Sports Management is a field worth a close look when choosing where to study. While the number of schools offering the program varies, there are still top-quality ones to be found.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 195 schools to find the best for sports management students.
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Best Schools for Sports Management in the Southeast Region
If you are not interested in a particular degree level and want to know which schools are the overall best at delivering an education for the sports management degrees they offer, see the list below.
James Madison University tops our 2026 ranking of the best sports management schools. This very large public university is located in the city of Harrisonburg. About 80% of students finish within six years. About 188 sports management degrees were awarded at James Madison University in the most recent year. Students who receive their sports management degree from James Madison University earn around $40,528 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $21,500 to complete this degree.
See the full sports management program report for James Madison University
Students looking for a strong sports management program will find one at University Of Florida, which ranked #2. Located in the city of Gainesville, University Of Florida is a very large public university. About 91% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 367 sports management students who graduated with this degree at University Of Florida in the most recent data year. Sports Management graduates of University Of Florida earn a median of $45,046 early in their careers. University Of Florida graduates carry a median of $19,982 in student loans.
Read more about the sports management program at University Of Florida
North Carolina State University At Raleigh came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the best sports management schools. Set in the city of Raleigh, North Carolina State University At Raleigh is a very large public institution. Roughly 85% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 115 sports management degrees were awarded at North Carolina State University At Raleigh in the most recent year. Students who receive their sports management degree from North Carolina State University At Raleigh earn around $33,717 in the first couple years of their career. North Carolina State University At Raleigh graduates carry a median of $21,500 in student loans.
Read more about the sports management program at North Carolina State University At Raleigh
Students looking for a strong sports management program will find one at The University Of Alabama, which ranked #4. Set in the city of Tuscaloosa, The University Of Alabama is a very large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 73%. The University Of Alabama awarded about 33 sports management degrees in the most recent data year. Sports Management graduates of The University Of Alabama earn a median of $50,740 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $24,496 to complete this degree.
See the full sports management program report for The University Of Alabama
Students looking for a strong sports management program will find one at University Of Georgia, which ranked #5. University Of Georgia is a very large public school located in the city of Athens. Roughly 90% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 146 sports management degrees were awarded at University Of Georgia in the most recent year. Students who receive their sports management degree from University Of Georgia earn around $36,359 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $22,250.
See the full sports management program report for University Of Georgia
University Of South Carolina Columbia came in at #6 for sports management this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Columbia. Roughly 79% of students complete a degree within six years here. University Of South Carolina Columbia awarded about 299 sports management degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their sports management degree from University Of South Carolina Columbia earn around $37,903 in the first couple years of their career. University Of South Carolina Columbia graduates carry a median of $25,000 in student loans.
More information about a degree in sports management from University Of South Carolina Columbia
Florida State University earned the #7 position for sports management this year. Located in the city of Tallahassee, Florida State University is a very large public university. Florida State University graduates 86% of students within six years. There were roughly 272 sports management students who graduated with this degree at Florida State University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, sports management degree recipients from Florida State University generally make around $34,630. Typical student debt for the program is $18,750.
See the full sports management program report for Florida State University
University Of Central Florida placed #8 among the best sports management schools. University Of Central Florida is a very large public school located in the suburb of Orlando. The six-year graduation rate is 78%. University Of Central Florida awarded about 17 sports management degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, sports management degree recipients from University Of Central Florida generally make around $46,398. Typical student debt for the program is $21,620.
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High Point University placed #9 among the best sports management schools. This moderately-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the city of High Point. Roughly 72% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 42 sports management degrees were awarded at High Point University in the most recent year. Students who receive their sports management degree from High Point University earn around $113,352 in the first couple years of their career. High Point University graduates carry a median of $23,785 in student loans.
More information about a degree in sports management from High Point University
The University Of Tennessee earned the #10 position for sports management this year. Set in the city of Knoxville, The University Of Tennessee is a very large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 74%. There were roughly 165 sports management students who graduated with this degree at The University Of Tennessee in the most recent data year. Students who receive their sports management degree from The University Of Tennessee earn around $35,175 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $21,500 to complete this degree.
Read more about the sports management program at The University Of Tennessee
University Of Miami landed the #11 spot for sports management this year. This very large private not-for-profit university is located in the suburb of Coral Gables. The six-year graduation rate is 84%. About 130 sports management degrees were awarded at University Of Miami in the most recent year. Students who receive their sports management degree from University Of Miami earn around $46,517 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $16,500 to complete this degree.
Read more about the sports management program at University Of Miami
Louisiana State University And Agricultural And Mechanical College ranked #12 on our 2026 list of the best sports management schools. This very large public university is located in the city of Baton Rouge. Roughly 66% of students complete a degree within six years here. Louisiana State University And Agricultural And Mechanical College awarded about 274 sports management degrees in the most recent data year. Sports Management graduates of Louisiana State University And Agricultural And Mechanical College earn a median of $31,956 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $23,000 to complete this degree.
