Sports Management programs are offered at a focused set of schools across the country. The schools below stand out for the quality of their sports management programs.
College Factual analyzed 738 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best sports management schools.
Leading the list is Northwestern University, our #1 school for sports management. Located in the city of Evanston, Northwestern University is a very large private not-for-profit university. Northwestern University graduates 95% of students within six years. Northwestern University awarded about 46 sports management degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their sports management degree from Northwestern University earn around $58,537 in the first couple years of their career. Northwestern University graduates carry a median of $16,616 in student loans.
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Georgetown University came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the best sports management schools. Georgetown University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Washington. Georgetown University graduates 95% of students within six years. About 139 sports management degrees were awarded at Georgetown University in the most recent year. Students who receive their sports management degree from Georgetown University earn around $54,668 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $16,483 to complete this degree.
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Students looking for a strong sports management program will find one at University Of Florida, which ranked #3. Set in the city of Gainesville, University Of Florida is a very large public institution. Roughly 91% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 136 sports management degrees were awarded at University Of Florida in the most recent year. Students who receive their sports management degree from University Of Florida earn around $50,375 in the first couple years of their career. University Of Florida graduates carry a median of $19,982 in student loans.
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George Washington University is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in sports management, landing the #4 spot this year. Located in the city of Washington, George Washington University is a very large private not-for-profit university. About 84% of students finish within six years. George Washington University awarded about 32 sports management degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their sports management degree from George Washington University earn around $73,749 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $22,910 to complete this degree.
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University Of Minnesota Twin Cities is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in sports management, ranking #5. This very large public university is located in the city of Minneapolis. About 85% of students finish within six years. University Of Minnesota Twin Cities awarded about 48 sports management degrees in the most recent data year. Sports Management graduates of University Of Minnesota Twin Cities earn a median of $36,050 early in their careers. University Of Minnesota Twin Cities graduates carry a median of $23,000 in student loans.
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University Of Michigan Ann Arbor came in at #6 for sports management this year. Set in the city of Ann Arbor, University Of Michigan Ann Arbor is a very large public institution. University Of Michigan Ann Arbor graduates 93% of students within six years. There were roughly 29 sports management students who graduated with this degree at University Of Michigan Ann Arbor in the most recent data year. Students who receive their sports management degree from University Of Michigan Ann Arbor earn around $41,473 in the first couple years of their career. University Of Michigan Ann Arbor graduates carry a median of $19,135 in student loans.
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Columbia University In The City Of New York placed #7 among the best sports management schools. Set in the city of New York, Columbia University In The City Of New York is a very large private not-for-profit institution. About 96% of students finish within six years. Columbia University In The City Of New York awarded about 64 sports management degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their sports management degree from Columbia University In The City Of New York earn around $63,418 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $23,258 to complete this degree.
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University Of Wisconsin Madison ranked #8 on our 2026 list of the best sports management schools. University Of Wisconsin Madison is a very large public school located in the city of Madison. About 90% of students finish within six years. About 40 sports management degrees were awarded at University Of Wisconsin Madison in the most recent year. Graduates of the sports management program make about $29,866 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $26,000 to complete this degree.
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Texas A And M University College Station earned the #9 position for sports management this year. This very large public university is located in the city of College Station. Roughly 84% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 54 sports management students who graduated with this degree at Texas A And M University College Station in the most recent data year. Sports Management graduates of Texas A And M University College Station earn a median of $47,672 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $20,414.
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University Of Massachusetts Amherst earned the #10 position for sports management this year. University Of Massachusetts Amherst is a very large public school located in the city of Amherst. Roughly 83% of students complete a degree within six years here. University Of Massachusetts Amherst awarded about 24 sports management degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the sports management program make about $36,419 in their early career. University Of Massachusetts Amherst graduates carry a median of $26,227 in student loans.
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Florida State University landed the #11 spot for sports management this year. Florida State University is a very large public school located in the city of Tallahassee. Florida State University graduates 86% of students within six years. There were roughly 122 sports management students who graduated with this degree at Florida State University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their sports management degree from Florida State University earn around $39,740 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $18,750.
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Boston College placed #12 among the best sports management schools. Set in the city of Chestnut Hill, Boston College is a large private not-for-profit institution. About 91% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 50 sports management students who graduated with this degree at Boston College in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, sports management degree recipients from Boston College generally make around $51,092. Students borrow a median of $18,101 to complete this degree.
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California State University Long Beach earned the #13 position for sports management this year. California State University Long Beach is a very large public school located in the city of Long Beach. The six-year graduation rate is 69%. California State University Long Beach awarded about 53 sports management degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their sports management degree from California State University Long Beach earn around $49,357 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $14,551.
