A sports management degree can open the door to careers in one of the world’s largest industries. The global sports market is worth hundreds of billions of dollars and includes professional teams, college athletics, sports marketing agencies, athletic facilities, and media organizations.
Students earning a sports management degree online can pursue careers as sports agents, athletic directors, event managers, sports marketers, and facility managers.
Featured Programs
In this guide, we review the best online sports management programs, including affordable accredited colleges offering bachelor’s degrees in sport management and related fields.
What Is a Sports Management Degree?
This targets high-volume informational searches.
What Is a Sports Management Degree?
A sports management degree focuses on the business side of sports. Students learn how sports organizations operate, including marketing, finance, event management, and athlete representation.
Typical courses include:
- Sports marketing
- Sports law
- Event management
- Facility management
- Sports analytics
- Business management
Graduates can work in both professional and collegiate athletics.
Skills You Learn in a Sports Management Degree
Students in sports management programs develop skills such as:
- leadership and team management
- sports marketing and promotions
- contract negotiation
- event planning
- data analytics
- financial management
Best Sport Management Programs Methodology
We reviewed about 80 accredited colleges and universities offering an online bachelor’s in sports management or related degree program. We narrowed our original pool of schools by choosing accredited programs ranked with U.S. News & World Report. We then listed the schools according to raw affordability.
Here are the best online sports management programs.
Best Online Sports Management Degrees
| Rank | School | Degree | Tuition |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | University of Florida | BS Sport Management | $129/credit |
| 2 | Florida International University | BS Recreation & Sports Management | $236/credit |
| 3 | Southeastern Oklahoma State University | BS Recreation Sports Management | $332/credit |
| 4 | American Public University | BA Sport Management | $360/credit |
| 5 | Bellevue University | BA Sport Management | $459/credit |
Careers You Can Get With a Sports Management Degree
Graduates with a sports management degree can work in many different parts of the sports industry, including professional sports teams, college athletics departments, sports marketing agencies, and athletic facilities.
Common careers include:
- Sports agent
- Athletic director
- Sports marketing manager
- Event coordinator
- Sports facility manager
- Athletic recruiter
- Sports data analyst
- Public relations manager for sports teams
Many graduates also work in professional leagues such as the National Football League, National Basketball Association, and Major League Baseball.
#1 – University of Florida
Online Bachelor’s in Sport Management
Undergraduate tuition: $129/credit
The University of Florida is the most affordable school on our list for sport management programs. It offers a Bachelor of Science degree in Sport Management that you can complete online.
The program is for anyone interested in careers in intercollegiate athletic departments and professional sport franchises. Courses prepare you for leadership roles within the sports industry. Your courses cover topics like:
- Administration of sport and physical activity
- Ethical issues in sport
- Sport and society
- Sport facility design and management
- Sports media
Students complete a 15-credit hour, full-time internship toward the end of the program. During the final semester, interns work 40 hours per week.
#2 – Florida International University
Online Bachelor’s in Recreation and Sports Management
Undergraduate tuition: $236/credit
Florida International University prepares graduates with management and leadership skills needed to work in the fast-paced sports industry. You take industry-specific courses and study business administration. Some of the online courses offered include:
- Care, maintenance and design
- Leisure services marketing
- Marketing management
- Sociology of sport
Toward the end of the program, students get hands-on experience through two internships. Interning can help you land your first job in the sports industry.
#3 – Southeastern Oklahoma State University
Online BS in Recreation Sports Management
Undergraduate tuition: $332/credit
At Southeastern Oklahoma State University, you can earn a BS in Recreation Sports Management. The program is for students looking for jobs in sports after graduation.
The online program teaches you the many aspects of management in sports. You learn about event planning and how to manage facilities. Courses help you develop strong leadership skills in sports administration. If you want to pursue an advanced degree, the bachelor’s can help you get into graduate programs.
#4 – American Public University
Online Bachelor’s in Sport Management
Undergraduate tuition: $360/credit
American Public University helps prepare students for careers in:
- Athletic administration
- Coaching
- Sport management
Students take classes from professors with real-world experience. Some have coached or worked as athletic directors. Your online courses cover topics such as:
- Accounting fundamentals and financial statements for sports managers
- Ethics and contemporary issues in sports
- Sports facilities and management
- Sports marketing and public relations
#5 – Bellevue University
Online Bachelor’s in Sport Management
Undergraduate tuition: $459/credit
Bellevue University offers an online Bachelor of Arts in Sport Management program.
The program delivers flexible online courses and does not require on-campus attendance. The courses reach you about the contemporary issues in sports. You also study different legal aspects that related to sport and physical activity. Students study:
- Sport finance
- Sport management
- Sport marketing
- Sports analytics
Graduates of the degree have gone to careers in facility management and sports marketing and promotions.
#6 – Colorado Mesa University
Online Bachelor’s in Sport Management
Undergraduate tuition: $463/credit
Colorado Mesa University is a good school for sports management students. It offers a BS in Sport Management degree online.
