by our College Data Analytics TeamStudying Sports Management covers Sport And Fitness Administration/management. A Program That Prepares Individuals To Apply Business, Coaching And Physical Education Principles To The Organization, Administration And Management Of Athletic Programs And Teams, Fitness/rehabilitation Facilities And Health Clubs, Sport Recreation Services, And Related Services. Includes Instruction In Program Planning And Development; Business And Financial Management Principles; Sales, Marketing And Recruitment; Event Promotion, Scheduling And Management; Facilities Management; Public Relations; Legal Aspects Of Sports; And Applicable Health And Safety Standards. Continue reading for the important information every sports management student should know — including career paths, salary data, the skills you will develop, and the best colleges offering sports management programs.
Across the country, sports management draws strong interest, with 17,472 degrees awarded annually.
Our 2026 Best Sports Management Schools ranking analyzes these 655 schools to determine the best overall colleges for sports management students. Continue reading to check out one of our many unbiased rankings of sports management programs later in this article.
Programs in Sports Management emphasize a specific mix of skills, knowledge, and abilities — derived from O*NET surveys of workers in the occupations sports management graduates commonly enter.
The skill set developed in a sports management program reflects the day-to-day work of related occupations:
Per O*NET surveys, a sports management major emphasizes the following knowledge areas:
There are several sports management degree levels. The table below shows the typical length of the most common levels, and how many graduates earn each one.
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Certificate | Varies | 53 |
| Associate Degree | 2 years | 422 |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 11,853 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 5,000 |
| Doctorate | At least 4 years | 65 |
People currently working in careers related to sports management tend to have obtained the following education levels.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Doctoral degree | 38.7% |
| Bachelor’s degree | 25.4% |
| Master’s degree | 18.2% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 7.8% |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 3.3% |
| Some college courses | 3.0% |
| Less than a high school diploma | 1.7% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 1.3% |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 0.7% |
See the chart below to get an idea of what level of education most of those in sports management careers hold.
Source: ONET Online education / training / experience requirements.*
Majoring in sports management can lead to numerous career paths. Below are some of the most common occupations related to sports management.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to sports management.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Recreation and Fitness Studies Teachers, Postsecondary | 596,959 | 11.6% |
| Coaches and Scouts | 332,603 | -0.5% |
| Entertainment and Recreation Managers, Except Gambling | 141,428 | 4.2% |
| Exercise Trainers and Group Fitness Instructors | 35,993 | -1.5% |
Federal data tracks median earnings of sports management graduates 1, 4, and 5 years after completion. Earnings tend to climb as graduates gain experience.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $34,425 |
| 4 years | $47,075 |
| 5 years | $55,516 |
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, field-of-study earnings tracker.
Salaries for sports management graduates vary widely by occupation. The following table shows the top highest-paying careers sports management grads often go into.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Entertainment and Recreation Managers, Except Gambling | $170,172 |
| Recreation and Fitness Studies Teachers, Postsecondary | $84,688 |
| Coaches and Scouts | $78,709 |
| Exercise Trainers and Group Fitness Instructors | $54,441 |
With 655 different sports management programs to choose from, finding the best fit can be a challenge. We have analyzed these schools to produce unbiased sports management school rankings to help you.
Those considering sports management, you may also want to explore other closely related fields of study within the same broad area.
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Exercise Science and Kinesiology | 32,041 |
| Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness, General | 12,633 |
| Physical Fitness Technician | 1,308 |
| Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness, Other | 1,200 |
| Sports Studies | 607 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.