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Ohio State University Main Campus earned the #14 position for sports management this year. Located in the city of Columbus, Ohio State University Main Campus is a very large public university. Roughly 88% of students complete a degree within six years here. Ohio State University Main Campus awarded about 149 sports management degrees in the most recent data year. Sports Management graduates of Ohio State University Main Campus earn a median of $47,682 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $23,000.
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Northeastern University Global Network ranked #15 on our 2026 list of the best sports management schools. Set in the city of Boston, Northeastern University Global Network is a large private not-for-profit institution. About 34 sports management degrees were awarded at Northeastern University Global Network in the most recent year. Students who receive their sports management degree from Northeastern University Global Network earn around $53,373 in the first couple years of their career. Northeastern University Global Network graduates carry a median of $27,055 in student loans.
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University Of San Francisco landed the #16 spot for sports management this year. University Of San Francisco is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of San Francisco. About 70% of students finish within six years. About 79 sports management degrees were awarded at University Of San Francisco in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, sports management degree recipients from University Of San Francisco generally make around $46,187. Typical student debt for the program is $24,905.
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University Of Central Florida came in at #17 for sports management this year. Set in the suburb of Orlando, University Of Central Florida is a very large public institution. Roughly 78% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 17 sports management students who graduated with this degree at University Of Central Florida in the most recent data year. Graduates of the sports management program make about $46,398 in their early career. University Of Central Florida graduates carry a median of $21,620 in student loans.
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Merrimack College landed the #18 spot for sports management this year. Set in the suburb of North Andover, Merrimack College is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. Merrimack College graduates 70% of students within six years. About 44 sports management degrees were awarded at Merrimack College in the most recent year. Students who receive their sports management degree from Merrimack College earn around $50,506 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $26,913.
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Louisiana State University And Agricultural And Mechanical College earned the #19 position for sports management this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Baton Rouge. The six-year graduation rate is 66%. Louisiana State University And Agricultural And Mechanical College awarded about 68 sports management degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their sports management degree from Louisiana State University And Agricultural And Mechanical College earn around $31,956 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $23,000 to complete this degree.
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American University ranked #20 on our 2026 list of the best sports management schools. This large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Washington. The six-year graduation rate is 76%. There were roughly 21 sports management students who graduated with this degree at American University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, sports management degree recipients from American University generally make around $58,019. Students borrow a median of $24,139 to complete this degree.
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University Of Connecticut earned the #21 position for sports management this year. This very large public university is located in the town of Storrs. Roughly 83% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 56 sports management degrees were awarded at University Of Connecticut in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, sports management degree recipients from University Of Connecticut generally make around $48,822. Students borrow a median of $23,125 to complete this degree.
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Colorado State University Fort Collins landed the #22 spot for sports management this year. Colorado State University Fort Collins is a very large public school located in the city of Fort Collins. Roughly 66% of students complete a degree within six years here. Colorado State University Fort Collins awarded about 27 sports management degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, sports management degree recipients from Colorado State University Fort Collins generally make around $35,326. Typical student debt for the program is $22,000.
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James Madison University landed the #23 spot for sports management this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Harrisonburg. The six-year graduation rate is 80%. About 12 sports management degrees were awarded at James Madison University in the most recent year. Sports Management graduates of James Madison University earn a median of $45,101 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $21,500 to complete this degree.
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Central Washington University came in at #24 for sports management this year. This very large public university is located in the town of Ellensburg. Central Washington University graduates 54% of students within six years. There were roughly 26 sports management students who graduated with this degree at Central Washington University in the most recent data year. Sports Management graduates of Central Washington University earn a median of $61,551 early in their careers. Central Washington University graduates carry a median of $17,848 in student loans.
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Ohio University Main Campus came in at #25 for sports management this year. Set in the town of Athens, Ohio University Main Campus is a very large public institution. Roughly 65% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 87 sports management degrees were awarded at Ohio University Main Campus in the most recent year. Graduates of the sports management program make about $55,675 in their early career. Ohio University Main Campus graduates carry a median of $25,000 in student loans.
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Rest of the Top 50 Sports Management Schools
These schools also placed among the best for sports management this year:
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. The methodology weighs graduation rate, post-graduation earnings, cost, and program quality, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Top Ranked · 738 schools evaluated.
The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a branch of the U.S. Department of Education (DOE), serves as the core of our data about colleges.
Some other college data, including much of the graduate earnings data, comes from the U.S. Department of Education’s (College Scorecard).
