Key takeaways
- A sports management degree can lead to job opportunities such as Sports Agent, Sports Marketing Specialist, Sports Account Manager, and more.
- You can choose specializations such as athlete development, high-performance coaching, data analytics, and more.
- According to BLS, all entertainment and sports occupations will grow with a faster-than-average job growth rate.
- Generative AI, data analytics, and increasing use of sports technology appears to be the prevalent trend in the industry.
- You can explore a bachelor’s sports management degree from the University of Florida, Siena Heights University, George Mason University, and more.
- For an online sports management degree, consider Maryville University, the University of Florida, and Eastern Kentucky University. Find more recommendations in the article below.
A sports management degree prepares students for a variety of roles in the sports industry. The global sports industry is a multibillion-dollar industry ripe with potential. According to Statista, a renowned statistics portal, the global sports industry market value was USD 403.08 billion in 2022. The platform’s projected analysis shows the market is set to reach USD 680.74 by 2028.
Read on to find out what makes a sports management degree ideal for a career in sports, the best schools for sports management, and more.
What is a sports management degree?
A sports management degree teaches students how to apply business management principles to the sports field. Through a combination of general business courses, core sports management courses, and a range of electives, students develop a range of broadly applicable skills. The program prepares students for a variety of roles in sports management, marketing, analytics, sales, event planning, and so on.
Here, students learn the business side of a sports organization. The sports industry isn’t all about the athletes and the games. It is essentially a business organization. Like every other business organization, it has different segments such as marketing, management, operation, finance, and so on.
The sports management degree equips students with the skills needed to lead successful careers in various roles. Moreover, students can tailor the program’s learning outcomes by choosing a specialized track of their choosing. You can choose from a wide range of sports management specializations to give your career a boost.
Athlete Development
Being an athlete is a lot more than physical performance during a game. Athlete development experts work with athletes helping them be the best athlete. As an athlete development specialist your tasks will be to teach professionalism, financial literacy, and focus on career growth.
Event Coordination and Planning
Through the specialization, you will learn how to organize sporting events, matches, and even be leagues. It is a multi-faceted specialization where students learn various skills including marketing, sales, budgeting, media coordination, event financing, and more.
Director of Racquet Sports
If you are interested in tennis, this specialization is ideal for you. Here, you learn budget, marketing, human resource management, and more. With a Director of Racquet Sports specialization, you can either venture into entrepreneurship and open your own tennis club or manage existing businesses in the industry.
High-Performance Coaching
The specialization combines knowledge from fields such as kinesiology, psychology, physical exercise, and more. Here, you will learn how to apply scientific knowledge and use the latest technology to enhance an athlete’s performance.
Sport Law
Like every other industry, the sports field too is governed by a set of rules and regulations. The sport law specialization builds an in-depth understanding of the legal principles in the field. With the specialization, you can become the legal representative of athletes, teams, even organizations protecting and defending them against lawsuits.
However, getting into the sports industry is not easy. It is a competitive field and thus, a formal education, industry experience, skills, and an interest in sports are essential. Read on for sports management programs that can help boost your career opportunities.
Bachelor’s degree in sports management
Sports management is a comprehensive field. A bachelor’s degree in sports management is the ideal starting point for a career in sports management. There are multiple types of bachelor’s degrees in sports management that students can choose from. The include a Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) in Sports Management, a Bachelor of Arts (BA) in Sports Management, a Bachelor of Science (BS) in Sports Management, or a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration (BSBA) specializing in Sports Management.
All bachelor’s degrees take 4 years to complete. The primary difference between a BBA, BA, and BS is in the available general education courses.
- A BBA in Sports Management focuses on building a comprehensive foundation in business and related subjects such as finance, economics, accounting, human resources, and more.
- General education courses in a Bachelor of Arts include humanities and arts subjects such as English, History, Media Studies, Political Science, and so on.
- You can expect more technical subjects in a Bachelor of Science program. These can include courses in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics. Additionally, the BS program may focus more on experiential learning rather than research as a BA.
- A BSBA program features a mix of Science and Business courses building a strong technical, and theoretical foundation.
