Top 25 Online Master's in Sports Management Programs for 2019
For dedicated fans, the chance to work in sports could be the professional thrill of a lifetime. Fortunately for those who want to turn a passion into a vocation, sports organizations require thousands of sports managers to serve in roles ranging from training athletes to launching advertising campaigns. And with a median annual salary of $62,000, there is ample potential for professional growth and advancement in the field.
To help you transition from fan to professional, a number of universities offer master's in sports management online programs. These programs help nontraditional students earn a degree while working part- or full-time, and many universities allow students to take classes at an accelerated pace.
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WHAT ARE THE BEST Online Master's in Sports Management Programs?
Top 25 Online Masters in Sports Management Programs for 2019
The University of Florida, based in Gainesville, FL, offers an MS in sports management that prepares graduates for positions in collegiate, amateur, and professional athletics. This school's online program provides a "behind-the-scenes" introduction to sports management, which develops administrative duties that maintain a successful organization and keep players on the field. Courses are offered completely online with no on-campus requirements.
Sports management is a broad field; therefore, the University of Florida offers a diverse set of classes so students can tailor their education to their interests, including finance for sport organization, risk management and legal issues in sports and athlete training/development. Students can also specialize their degree with certificates in athlete development, high performance coaching, or sport law. This 36 credit program culminates with either a professional internship or practicum to apply hands-on learning. Graduate-level courses from other accredited institutions may be eligible for transfer.
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How to Choose an Online Master's in Sports Management Program
When evaluating master's in sports management online programs, prospective students should consider several factors, including program length, the focus of the curriculum, tuition, and on-campus requirements. As you evaluate various schools, be sure to ask a couple of questions at each. Below, we've listed a few sample questions you should ask each school under your purview:
Does this school offer a curriculum that matches my strengths and professional interests?
How expensive is tuition?
Does this school charge tuition by credit, or a flat fee?
Do I need to complete any classes on-campus, or can I study entirely online?
Does this program have a history of placing students or graduates in internships with teams or sporting organizations?
Is this school accredited regionally or nationally? (The Commission on Sport Management Accreditation is a reputable national accreditation agency that accredits many programs in the field.)
Careers for Graduates of Master's in Sports Management Programs
For those interested in earning a sports management master's degree online, the degree can prepare you for a variety of careers in sports and athletics. Whether you want to work in the training room or the boardroom, a sports management master's degree online can prepare you to take the next step in your career. Below, we've listed a few positions that graduates can pursue.
In athletics, business development directors report directly to team owners. As the title suggests, they handle the business end of their organization, which includes everything from marketing to forging new business partnerships. Due to the importance of this position, many openings require both a master's degree and 7-15 years of experience.
Median Salary: $62,539
Job Outlook and Salary
Many sports management positions are located in a handful of states. In 2016, the greatest concentration of sports management jobs were in New York, California, and the District of Columbia. Los Angeles has the highest number of sports managers in the country.
Sports managers in Connecticut, Massachusetts, and Virginia earn a higher salary than employees in the field do in other states. Overall, the Rocky Mountain states, along with certain areas of the Midwest, have the fewest sports management jobs. Between 2014 and 2024, the Bureau of Labor Statistics expects careers in sports management field to grow at approximately two-and-a-half percent .
| Employment, 2014 | Projected Employment, 2024 |
|---|---|
| 19,700 | 20,000 |
Source: BLS
SALARY GROWTH BY EXPERIENCE
An online master's in sports management can help you stand out in a crowded field of job applicants. Earning an impressive salary, however, requires years of experience. In sports management, hard work pays off, and employee can expect steady salary increases throughout their careers. The table below demonstrates how experienced professionals in sports management will earn more money as they grow throughout their careers.
PROFESSIONAL ORGANIZATIONS
After earning an online master's in sports management, it helps to network with other professionals in the field. Membership in one or more organizations can connect you with thousands of experienced sports managers and potential employers. Membership also signals your passion and commitment to the sports management field. Joining a professional organization can over benefits as well, as these organizations provide industry professionals with a variety of resources, including annual conferences and career services.
To determine the best online master's 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 25 best master's 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.