Sports management programs exist at all levels, including associate, bachelor's, master's, and doctoral degrees in sports management.
Master's programs in sports management builds upon concepts from bachelor's coursework, exploring data strategy, event management, and sport marketing in further depth. Enrollees learn advanced leadership, revenue generation, and financial administration strategies. These degrees usually require a capstone course, allowing students to complete a project or portfolio tailored to their sports management career aspirations.
Graduates of a master's in sports management program can pursue a variety of careers, including athletic director, sports team coach, or team general manager. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), coaches and scouts earned a median salary of $44,890 in 2022. The BLS projects coach and scout jobs will grow 9% from 2022 to 2032.
Continue exploring this page to learn what to expect from a master's degree in sports management and potential career opportunities for graduates.
Featured Online Sports Management Programs
Find a program that meets your affordability, flexibility, and education needs through an accredited, online school.
Top Master's Degrees in Sports Management
These rankings include sponsored results from our partners. We use publicly available provisional datasets from the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) to inform the data for these schools. All data is current as of the date this article was published. Program-specific information may vary.
Why Get a Degree in Sports Management?
Experienced professionals and recent college graduates can pursue master's degrees in sports management to prepare for leadership positions. Graduates often become coaches or athletic directors. Additional sports management careers include event coordinator and communication recreation manager.
Many online master's degrees in sports management feature asynchronous coursework, which can benefit students with family or career obligations. In asynchronous classes, enrollees incorporate assignments and lectures into their busy schedules instead of meeting at set times during the week. Many schools offer online learners access to resources like career advising.
How Much Does a Sports Management Degree Cost?
According to the National Center for Education Statistics, the average annual tuition for graduate programs in the U.S. was $19,749 in the 2020-21 school year. The average tuition at public schools that year was $12,394, while private schools averaged $26,621.
Typically, public schools charge variable tuition rates based on students' state residency, with in-state learners paying less than out-of-state enrollees. However, some public institutions charge all online learners in-state tuition rates, regardless of residency status. Others, including some private schools, may charge a lower online-specific rate for tuition. Additional costs prospective students should consider include textbooks, fees, and technology.
To defray educational costs associated with pursuing a sports management master's degree, learners should research scholarships and grants. Some schools offer merit-based awards, while others use data from applicants' FAFSAs to determine need-based aid. The FAFSA can also help applicants qualify for federal grants and student loans.
Courses in Sports Management
Master's degrees in sports management sometimes offer coursework concentrations in areas like business foundations, sport marketing, or sport media and communications. Pursuing a specialization can help students customize their degree toward specific career goals.
Specific course options vary by institution, so learners should investigate each prospective school's offerings before applying. However, the classes we explore below are common across sports management degrees.
Social Issues in Sport Management: In this class, students explore how concepts like gender and race impact the world of sports. Topics may include the history of racial integration, pay gaps in women's sports, and social structures within teams. Learners also examine sports managers' roles in upholding professional ethics.
Sport Marketing in Public Relations: Many sports management professionals oversee teams' finances and marketing. This class emphasizes best practices for managers promoting their teams' public image. Coursework may also cover marketing fundamentals. Students may complete assignments like analytical essays about past marketing campaigns and create their own marketing promotions.
Ethics in Sport: Sports managers must set an example for players and other workers. Students in this course develop critical thinking and advanced communication skills. Graduates can use knowledge from this class to identify and resolve ethical conflicts in the workplace.
How Much Do Sports Management Majors Make?
Salaries for graduates of sports management master's programs depend on factors like job title, employer, and geographic location. According to the BLS, sports agents earned a median salary of $82,530 in 2022. These professionals earned the highest median wage in sports management.
In addition to a graduate degree, sports management professionals can increase their earning potential with licensure and professional certifications.
Career Options for Sports Management
Professionals with master's degrees in sports management can pursue a variety of careers. We explore several common jobs for graduates below. Note that some of these positions may require certifications or professional experience in addition to a master's degree.
Coaches and Scouts Coaches lead their team's practice sessions and provide athletes with individual guidance. Other responsibilities include creating lineups, strategizing against opposing teams, and analyzing players' performances. Scouts research athletes to help coaches recruit new players. These professionals earned a median annual salary of $44,890 in 2022.
Athletic Development Specialist Athletic development specialists help athletes improve their skills and become more effective competitors. Some of these professionals work exclusively with early-career athletes, while others help retired athletes maintain their physical health. Athletic development specialists make an average annual salary of $81,630, according to December 2023 ZipRecruiter data.
Contract Administrator According to November 2023 Payscale data, contract administrators earn an average salary of $65,190. These professionals negotiate and manage teams' contracts. Some contract administrator jobs involve extensive travel and recordkeeping. Experienced professionals may work as contract specialists and senior contract administrators.
Featured Online Sports Management Programs
Find a program that meets your affordability, flexibility, and education needs through an accredited, online school.
Common Questions About Master's in Sports Management Degrees
Can you make a lot of money in sports management?
Some sports management careers pay higher average wages than others. For example, sports coaches and scouts earned a median salary of $44,890 in 2022, but sports contract administrators make an average salary of $65,190, according to November 2023 Payscale data.
Is a master's degree in sports management worth it?
A master's in sports management can help professionals qualify for advanced roles in sports, including jobs like athletic director or athlete manager. These degrees build skills like marketing and financial management while teaching students to focus on diversity and inclusion with sports organizations.
Is there a lot of math in sports management?
Although not focused on math, having a good grasp of accounting and statistics is important for sports management majors. Master's in sports management degrees often explore topics that require a solid math foundation, including financial administration and revenue generation.
What is the highest degree for sports management?
A Ph.D. in sports management is the highest degree for this field. These programs blend sports management concepts with analytical skills and research strategies, catering to professionals who want to teach sports management courses at the college level or gain expertise in sports law.