The program helps prepare students for careers in the sports industry. Sports management careers can include athletic director or coach. They can also include roles in sports law, sport management, and marketing.
Students must complete a total of 120 credit hours to earn their sport management degree. Online courses cover different topics relevant to the discipline and career. Higher education courses include:
- Facility management
- Governance and communication in sport
- Leadership and ethics in sport
- Sport in society
- Sport law and risk management
- Sport marketing
Students also complete an internship in the sport industry during their time enrolled in the program. CMU ranks with U.S. News as a top school for a sports management bachelor’s degree.
#7 – Franklin University
Online Bachelor’s in Sport Management
Undergraduate tuition: $398/credit
Franklin University offers an online bachelor’s in sport management for students interested in event planning and management in sports.
Studies prepare you for graduate programs in sports management or a career in the industry. The program teaches you about sport business concepts. You also learn different techniques used to get results when working with athletes and professional sports teams.
In the sports management degree offered at Franklin, students complete a total of 120 credit hours. Online courses cover topics in sports law, marketing, and management.
#8 – University of Iowa
Online Bachelor’s in Sport and Recreation Management
Undergraduate tuition: $387/credit
The University of Iowa is one of the best sports management colleges. It offers a BS in Sport and Recreation Management with different concentration options.
The program teaches students studying sports management about different marketing strategies in sports. Students also study business administration and related sport business practices. You can tailor your degree by choosing one of eight concentrations. Some of the areas of focus include:
- Business administration studies
- Coaching and sport instruction
- Communications public relations
- Event management
- Sport and diversity
The program helps students qualify for leadership roles in the industry. But if you want to continue your higher education, the program can help you get into a master’s degree program.
The school ranks with U.S. News. Its current rankings include #83 in best national universities.
#9 – University of West Alabama
Online Bachelor’s in Sport Management
Undergraduate tuition: $325/credit
The University of West Alabama is a good school if you want to advance your career in sports management. The school offers a BA or BS in Sport Management.
The degree program teaches you about the key aspects of sports and facility management. You learn about the business of sports and marketing for the sports industry. You also study sport management through a required internship. The program is great for individuals currently working as sports organizers.
But what makes West Alabama one of the best colleges for sports management is the added concentration in business. You have the option of adding the emphasis by completing 24 credit hours in business and related courses.
#10 – University of Northwestern Ohio
Online Bachelor’s in Sport Management and Marketing
Undergraduate tuition: $295/credit
The University of Northwestern Ohio is a top school for a sports management degree. Students can earn a bachelor’s in sport management and marketing with a focus on business administration in sports.
The program emphasizes certain business and management skills needed to work in the sports industry. It also introduces students to the leadership skills they need to be successful in sports management. Through courses and projects, students gain insight into the sports marketing for sports teams and event management.
Online courses offered by the program include:
- Event planning
- Facility and event management
- Promotions and public policy
- Sports marketing
- Sport psychology
The school ranks with U.S. News and World Report as having one of the top sports administration degree programs. Its sports management degree programs have also received sport management accreditation.
#11 – University of Minnesota Crookston
Online Bachelor’s in Sport and Recreation Management
Undergraduate tuition: $448/credit
University of Minnesota Crookston offers a sports management degree. You can earn a bachelor’s in sport and recreation management degree online.
The sports management degree program teaches you what it’s like to work in the sports industry. You study sport ethics and the psychology of sport. You also learn about sport ethics and leadership. There are several electives you can take that explore niche topics that other undergraduate programs don’t cover. These include:
- Socio-cultural dimensions in sport
- Sport economics
- Sport governance
#12 – The University of Arizona Global Campus
Online Bachelor’s in Sports and Recreation Management
Undergraduate tuition: $460/credit
Want a degree in sport management? The University of Arizona Global Campus offers an online bachelor’s in sports and recreation management with five specializations.
The sports management program prepares students for careers in sports and recreation management. You also get to choose a specialization to help meet your career goals. Specializations include:
- Entrepreneurship
- Finance
- Information systems
- Marketing
- Project management
But the main focus of the degree is sports management. You study sport finance and law. You also take courses that teach you about sports administration.
#13 – Southern New Hampshire University
Online Bachelor’s in Sport Management
Undergraduate tuition: $342/credit
Southern New Hampshire University offers an online sports management program for undergraduate students.
The BS in Sports Management degree program teaches students what it’s like to work in sports management careers. Courses explore topics in sports law and sports media. You also learn about the different types of sports leadership and how each impacts the world of professional sports.
Your sports management classes include:
- Global sport business
- How to run sports organizations
- Sales within sport
- Sports administration
- Sports event management
- Sports medicine
- Sport and society
#14 – University of the Southwest
Online BBA in Sport Management
Undergraduate tuition: $575/credit
At The University of the Southwest students can earn an online BBA in Sport Management.
The business and sports management program combines studies to give students the best of both worlds. You study business and also sports. Your courses cover topics like:
- Foundations of sport management
- Law and liability in sport and recreation
- Organizational design and strategy
The program prepares students for work in the sports industry. But it also helps you gain a strong foundation in sport management and business administration that can support graduate school endeavors. Many graduates go on to earn a master’s degree in a sports administration degree program or an MBA.
