Best Master’s in Sports Management Degree Programs of 2023

The Master of Science in Sport Management degree from Lasell University is offered through a 100% online graduate program. This program is an excellent choice for working professionals who want to earn their master's degree at their own pace. Students will cover marketing, financial management, sports sponsorship, and research. Once admitted to the program, students choose from four concentrations: Athletic Administration, Parks and Recreation, Sport Leadership, and Sport Tourism and Hospitality Management. The application process is relatively simple, only requiring a bachelor's degree from an accredited institution. Applicants will also submit a resume and a one-page statement covering personal strengths, goals, and potential.

Liberty University offers the Master of Science in Sport Management on-campus or online. Students can choose the format that will best accommodate their lifestyle and schedule. This 36-hour program offered through the Hospitality and Sport Management Department will prepare students for an exciting career within the sport and recreation industry. Students will learn how to do things such as guide athlete performance, train athletes to meet their goals and perform fitness assessments. Program participants will choose from five specializations and pick a thesis or non-thesis track. Those specializations include General, Coaching and Athletic Administration, Outdoor Adventure, Sports Administration, and Tourism. The university is a Christian institution, so students can expect to find faith-based themes within the curriculum.

Northeastern University offers an on-campus or online graduate program through the College of Professional Studies. Students can complete this private school program part-time or full-time within 12-18 months and can choose to attend on-campus at the Boston or Charlotte locations or online. The curriculum prepares students to work in professional sports, collegiate sports, marketing, fitness clubs, and sports management, to name a few. Students who complete the program will earn a Master of Sports Leadership degree with a concentration in either Professional Sports Administration, Collegiate Athletics Administration, Analytics, or eSports. The university also provides a number of co-ops and experiential learning opportunities for students to get real-world work experience. Co-ops last for 3-6 months, and students may have the chance to get paid for their work.

Troy University is a public institution providing both on-campus and online versions of its Master of Science in Sport Management program. Students will learn the ins and outs of the ever-growing sports industry through seminars, lectures, and hands-on experience. There are three paths students can choose from while working toward their Sports Management Master's degree: Non-Thesis, Thesis, or Hospitality, Sport and Tourism Management. Graduates of this Troy program will obtain careers in positions such as Fitness and Wellness Coordinator, Agent, Business Manager, Coach, Scout, Referee, and many more. The university also offers an online Ph.D. program in Sport Management for those looking to further their knowledge and ability to progress within the industry.

The Master of Science in Sport Leadership from Endicott College is another 100% online graduate degree program. Students will learn important skills such as how to analyze all business aspects of the sports industry and how to be an effective leader, acquiring skills that students can use across a wide variety of career paths. This 39-credit program usually takes students between 12-18 months to complete, but Endicott offers an accelerated track. The M.S. in Sport Leadership Fifth Year Program allows students to complete 39 credits in only ten months. This option was designed for Endicott undergraduates, but anyone with an undergraduate degree from an accredited institution is eligible. However, Endicott undergraduates who apply for this program the fall semester after graduation are eligible to receive 20% off the tuition for their M.S. in Sport Leadership.

Wichita State University offers an on-campus graduate program for its Master of Education in Sport Management. This WSU program was designed to equip students with skills surrounding the management of minor-league and major-league franchises, intercollegiate athletics, health clubs, and parks and recreation departments. Throughout the program, students will complete 24 credit hours of classes and six hours of internship experience. At $308 per credit, the WSU master's degree program has the most affordable in-state tuition on our list, making it an extremely affordable option for Kansas residents. To be eligible for this program, students must have completed an undergraduate degree from an accredited institution and maintained a GPA of at least 2.750 within the last 60 credits. The admission process can be competitive, with only 30 students accepted into the program each year.

The Master of Science in Sport Management degree program offered by the University of Southern Indiana is an online option for students interested in schedule flexibility. It's also the most affordable online program on our list at only $419 per credit for residents and non-residents. At 33 credits, this master's degree is available for under $14,000. Students can complete the 33-credit program in as little as one year if they take six credit hours per term or as long as two years if they take three credit hours per term. With six different start times available each year, students can begin their program as soon as possible.

Louisiana State University provides online and on-campus programs for its Master of Science in Sport Management. The university takes an interdepartmental approach to this program, encouraging interaction and collaboration with the business and communication colleges. For over 30 years, this program has developed relationships with a wide range of intercollegiate, professional, and non-profit organizations. One feature that stands out within this program is the semester-long internship opportunity. Students may pick an area of sports management and gain real-world experience within organizations such as the National Football League, LSU Athletics, the National Basketball Association, and the Southeastern Conference. Students will learn how to be excellent leaders within the business world of the sport and recreational industry.

The University of Florida offers its students a Master of Science in Sport Management degree program online or on campus. Students will develop financial strategies, apply marketing concepts, and understand the legal concepts of sport management. There are two options for this degree: Thesis or Non-Thesis. Depending on the track chosen, students will either take a final graduate exam (non-thesis) or develop and defend a prospectus (thesis). The university also offers the option for students to earn two master's degrees at once. This allows students to "share" credits, applying coursework to both degree tracks and accelerating the process. For example, students can earn a Juris Doctor degree alongside the M.S. in Sport Management and save a whole year.

The University of Michigan's School of Kinesiology is the college running the Master of Science in Sport Management degree program. Students will cover sport business topics such as marketing, sales, law, entrepreneurship, urban planning, and globalization. This 30-credit program covers a set of core sport management courses and electives that will prepare students for their careers in the sports industry. One stand-out feature of this program is the faculty. With ten Ph.D. professors, UMich has the most qualified and diverse faculty among our list of top Sports Management Master's degree programs. The professors hold specialties across a variety of disciplines, providing students with a range of exposure to all aspects of the industry.