys competition, is focused, and task-oriented.  If these describe your mentality and personality characteristics, a degree in sports management may be for you.

The degree options in sports management run the gambit from associate degrees through graduate-level programs.  In addition to your degree level, you now have the ability to choose a sports management degree online, in a traditional classroom, or a hybrid program mixing classroom & online learning modalities.   The learning modalities options will often mirror one another, so we will outline the online degree options in sports management below while the traditional classroom programs are listed in the school listings below.

Online Associate Degree in Sports Management

An online associate’s degree in sports management is a two-year program designed to provide students with the essentials to enter the business.  Foundational classes for an associate degree in sports management will include courses such as principles of sports management and introduction to sports marketing along with general education courses.

Liberal arts classes such as philosophy, English composition, and psychology are intended to provide students with tools to think differently about the world around them through integrative thinking.

Online Bachelor’s Degree in Sports Management

The online bachelor degree in sports management is a four-year program geared to help students to manage a diverse number of managerial aspects of the business of sport, both regionally and globally.

In addition to an array of general education courses, a student enrolled in an online Bachelor of Science in Sports Management program will typically register for similar core classes.  Examples of such core courses in sports management include: principles of sport, sociology of sport, arena management, sports management, public relations, operations management, case research in sports management, project management, law, marketing, economics of sport, strategic management, and a sports internship.

Online Graduate Certificates in Sports Management

Graduate certificates in sports management are designed for working professionals looking to upskill or graduate students looking to add substance to an academic resume.  Depending on the school and their certificate program, you may invest 12 weeks to one year in a graduate program.

Examples of online graduate certificates that may be of interest to sports management professionals include: Sports Marketing, Sports Public Relations, Sports Law, Sports Risk Mitigation, Sports Industry Essentials, Sports Business, and Athletic Administration.

Online Master’s Degree in Sports Management

On-site or online master’s degree programs in sports management focus on growing your managerial, administrative, and leadership skills in a 1-3 year graduate degree program.

The length of time it takes to complete an online MBA in sports management depends on the number of credits you take coupled with the school’s curricular requirements (including an internship or thesis).  The most common path is through an MBA but students may also consider other valuable graduate programs listed below.

 

Online Master of Professional Studies in Sports Management (MPS): A Master of Professional Studies in Sports Administration is a comprehensive graduate degree program emphasizing a well-rounded, deep thinking sports professional.  Students can move on to careers in education, public relations, financial management, coaching, advertising, or sales with an MPS degree.

Online Master of Business Administration (MBA):  The most popular path to a sports management career with a graduate degree is the MBA program.  A Master’s of Business Administration can be earned as a stand-alone degree or with an emphasis in marketing, leadership, or finance.  Many accredited colleges and universities also offer MBA programs specifically for sports management professionals such as the MBA in Athletic Administration and MBA in Sports Management degrees.

Online Master of Science in Sports Management (MS):  The MS in Sports Management is an interdisciplinary business degree that is geared to prepare graduate students to step into a variety of positions in all industries.  Examples of industries applicable for sports management graduates include collegiate, professional, non-profit, recreational, high school, amateur, and juvenile.

Online Master of Science in Sports Medicine (MS): The Master of Science in Sports Medicine is an adjacent graduate degree to sports management teaching students about the human body as related to sport.  MS students will learn about assessments, management, treatment, strengthening, and rehabilitation of athletes of all types.  A graduate degree in sports medicine can help students educate sports teams, prepare athletes for competition, and be a link to the wellness of a team or organization.

Online Doctorate Degree in Sports Management

An online doctorate degree in sports management will typically be offered at a EdD or PhD program taking students 3-5 years of full-time matriculation to complete.  The differences between the two most common sports management doctorate programs are listed below:

PhD in Sports Management: A PhD program for this degree track is known as a Doctor of Philosophy in Sports Management.  Students studying for this type of terminal degree may elect to focus on sports management or add a concentration applicable to their preferred area of emphasis.  Concentrations include such disciplines as sports marketing, leadership, medicine, sociology, finance, psychology, or collegiate athletics.

EdD in Sports Management: The Doctor of Education (EdD) in Sports Management emphasizes doctoral research and the application of theoretical knowledge to advance sports management and affiliated sectors.  By combining deep research with data and real-world applications, students will experience the ever-evolving aspects of sports management under the tutelage of experienced professors.

Education Requirement for Sports Managers

Education in sports management is usually offered through business schools or departments. Programs in this field are comparatively rare in comparison to normal management programs. Individuals studying in this field will typically pursue a specialized master's degree. that provides a specific education in various sports management models, including sources of income, operation costs, sponsorship, stadium operations and more.

A curriculum may include:

  • Sport Finance
  • Sports Marketing
  • Professional Literature
  • Sports Law
  • Ethics in Professional Sports

As mentioned above, sports management is a specialized area of study, often offered through graduate programs to provide a more targeted education for individuals wishing to enter specific careers. Individuals seeking a sports management program should research the relative success of a given program based on the success of its graduates. Additionally, programs that have ties to local sports teams may also provide additional beneficial resources.

Employment in Sports Management

Employment in this field is typically sought through the front office of established sports teams in a given league or association. Tasks assigned to entry level front office employees may vary, though positions in management open on occasion based on the success and failure of a given team.

Additional opportunities may be found in the management of sports associations themselves, or even in the representation of specific players for a portion of an athlete's income. Job growth will remain steady as position open due to personnel changes and retirements over the next decade. New jobs are rare, and typically open when new teams are formed in existing leagues, or a new sport is introduced requiring experts.

Career Paths with a Sports Management Degree

As a sports management graduate, you will have access to a number of different sectors within sport and job types.  From public entities to private corporations to non-profit organizations of all sizes, you may have the opportunity to work with or work in a variety of fields of study after earning a degree in sports management.  A cross-section of career paths within sports management include the following:

Sports Agent Marketing Manager
Facility Manager Nutritionist
Public Relations Manager Clinical Instructor
Athletic Trainer Sports Publisher
Physical Therapist Market Research
Sports Medicine Advertising Director
Athletic Administrators Brand Manager
Sports Law Sports Event Planner
Director of Communication Parks & Recreation Manager
Coach Resort Manager
Director of Athletics Fitness Instructor
Program Director Sales Manager
Operations Manager Sports Mediator
Program Coordinator Club Manager
Sports News Anchor Sports Arbitrator
How Do Salaries Compare in Sports Management?

Much like the diversity in job titles for a sports management degree holder, the variation in income will depend on your degree and industry in which you are employed.  A brief list is presented below to be used as a starting point to consider which path makes the most sense for you and your career.

Career                                                                            Median Annual Salary*

Sports Marketing Manager $131,180
Coaches & Scouts $31,460
Sports Medicine Physicians $206,930
Umpires and Officials $25,680
Operations Managers $99,330
Fitness Trainers $38,170
Nutritionist $58,930
Sports Agent $64,200

 

*BLS & US Department of Labor

List of Sports Management Professional Associations

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