Core courses in sports management
Core-specific courses in a bachelor’s sports management program can include:
- International Sports Management
- Research Methods in Sports Management
- Sports Ethics
- Facilities Management
- Sports Law
- Digital Sports Media and Marketing
- Contemporary Issues in Sports
- Event Management
- Entrepreneurship
Additionally, you can tailor your learning outcomes by carefully choosing electives that align with your career goals. If you want to make the most out of your college degree, by the end of your freshman year, you should have a clear idea of which area of sports management you are interested in. Then you need to choose core and electives accordingly.
Admission requirements for a bachelor’s degree in sports management
To secure admission to an undergraduate sports management program, you must submit a resume highlighting relevant experience. If you have ever organized a sporting event, created a marketing strategy, or maybe even obtained sponsorship for a local event, include it all in the resume.
Additionally, you will need the following:
- A high school diploma
- A minimum high school GPA
- Standardized test scores (ACT/SAT)
- Letters of recommendation
- College essay
A well-written college essay can make your college application stand out. Using essay generator tools can help you generate a unique essay, giving your college application the edge it needs.
Graduation requirements for a bachelor’s degree in sports management
Different colleges and programs have different graduation requirements. Typically, they include the following:
- Completion of 120 credit hours
- A combination of general, core-specific, and elective courses – the minimum credit requirements for each category will be mentioned in your program curriculum.
- Sports management internships – preferably in roles you want to pursue a career in
- Practical experience or final year project requirements depending on program type.
List of colleges for bachelor’s sports management degree
Here is a list of the best sports management colleges, with some highlighted programs such as the sports management degree university of Florida. You will find the sports management programs from each university by following the links.
| College | Acceptance % | Graduation % | Tuition |
| University of Florida | 23% | 89% | $6,381 in-state
$26,659 out-of-state |
| University of Tampa | 26.3% | 60.4% | $32,218 |
| Florida Institute of Technology | 64% | 60% | $43,670 |
| George Mason University | 90% | 70% | $13,401 in-state
$38,983 out-of-state |
| Loras College | 90% | 69% | $36,570 |
| Lewis-Clark State College | 87% | 40% | $6,999 in-sate
$20,252 out-of-state |
| Siena Heights University | 65% | 71% | $29,044 |
| NOTE: All figures are subject to change. The above-mentioned tuition rates are for the year 2025-2026. | |||
Key highlights of the recommended sports management programs
The sports management degree-University of Florida offers is a BS in Sport Management. If you are searching for colleges by sports management degree rating in Florida, then the University of Florida is an excellent option. It ranks 13th in the QS World University Rankings for the best sports management colleges.
The Florida Institute of Technology is another great option for aspiring professionals. The university offers a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration with a concentration in Sport Management. The combination of STEM, and business courses helps students develop business acumen, and technical skills applicable to the sports industry.
George Mason University and Loras College offer excellent student support networks as evidenced by their graduation rates. Despite high acceptance rates of 90%, both colleges have a near 70% graduation rate.
Siena Heights University also has a decent student support network and an excellent sports management program. Lastly, Lewis-Clark State University offers the most affordable sports management program, especially for out-of-state students.
Master’s degree in sports management
As a professional in the industry, a few reasons may compel you to pursue a master’s degree in sports management. The desire to obtain enhanced career prospects being number one. An advanced degree such as a master’s, combined with previously earned industry experience, positions a graduate for success in the industry.
Additionally, a master’s degree is an excellent way to stay on top of new trends and technologies in the sports management industry. Students have to complete a minimum of 30 credit hours to earn their degree. A master’s program lasts anywhere between one to three years, depending on whether you are enrolled in a full-time, part-time, online, or accelerated program.
The entry requirements are as follows:
- A completed application
- Official transcripts of a bachelor’s degree
- Minimum GPA requirements – the exact requirements vary
- A detailed CV
- Minimum work experience requirements – exact requirements vary
- Personal statement
List of colleges for sports management master’s degree
Here is a list of colleges offering master’s degrees in sports management. The highlighted list of colleges offers an array of MS, MA, and MBA programs.
| College | Acceptance % | Graduation % | Tuition |
| University of Florida | 23% | 89% | $12,740 in-state
$30,134 out-of-state |
| University of San Francisco | 51% | 71.1% | $19,380 |
| University of Southern Mississippi | 99% | 55% | $15,870 |
| University of New Haven | 91% | 65% | $18,990 |
| St. John’s University | 84.7% | 64.2% | $46,800 |
| NOTE: All figures are subject to change. The above-mentioned tuition rates are for the year 2025-2026. | |||
Can I pursue an online sports management degree?