See the full sports management program report for Louisiana State University And Agricultural And Mechanical College
Virginia Commonwealth University placed #13 among the best sports management schools. Set in the city of Richmond, Virginia Commonwealth University is a very large public institution. About 63% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 47 sports management students who graduated with this degree at Virginia Commonwealth University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the sports management program make about $45,781 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $23,813 to complete this degree.
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Clemson University landed the #14 spot for sports management this year. This very large public university is located in the suburb of Clemson. About 87% of students finish within six years. About 54 sports management degrees were awarded at Clemson University in the most recent year. Sports Management graduates of Clemson University earn a median of $47,774 early in their careers. Clemson University graduates carry a median of $23,783 in student loans.
More information about a degree in sports management from Clemson University
Elon University came in at #15 for sports management this year. This moderately-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the suburb of Elon. About 84% of students finish within six years. About 51 sports management degrees were awarded at Elon University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, sports management degree recipients from Elon University generally make around $21,440. Typical student debt for the program is $23,250.
More information about a degree in sports management from Elon University
University Of North Florida landed the #16 spot for sports management this year. This large public university is located in the city of Jacksonville. Roughly 65% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 76 sports management students who graduated with this degree at University Of North Florida in the most recent data year. Sports Management graduates of University Of North Florida earn a median of $33,364 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $16,500.
More information about a degree in sports management from University Of North Florida
University Of South Florida Main Campus came in at #17 for sports management this year. University Of South Florida Main Campus is a very large public school located in the city of Tampa. University Of South Florida Main Campus graduates 77% of students within six years. University Of South Florida Main Campus awarded about 21 sports management degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the sports management program make about $34,249 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $21,829.
See the full sports management program report for University Of South Florida Main Campus
University Of Kentucky placed #18 among the best sports management schools. Set in the city of Lexington, University Of Kentucky is a very large public institution. University Of Kentucky graduates 71% of students within six years. There were roughly 12 sports management students who graduated with this degree at University Of Kentucky in the most recent data year. Sports Management graduates of University Of Kentucky earn a median of $43,994 early in their careers. University Of Kentucky graduates carry a median of $24,094 in student loans.
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University Of Louisville placed #19 among the best sports management schools. This very large public university is located in the city of Louisville. The six-year graduation rate is 61%. About 157 sports management degrees were awarded at University Of Louisville in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, sports management degree recipients from University Of Louisville generally make around $36,995. Students borrow a median of $22,053 to complete this degree.
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Cumberland University landed the #20 spot for sports management this year. This mid-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the town of Lebanon. About 42% of students finish within six years. Cumberland University awarded about 11 sports management degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the sports management program make about $47,696 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $21,902 to complete this degree.
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University Of Florida Online placed #21 among the best sports management schools. Set in the city of Gainesville, University Of Florida Online is a moderately-sized public institution. About 75% of students finish within six years. About 73 sports management degrees were awarded at University Of Florida Online in the most recent year. Students who receive their sports management degree from University Of Florida Online earn around $39,717 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $19,982 to complete this degree.
See the full sports management program report for University Of Florida Online
University Of Mississippi Main Campus ranked #22 on our 2026 list of the best sports management schools. University Of Mississippi Main Campus is a very large public school located in the town of University. About 72% of students finish within six years. About 30 sports management degrees were awarded at University Of Mississippi Main Campus in the most recent year. Students who receive their sports management degree from University Of Mississippi Main Campus earn around $22,239 in the first couple years of their career. University Of Mississippi Main Campus graduates carry a median of $23,034 in student loans.
More information about a degree in sports management from University Of Mississippi Main Campus
Lynchburg College placed #23 among the best sports management schools. Lynchburg College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Lynchburg. About 57% of students finish within six years. Lynchburg College awarded about 10 sports management degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their sports management degree from Lynchburg College earn around $107,159 in the first couple years of their career.
See the full sports management program report for Lynchburg College
Belmont University ranked #24 on our 2026 list of the best sports management schools. Set in the city of Nashville, Belmont University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 70%. There were roughly 38 sports management students who graduated with this degree at Belmont University in the most recent data year. Sports Management graduates of Belmont University earn a median of $37,139 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $20,000 to complete this degree.
Read more about the sports management program at Belmont University
Samford University came in at #25 for sports management this year. Set in the suburb of Birmingham, Samford University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 77%. There were roughly 16 sports management students who graduated with this degree at Samford University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, sports management degree recipients from Samford University generally make around $64,132. Samford University graduates carry a median of $21,039 in student loans.
More information about a degree in sports management from Samford University
Rest of the Top 50 Sports Management Schools
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s sports management ranking:
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 · 195 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).