This blog post presents helpful information on the best sports management graduate programs that will guide you to choose a suitable program and get a quality education that will plant you firmly in the sports industry.
The global sports industry is one of the biggest sectors in the world, currently worth over $490 billion dollars and expected to go higher as the year progresses. Aside from being a high-revenue industry, it is also an interesting one. It is currently world cup season (at the time of writing) and you can see how ecstatic the whole world is.
Aside from being a player, there are many exciting roles in the sports industry that you can take up, especially if you have a passion for sports. There are a few positions within this industry that you can get with a bachelor’s degree but the high-paying and more exciting positions usually require a graduate degree like a master’s.
If you earn an MBA degree, for instance, you can land a position in the sports industry where you can manage the finance of a sports brand, company, or for athletes. Earning a master’s degree in sports management will qualify and prepare you for positions like operations manager, HR, business office manager, compliance, public relations, marketing manager, etc. and earn you an average salary of $60,000 per year.
I mentioned earlier that the sports industry will continue to grow as the year progresses which means that more and more professionals (sports managers) will be in high demand to run sports organizations and brands. So, if you are looking to pursue or advance your career in the sports sector, there is no better time to do so than now.
Graduate education in sports management will help you learn how sports organizations work and prepare you for professional roles in the industry. After your studies, you can go ahead and work with health and fitness organizations, athletes, sporting goods producers, professional sports teams, sports or fitness startups, and many other supervisory positions.
It can be daunting task sieving through the World Wide Web in search of the right sports management graduate program and you truly do not have to go through all that which is why this post was created. We have sieved through these programs and handpicked the best ones based on their national and global reputation, accreditation, student-faculty ratio, program quality, and the reputation of the schools offering the programs.
Using these methodologies, we were able to select the best sports management graduate programs for you who may be seeking to pursue administrative roles in the sports industry. Without any further ado, let’s get into the main topic.
Best Sports Management Graduate Programs
Using our methodology, the following are the best sports management graduate programs that can usher you into exciting roles in the sports industry.
- Master of Education in Sport Management – Wichita State University
- Master of Science in Sport Management – Lasell University
- MA in International Sport & Event Management – The University of Europe for Applied Sciences
- M.S. in Sport Management – University of Florida
- Online Master’s in Sports Management – Liberty University
- MSc Sports Engineering – Sheffield Hallam University
- MA in Sports Management –The University of Minnesota at Twin Cities
- MSc in Sports Management – Columbia University
- MSc Sport Management – University College Dublin
- Masters in Sports Administration – Arkansas State University
1. Master of Education in Sport Management – Wichita State University
The MEd in Sport Management offered by Wichita State University is one of the best sports management graduate programs and here’s why. The quality of the program is highly rated as it combines students’ passion for athletics with practical skills preparing them for diverse managerial roles within the industry.
The curriculum comprises of 30 credit hours of coursework and a 6 credit hour internship – to show just how seriously Wichita State takes applied learning. The program is accredited by the Commission on Sport Management Accreditation (COSMA). The student-faculty ratio is 19:1. To get into the program, you must have completed an accredited undergraduate degree with a minimum of 2.75 GPA. Tuition for this program is $5,544 per year for residents and $13,615 per year for non-residents.
2. Master of Science in Sport Management – Lasell University
The division of Graduate and Professional Studies at Lasell University is offering an MSc in Sport Management to graduates who want to pursue or advance their careers in the sports industry. This program is seen as one of the most flexible and affordable sports management programs as it is offered both online and on-campus options. This has made the program rank at the 15th position in best online sport management programs in the US.
Students can go for any of the four specializations in Athletic Administration, Parks and Recreation, Sport Leadership, and Sport Tourism and Hospitality Management. Candidates are required to hold a bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution, and submit official college transcripts, online application, resume, and a one-page personal statement. International applicants are accepted and those who are non-native English speakers are required to take the English language proficiency tests. Tuition is $626 per credit.
3. MA in International Sport & Event Management – The University of Europe for Applied Sciences
The University of Europe for Applied Sciences is located in Berlin and has become the first official partner of Borussia Dortmund, one of the most renowned German football clubs in the world. What better place to pursue a graduate degree in sports management than at this institution where you can gain first-hand skills and experience learning from professionals who work with this football club.