Getting an online sports management degree offers a range of advantages that make online education so popular even after COVID 19. From offering flexibility and convenience, to being more affordable than traditional programs, an online sports management degree has many attractive aspects.
If you enroll in an asynchronous program, you don’t even have to stick to the college’s schedule. You can choose to take all your classes over the weekend together and take on a full-time job during the week. Even if you are enrolled in a synchronous program, you don’t have to factor in the time for commuting, or the cost of travel, accommodation, utilities, and more, significantly reducing the program’s overall cost of attendance.
International or out-of-state students also benefit from the availability of online sports management degrees. Distance education programs enable them to overcome geographical limitations. Regardless of where you reside in the world, if you have a computer and an internet connection, you can get an education from some of the top universities in the world.
Several colleges across the US offer an online sports management degree. In fact, you can pursue the highly ranked sports management degree University of Florida online as well. Whether you want to pursue a bachelor’s or a master’s degree in sports management, the University of Florida offers multiple online programs that students can explore.
Colleges for an online sports management degree
If flexibility and convenience are what you seek, an online sports management degree is perfect. Here are a few of the best sports management colleges offering online programs that you can explore.
| College | Program name | Tuition |
| University of Florida | MS in Sport Management | $21,087 |
| Maryville University | Bachelors in Sport Business Management | $24,766 |
| Eastern Kentucky University | BS in Sport Management | $53,160 |
| Campbellsville University | MA in Sports Management | $13,350 |
| University of West Alabama | BA/BS/MS in Sport Management | $39,000 – BA/BS
$12,870 – MS |
| NOTE: All figures are subject to change. The above-mentioned tuition rates are for the year 2025-2026. | ||
Highlighted recommendation – Sports management degree University of Florida
Whether you are looking for a bachelor’s degree in sports management, a master’s, or a PhD, the University of Florida offers it all. The college has the highest sports management degree rating – Florida as per QS World Rankings. From qualified faculty offering guaranteed academic excellence to providing students flexible learning options, the University of Florida has it all.
Sports management certificates and degrees the University of Florida offers are as follows:
- BS Sport Management – on-campus
- MS Sport Management on-campus and online
- PhD in Sport Management – on-campus
- Undergraduate Sport Management Certificate – for extra credit
- Graduate Sport Event Management Certificate – for extra credit
- Undergraduate Sport and Entertainment Law and Risk Management Certificate – for extra credit
- Athlete Development Certificate – not for credit
- Director of Racquet Sports Certificate – not for credit
- Sport Management Certificate – not for credit
Earning additional certificates can help improve your resume and is an essential part of Sports Management Programs. Whether you are enrolled in a sports management degree at the University of Florida or aspire to, you can contact the Department of Sport Management for aid and assistance. From career counseling to helping students get sports management internships, the department helps with everything.
8 sports management degree jobs you can get with a bachelor’s degree
With a sports management degree, you can explore many different career opportunities. Here are some jobs in sports management you can look into.
| Job title | Average salary |
| Sports Agent | $98,070 |
| Facilities Manager | $111,110 |
| Sports Marketing Specialist | $67,419 |
| Public Relations Specialist | $77,720 |
| Contract Analyst | $71,873 |
| Contract Negotiator | $77,166 |
| Sports Analyst | $61,658 |
| Sports Account Manager | $93,057 |
NOTE: The table represents the mean average salary for individuals with different qualifications and experience levels employed in a certain role. The exact salary offered to fresh graduates will vary by organization, education, experience, and more.
Sports management degree jobs – outlook and industry trends
While the entire sports industry is still trying to find the new normal post-COVID, a couple of trends seem to be prevalent.
- The rise of data analytics in sports is not new, but the growth of the sports analytics industry is astounding. With an estimated global market value of 4.81 billion USD in 2024, it is one of the most lucrative subsections within the sports industry. If you have a knack for numbers and an interest in sports, consider the specialized track sports analytics within a sports management degree.
- Generative AI is expected to take the sports industry by storm in the coming years. Experts predict they will see an increasing number of applications enabling content management, content generation, monitoring coverage, and data gathering.
- The sports content marketing landscape is evolving as athletes are becoming more active on social media. Sports marketers have to navigate the ever-evolving digital landscape and the changing consumer patterns.
