Key takeaways
- Sports management combines business principles with knowledge of the sports industry, with courses on marketing, sales, accounting, leadership, and more.
- Some top Sports Management schools include Southern Methodist College, Rice University, and Springfield College.
- The University of Miami, University of Florida, and University of Iowa also offer online Sports Management degrees.
Are you a sports lover who enjoys a challenge, has great communication, and is business savvy? If so, you can turn this passion into a fulfilling profession by majoring in sports management! This field offers a range of careers, from working with professional teams and colleges to managing recreational departments and marketing firms. In this guide, we’ve covered everything you need to know about the major and highlighted top colleges and universities for on-campus and online sports management degree programs.
What is a Sports Management major?
A sports management major prepares you for leadership positions in sports, combining business principles with sports-specific knowledge. You might also see the programs called Sport Administration or Recreation and Sports Management.
In addition to undergraduate majors, many institutions also offer master’s or Ph.D.’s in Sports Management, with some offering dual bachelor’s and master’s you can earn within five years.
You can expect courses to cover:
- Program Planning and Development
- Business and Financial Management Principles
- Sales
- Marketing and Recruitment
- Event Promotion
- Scheduling and Management
- Facilities Management
- Public Relations
- Legal Aspects of Sports
- Applicable Health and Safety Standards
What can you do with a Sports Management degree?
With a degree in Sports Management, you’ll be qualified for a range of roles, such as athletic director, facilities manager, guest relations specialist, promotions manager, sales manager, and special events coordinator.
For example, one position is an Entertainment and Recreation Manager. They have a median annual wage of $77,000, and employment is expected to have a 7.7% growth between 2024 and 2034.
Top 20 Sports Management colleges
Below, we’ve put together a list of some of the top colleges and universities that offer Sports Management as an undergraduate major in the United States.
1. Southern Methodist University
Located right in Dallas, TX, you’re not far from major sports teams and events at Southern Methodist University (SMU). The school offers a bachelor’s in Sports Management through the Department of Applied Physiology and Sport Management. Some courses include Sports Marketing, Revenue in Sports, and Functional Biomechanics.
2. Rice University
The Sports Management program at Rice University has two concentration options: Sport Law and Sport Leadership. The beginning courses cover general business topics, with more advanced classes diving into attributing those lessons to sports. Rice also has a Sport Analytics program.
3. Springfield College
Springfield College’s Sport Management program focuses on the business fundamentals first, and seniors work with a qualified professional in the field over a 15-week experience. Classes cover everything from hospitality to communication and event management to legal issues in sports.
4. SUNY Cortland
SUNY Cortland requires Sport Management students to complete a 120-hour field experience internship. The school’s Sport Management Club has two major events every year: volunteering at Lake Placid Olympic Venue events in February and the Annual Sport Management Awards Ceremony in April.
5. Coastal Carolina University
Coastal Carolina University’s Recreation and Sport Management program includes 700 hours of field experience, 480 of which involves a semester-long internship. CCU also offers a Master’s in Sport Management, a Sport Studies minor, and Esport Management minor.
6. University Of South Carolina-Columbia
The University of South Carolina, Columbia, grants bachelor, master, and doctorate degrees in Sport and Entertainment Management. Graduates have gone onto work with the NBA, NASCAR, Carolina Panthers, Los Angeles Rams, and other leading organizations in sports.
7. James Madison University
Students enrolled in the Sport and Recreation Management major at James Madison University (JMU) must select either a General Business or Entrepreneurship minor. Electives cover communication and coaching, while the major itself includes courses on psychology, management, ethics, legal issues, sales, sociology, and more.
8. University Of Michigan-Ann Arbor
Graduates of the B.S. Sport Management program at the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, have gone on to work in the major professional sports leagues, professional teams, ESPN, Nike, and other leading companies in the world of sports. Michigan also offers master’s and doctorates in Sport Management.
9. Miami University-Oxford
Courses in the Sport Leadership and Management program at Miami University include Ethics in Sport, Contemporary Perspectives on Leadership in Sport Contexts, Sport Economics, Basics of Business, Applied Sport Analytics, and Global Sport Perspectives. The school itself is known as the “Cradle of Coaches,” as its produced coaches that have had major influences on football.
10. Syracuse University
Undergraduates in the Sport Management program at Syracuse University can take advantage of internships, related student organizations, study abroad, and immersion trips. You’ll need to take foreign language classes and complete a senior capstone internship. Some past students have interned with the NFL, MLB, PGA Tour, Under Armor, and even other colleges.
