Top 5 Online Associate in Sports Management Programs for 2019
Behind every top athletic team is a dedicated sports manager. The study of sports management combines business savvy with sports science, athletic marketing, and field-specific management techniques. Rather than coaching, a sports manager works behind the scenes to promote the team and meet the needs of players. Earning an online associate degree in sports management can lead to a number of bachelor's programs that emphasize specialty skills in sports medicine, athletic training, wellness coaching, athletic scouting, sports marketing, and public relations. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) projects that employment for athletic scouts, coaches, and other sports workers will increase of 6% through 2024 as interest in high school and college sports continues to rise in the United States.
WHAT ARE THE BEST ONLINE ASSOCIATE IN SPORTS MANAGEMENT PROGRAMS?
Top 5 Online Associate in Sports Management Programs for 2019
Admissions Rate
56%
Graduation Rate
68%
Online Enrollment
2%
Retention Rate
82%
Default Rate
6%
Located in New York's capital city, SUNY at Albany is a tri-center learning complex that includes uptown, downtown, and health sciences campuses. SUNY offers more than 120 undergraduate majors and minors, including an online associate degree in sports management through its Open SUNY online division. The 64-credit degree is designed to be completed in two years and prepares graduates to apply business principles to sports industry occupations.
Aside from developing student's knowledge of the sports industry, the program hones skills in accounting, marketing, and management that can be applied to jobs in a number of other business disciplines. Coursework is offered asynchronously and is taught by the same faculty that teach on-campus courses. The program requires no campus visits.
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How to Choose an Online Associate in Sports Management Program
As a somewhat obscure major to many college-bound students, sports management programs may seem few and far between. Today, however, there are many high-quality degrees available. To start narrowing your search, make sure your short list includes only nationally or regionally accredited colleges and universities. Next, compare tuition prices, keeping in mind that there are many factors that affect the price and completion time of your degree. For example, your school may offer an online associate degree in sports management in an accelerated format, which could help save time and keep costs low.
One of the most important factors to consider when deciding between schools is a program's curriculum and available concentrations. Be sure that the program you choose offers classes that meet your professional goals. Another important step is to start looking into financial aid options, which could include scholarships specifically for sports management students. Online sports management degrees may also offer lower in-state tuition and financial aid exclusive to students in a particular city or county.
Educational Paths for Associate Degrees in Sports Management
Earning an online associate degree in sports management is not only beneficial to aspiring sports managers, it can lead the way to a lucrative career in a variety of fields, including sports science, marketing, and public relations. An associate-level sports management degree provides a comprehensive introduction to the business and management skills needed to be successful in the athletic industry. Building on these skills, a bachelor's degree allows students to specialize in a particular sports subfields that leads to even more career opportunities. Below are just a few of the bachelor's programs commonly pursued by sports management majors.
Sports Management Earning a bachelor's in sports management prepares students to manage and promote sports organizations, arenas, and stadiums. These professionals can also plan major sporting and athletic events. The curriculum for this program typically emphasizes leadership, finance, development, management, law, marketing, and media skills.
Sports Science Some graduates with an associate degree in sports management choose to study sports science at the baccalaureate level. In addition to exposing you to organizational athletics at the amateur and professional levels, this degree option will teach you about sports conditioning, nutrition, and fitness programming.
Sports Marketing and Media Bachelor's programs in this speciality take advantage of the skills learned in an associate-level online sports management degree and train students to produce creative content, engage fans, and build athletic branding opportunities through sports marketing and media campaigns.
Career Paths for Sports Management Graduates
Sports management graduates are well-versed in a combination of business and leadership skills. Whether you are seeking a position as an athletic director of a sports facility or aspiring to become a personal trainer, sports management graduates can find their own personal niche in the industry. These professionals must also understand the distinct needs of athletes, athletic administrators, and other colleagues in the field. Below are just some of the most common careers for sports management graduates.
Athletic directors are responsible for coordinating all athletic activities for a school or organization. Tasks typically include budgeting, marketing, fundraising, and overseeing special events. Most positions require at least a bachelor's degree. Some employers also require experience in sports administration.
Median Salary: $59,045
Job Outlook and Salary for Graduates of Sports Management Associate Degrees
Fueled by public interest in collegiate and professional sports, sports management offers relatively steady job growth in most areas. In fact, BLS projects jobs for athletic scouts will grow by 6% by 2024. Even in the face of potential market fluctuations and budget cuts affecting sports organizations, the demand for scouts, agents, trainers, and managers is expected to remain stable to match the seasonal rotation of new players and retirees in and out of the athletic system. Salaries for these professionals depends on several factors, including career path, location, education, and level of experience. As in any occupation, those with extensive education and specialty skills will be in high demand.
Salary Growth by Experience for Graduates of Sports Management Associate Degrees
As shown below, sports management occupations offer a range of salaries depending on years of experience in the field. While athletic coaches earn modest salaries at the start of their careers and peak at just under the national salary average for recent college graduates, theirs is one of few occupations to decrease slightly in earning potential after 20 or more years. Athletic trainers earn a starting salary similar to athletic coaches, but their earnings increase by up to 50% in the later stages of their careers. Generally, athletic directors are among the top earners in the industry, bringing in as much as $78,000 a year if they have 20 years of experience in the field.
To determine the best online associate in sports management programs, we looked at the most important factors prospective students, mainly common predictors of future success and a school's commitment to online programs. This boils down to admissions rate, student loan default rate, retention rate, graduation rate, and the percent of students enrolled in online classes. All data points are taken from information provided by colleges and universities to the National Center for Education Statistics.
Each factor is weighted evenly in order to give an objective view and determine the best online associate in sports management programs. To calculate our rankings, we looked at a school's ranking when organized by a single factor, and then averaged each category's ranking to find an overall score: Admissions Rate (20%) + Default Rate (20%) + Retention Rate (20%) + Graduation Rate (20%) + Percent of Students Enrolled in Online Classes (20%) = Final score.