Job outlook
The job outlook for sports management jobs is as follows:
- BLS reports a faster-than-average job growth rate for all entertainment and sports-related occupations. Nearly 109,000 jobs open every year in this particular category. The average salary for these occupations is $53,360.
- The average annual wage for Agents and Managers for artists and athletes is $102,070. The sports industry has the highest level of agents and managers employed.
- With a 6% job growth rate, the demand for Advertising, Promotions, and Marketing Managers’ job outlook is positive.
- Occupations such as Administrative Services and Facilities Managers have a 6% job outlook, double the national average for all occupations. Professionals employed in the occupation earn an average salary of $104,900 per year.
- According to a report by BLS, the majority of occupations in the entertainment and sports section require a bachelor’s degree or higher. The platform also reports a positive direct correlation between education level, salary, and job stability for all business and management programs, including sports management. The higher the educational qualification, the higher the average salary and the lower the unemployment rate.
Alternate degrees for a career in sports management
While a bachelor’s degree in sports management is the ideal entryway into the industry, there are alternate degrees you can explore. However, you will not be eligible for the full range of jobs in sports management with most other programs.
Associate sports management degree
If a four-year bachelor’s degree does not appeal to you, you can pursue an associate degree in sports management. The associate degree takes two years to complete, enabling graduates to obtain entry-level positions in the sports management industry. Though the job opportunities with it are limited, graduates can later transfer their earned credits to a bachelor’s program obtaining an undergraduate degree in 2 years.
Exercise science
An exercise science degree focuses on studying the human body. Through the program, students learn in-depth how the human body works, why it moves the way it does, to what every cell does in the body. After graduation, you can pursue sports management job opportunities such as Fitness Coach, Personal Trainer, Athletic Trainer, Athlete Scout, and more.
Sports communication
The way sports teams, players, and organizations interact with fans, potential sponsors, and corporate partners has a huge influence on the outcome. A sports management degree is a great alternative to a sports management degree for students who want to venture into the communications side. Job opportunities include Public Relations Specialist, Sports Journalist, Sports Marketing Specialist, and more.
Sports and fitness administration
If you prefer to stick to the management side, particularly event planning, game scheduling, or facility management, a sports and fitness administration degree is a good option. You can pursue it at the bachelor’s or the master’s level depending on your previous academic qualification.
A sports and fitness administration degree opens career opportunities such as Sports Event Planner, Event Coordinator, Facilities Manager, Sports Facility Marketing Specialist, and more.
Is a sports management degree worth it?
Whether a sports management degree is worth it or not depends largely on whether you are sure you want to pursue a career in sports management or not. For anyone who wants to work in sports, the program is an excellent choice.
With a sports management degree, you can build a strong foundation in business management principles in your freshman year while you explore sports management degree jobs you may be interested in. By the end of the first year, you should have a clear idea of what career path you want to take.
With a clear vision, you can tailor your learning outcomes by choosing relevant core-specific courses and electives. If you plan it right, a sports management degree is definitely worth it and will prepare you for a successful career.
What can I do with a sports management degree?
With a sports management degree, you can work in the sports industry in various roles. These include but are not limited to Sports Managers, Sports Marketing Specialist, Account Managers, Sports Agent, and so on.
Is sports management a good major?
Sports management is a multidisciplinary field that applies business management principles to the sports industry. Graduates can either look for jobs in sports management, or seek employment opportunities in education, research, and communications.
The sports industry is growing and has shown incredible resilience even in adversities such as the COVID-19. To say that it is one with the most potential for employment in the coming years wouldn’t be far-fetched. Thus, a sports management degree is an ideal option for sports enthusiasts looking for programs leading to lucrative employment opportunities.
What can you do with a sports management degree?
With a sports management degree, you can seek jobs in the business side of sports. These include roles in management, communications, marketing, analytics, operations, and more. The exact career opportunities available to you will depend on your choice of electives.
Jobs in sports management include:
- Sports Agent
- Sports Marketing
- Sports Data Analyst
- Athletic Director
For more options, refer to our sports management career guide.
Join the sports industry with a sports management degree!
A sports management degree offers many exciting opportunities in the field of sports. From marketing and data analytics, to fitness coaching and athlete development, students can venture down any career path they please.
If you know you want to work in sports but are unsure of which job role you want to apply for, a bachelor’s degree in sports management is the ideal starting point. You can build a strong foundation in industry knowledge and then pursue a specialization in the direction of your choice. Apply to a sports management program today!