11. University of Miami
The Sport Administration major at the University of Miami includes courses on ethics, marketing, leadership, kinesiology, public speaking, and foreign language, among others. Miami also offers a master’s program that can be completed in 12 or 18 months.
12. Xavier University
At Xavier University, Sport management students have the opportunity to live in a Living Learning Community with other first-year students who are on the same track. Located in Cincinnati, you’re also not far from professional sports teams, which can present unique internships and networking opportunities.
13. University of Mount Union
University of Mount Union’s Sport Business degree dives right into the two topics with the Introduction to Sport Business, Sport and Event Venue Management, and Analytics, Business Intelligence and New Media in Sport courses. Students have access to internships with major teams in Ohio, PR and marketing presentations, and the Sports Sales Workshop and Job Fair.
14. University Of Florida
Well-known for their sports teams, the University of Florida (UF) also has a stand-out Sport Management program, including a B.S./M.S. combination degree. Students learn about marketing, law, leadership, and more. Previous graduates of the program had internships with the Baltimore Orioles, NASCAR, TIAA Bank Field, and PGA.
15. Endicott College
Introductory courses in Endicott College’s Sport Management program include Financial Accounting, Principles of Sport Management, and General Psychology. All seniors need to tackle an internship, with past students partnering with the Boston Celtics, New England Patriots, and Harvard University.
16. Louisiana State University
Sport Administration students at Louisiana State University (LSU) can choose from two concentrations: Sport Commerce and Sport Leadership. Sport Commerce focuses on sport as a business enterprise, while Sport Leadership offers more courses on leadership and coaching. Classes cover Kinesiology, Sport in Society, Public Speaking, and Sport Strategies and Planning.
17. University Of Massachusetts-Amherst
The Sport Management major at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst, is offered through its Isenberg School of Management. Students have access to a worldwide alumni network and can choose to earn a bachelor in Business Administration at the same time. UMass Amherst states that 89% of its job-seeking graduates find a position within six months.
18. North Carolina A & T State University
North Carolina A&T State University actually has a Kinesiology degree with a concentration in Recreation & Sports Management. The core program courses focus on exercise stress, physiology, strength and conditioning, and athletic injuries, while the concentration has classes on marketing, facilities management, and management operations.
19. Lynn University
Students in the Sports Management program at Lynn University work directly with faculty on related projects with ESPN, the NFL, PGA, and other major sports leaders. Classes cover everything from marketing and risk management to business analytics and HR management. It can be completed in three or four years.
20. The University of Tampa
The University of Tampa’s Sport Management degree has courses on management, business, sales, communication, and accounting, with students completing an internship and seminar during their senior year. The school has a minor in Sport Management available.
Top 5 online Sports Management degree programs
Many leading colleges and universities also have stellar Sports Management programs you can complete online, including these:
1. University of Miami
A pick in our top 20 list, the University of Miami offers a master’s program in Sport Administration entirely online. Students can complete it in 12 to 18 months. Its Sport Industry Program has outstanding benefits with $10,000 in tuition assistance, 12-month internship placement, and more, but spots are limited.
2. University Of Florida-Online
UF-Online has virtual studies in Sport Management for both undergraduates and graduates. Undergraduates can choose to cap their program with an internship. Graduates can choose from five specializations: athlete development, high performance coaching, sport law, director of racquet sports, and Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL).
3. University of Iowa
University of Iowa’s B.S. Sport and Recreation Management online program has several concentrations available including business studies, coaching and sport instruction, entrepreneurship, and interscholastic athletic/activities administration. Students tackle 9 semester hours of field experience.
4. Maryville University of Saint Louis
The Rawlings Sport Business Management program at Maryville University of Saint Louis is a direct partnership with Rawlings Sporting Goods. The school has over 80 partner organizations, including the St. Louis Cardinals, St. Louis Blues, and the College Football Playoff. You can choose from two concentrations: Sport Data Analytics or Results-Centered Sales.
5. University of Louisville
The University of Louisville offers both a bachelor’s and master’s in Sport Administration. The degrees cover leadership, ethics, marketing, sociology, policy, law, research, and finance. The school regularly hosts guest lecturers from related organizations and it has connections with more than 450 employers.
Is Sports Management right for you?
With Sports Management positions on a steady growth path over the next 10 years, it’s certainly a major worth considering if you love all things sports and business. It can open the door to unique administration, coaching, and leadership positions across football, basketball, baseball, and more.
If you think Sports Management is right for you, College Raptor can help you find the best school for your goals. Head over to College Match today to start exploring.