The program is designed in such a way that students are educated and trained right from their first day to become managers in the areas of sports, events, and marketing management. The program is combined with notable highlights such as seminars, and projects with partners from business, sports, and academia which will further broaden your skills and experience. The language of instruction is English. The tuition is €748 per month for German and EU applicants while others pay €13,188 per year.
4. M.S. in Sport Management – University of Florida
This is one of the best sports management graduate programs in the US that combines theoretical and practical approaches to advance students’ skills and knowledge to prepare them for successful careers in the sports industry. Aside from being an accredited program, one of the perks this program has is that you may decide to study it online, especially for those that are working.
To get into the program, candidates must have an accredited bachelor, graduate, or professional degree with a minimum GPA of 3.0 and submit documents such as recommendation letters, statement of purpose, and resume. Neither the GRE nor GMAT is required. Tuition for residents is $10,770 per year while tuition for non-residents is $27,335 per year. The program takes 2 years to complete.
5. Online Master’s in Sports Management – Liberty University
The online master’s in sports management offered by Liberty University will suit working professionals who are either seeking a career change or looking to advance their careers. Since the program is online, it makes it flexible and allows learners to carry out their responsibilities while studying to become professional sports managers.
The program is accredited by COSMA, consists of 36 credit hours, is 100% online, and takes an average of 1.5 years to complete. The master’s in sports management program also comes with specializations in coaching and athletic administration, outdoor adventure sports, sports administration, and tourism so that you can personalize your degree just the way you want. Tuition for the program is $565 per credit hour.
6. MSc Sports Engineering – Sheffield Hallam University
Sheffield Hallam University is a prestigious higher institution in the UK ranked among the top universities in the country for an overall number of graduates in highly skilled employment. Its MSc in Sports Engineering is a cutting-edge program that employs students to develop and apply technical knowledge to the world of sports. Upon graduation, one of the many skills you will gain is researching and developing problem-solving equipment for the sports industry.
Applicants are required to be engineering, physics, or mathematics graduates with a 2.1 or above from a recognized university. Applicants who are non-native English speakers are required to take the IELTS with a minimum score of 5.5. Tuition for domestic students is £9,910 while tuition for international and EU students is £18,215 per year. The duration of the course is 1 year.
7. MA in Sports Management –The University of Minnesota at Twin Cities
The Master of Arts in Sport Management offered by the University of Minnesota is one of the best sports management graduate programs in the US. The program combines theoretical and practical dimensions of the management of athletic events, sports teams and facilities, and the sporting process to prepare graduates for diverse professional roles that pop up in the sports industry.
The delivery format is on-campus and online so students can go for the option that suits them best. The program tuition for residents is $1,539 while tuition for non-residents is $2,381.
8. MSc in Sports Management – Columbia University
Columbia University is one of the Ivy League schools and that’s enough reason to add it among the best sports management graduate programs besides, the program in itself is a prestigious one. It is the only Ivy League that offers a sports management graduate program. You may choose to pursue the program either full-time or part-time.
The tuition for the full-time and part-time is $2,428 per credit.
9. MSc Sport Management – University College Dublin
University College Dublin is one of the leading research universities in Europe for undergraduate, master’s, and Ph.D. studies. The Master of Science offered at University College Dublin is also research-focused and combines theoretical knowledge and practical training to solve real-life problems within the sports industry.
The program is offered in full-time and part-time formats which take 1 and 2 years respectively to complete. Entry requirements for the program are two reference letters, an official transcript of a bachelor’s degree, and a personal statement. Tuition for full-time for EU is €9,330 and non-EU is €20,950 per year while tuition for part-time for EU is €4,700 and non-EU is €13,860 per year.
10. Masters in Sports Administration – Arkansas State University
Last but not least is the master’s of sports administration offered at Arkansas State University. The program is COSMA accredited and has a student-faculty ratio of 14:1 which makes it one of the best sports management graduate programs.
The program is full-time and comprises courses on sports leadership, sports governance and operations, and sports law. With this degree, you can even take up legal and political positions. The program tuition is $4,986 per year for in-state students while tuition for out-of-state students is $9,972 per year.
And this wraps up the post on the best sports management graduate programs. These programs are from different parts of the world but most of them are from the US and that is because the nation is top at academic quality. From this list, you should be able to make your way and find a befitting school where you can pursue your career interest in the sports management field.