#15 – Post University
Online Bachelor’s in Sport Management
Undergraduate tuition: $689/credit
Post University offers a sport management program for undergraduates. You can earn a bachelor’s degree in sports management online.
The program blends business with sports management. It gives you the skills you need to work in the fast-paced sports industry. You learn about the foundations of sports management and how athletic and sports administration works. You also study sport economics and sport marketing.
Post’s sports administration degree has received sport management accreditation from the Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs (ACBSP). The school also ranks with U.S. News as a top university in the North.
#16 – Grand Canyon University
Online Bachelor’s in Sport Management
Undergraduate tuition: $485/credit
Grand Canyon University offers an online bachelor’s degree in sports management that has received sport management accreditation.
The program teaches you about the different aspects of sports administration. From event planning to the business side of sports medicine, you learn the ins and outs of the sports industry. Your classes cover topics such as:
- Business statistics
- Ethical and legal issues in business
- Introduction to sports management
- Managerial accounting
- Sports marketing
- Strategic management
The accredited school also offers sports management students access to NCAA Division I sports teams. Many students intern or complete projects with these teams.
GCU ranks with major publications, including U.S. News as a top national school.
#17 – Regent University
Online BS in Business Sports Management
Undergraduate tuition: $450/credit
Regent University offers an online BS in Business with a concentration in sports management.
The program helps you turn your love for sports into a career. You learn how the sports industry works and what jobs it offers. Since the school is grounded in Christian faith, the program anchors your business knowledge to biblical principles.
The courses you will take while studying business administration and sports management include:
- Legal issues in sports management
- Sports economics
- Sports promotion and marketing
Like most best colleges for sports management, Regent ranks with U.S. News as a top national school.
#18 – Davenport University
Online BBA in Sport Management
Undergraduate tuition: $1,018/credit (in-state)
Davenport University offers an online BBA in Sport Management.
The program blends business with sports studies. Students take a series of business management courses alongside sports leadership classes. You learn what it’s like to work in the sports industry in management and administrative roles. Your courses cover topics in:
- Accounting
- Business research and statistics
- Economics
- Finance
- Marketing
Sport management degree students also complete six internship credits that result in 300 hours of real work experience in the sport management field. In the past, students have interned with the Detroit Lions and Minnesota Vikings. Internships are also available at the West Michigan Sports Commission.
Davenport ranks with U.S. News. Recent rankings include #98 in best colleges in the Midwest.
#19 – Toccoa Falls College
Online Bachelor’s in Sport Management
Undergraduate tuition: $390/credit
Toccoa Falls College offers an online sports management degree program that leads to a bachelor’s degree.
Students in the program complete 126 credit hours. Online courses include 42 credit hours of sport management and 15 credit hours of open electives. Classes prepare students for work in the sports industry.
Some of the courses you take while earning the sports management degree include:
- Event and facility management in sport and entertainment
- Organization and administration of sport
- Policies and issues in sport management
- Sport law and ethics
- Sport marketing
- Sports medicine
#20 – Shorter University
Online BBA in Sport Management
Undergraduate tuition: $24,686
Shorter University offers accredited sports management programs. You can earn an online BBA in Sport Management degree.
The program focuses on business administration under the umbrella of the sports industry. Classes in the online sports management degree program cover topics in both business and sports administration. Topics covered include:
- Business analytics
- Business development
- Management
- Sales
- Social media
Each of these topics apply practices to the sports world. When you graduate, you can bring your knowledge into management positions with professional sports teams and sports administration.
Shorter ranks with U.S. News and World Report. Its current rankings include #99 in best regional universities in the West.
Other Good Colleges for Sports Management
There were many colleges that received recognition for their sport management programs. These schools did not make the cut for our list, but offer programs to consider. Schools like Rice University and Louisiana State University have large sport management programs.
- Indiana Institute of Technology
- Missouri Baptist University
- McKendree University
- Culver-Stockton College
- Central Michigan University
- Louisiana State University
- Rice University
- Southern Methodist University
- Western New England University
Sports Management Salary
Salaries in sports management vary depending on experience, location, and job title.
Typical salaries include (BLS):
| Career | Average Salary |
|---|---|
| Sports Agent | $80,000+ |
| Athletic Director | $100,000+ |
| Sports Marketing Manager | $75,000 |
| Event Manager | $60,000 |
| Sports Facility Manager | $70,000 |
rs include sports agent, athletic director, sports marketing manager, facility manager, event coordinator, and athletic recruiter.
How long does it take to earn a sports management degree?
Most bachelor’s degrees in sports management take four years to complete. Some online programs allow accelerated completion.
Can you earn a sports management degree online?
Yes. Many accredited universities offer online sports management degrees that allow students to complete coursework remotely while completing internships in the sports industry.
What is the highest paying job in sports management?
Sports agents and athletic directors often earn the highest salaries in sports management, especially when representing professional athletes.
BDP Staff
March 2026
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