Best Online Master's in Sports Management

2020 Online Degree Rankings

The College of Natural Resources at North Carolina State University features an online Master of Parks, Recreation, Tourism, and Sport Management. The university’s online Master’s program provides graduate students with a professional education created by the College of Natural Resources to advance their career advancement in parks, recreation, tourism, and sports industries. The 31-credit hour program features courses that are in step with the needs of the industry and are delivered by an experienced faculty that is dedicated to providing students with the critical skills needed to gain a competitive advantage in their chosen professional field. As 100% of the program’s curriculum is through an online format, distance learners can continue to work full-time while completing one course at a time and still satisfy all program requirements in just two years. Program designers have put a flexible learning environment into place, which accommodates the demands of full-time employment. The relevant instructional methods center on frequent interactions with faculty, group discussions, and substantial assignments that provide valuable knowledge and skills critical for career advancement. The tuition rate listed is below $15,000.

An online Master of Arts in Kinesiology & Sport Management is currently available at the University of South Dakota’s School of Education. This incredible distance degree with a concentration in Sport Management is delivered as a 30-credit hour degree program that provides expertise in the business of sport. As many would agree, there is a growing demand for a competent master’s degree in sport management for licensed teachers, coaches, sports administrators, and athletic directors within the state of South Dakota as well as neighboring states. USD’s curriculum has been designed to empower the working professional and adult learner. Graduate students have the option to enroll part-time and work through to graduation within two years or take courses at a full-time pace and complete the program within 12 months. Sport Management-intensive courses within this program include Sport Facility/Risk Management, Sport Analytics, New Media and Technology in Sport, Legal Aspects of Sport, Strategic Sport Communication, and Current Issues in Sport Management.

An online MS in Sport Management is currently available at the College of Physical Activity and Sport Sciences at West Virginia University. This 36-credit hour degree features ten courses and an attractive tuition rate of well under $20,000. West Virginia University’s Master of Science in Sport Management offered by the College of Physical Activity and Sport Sciences has been thoughtfully designed to prepare graduate students to work behind-the-scenes in multiple sports industries. Sport management continues to be one of the fastest-growing sectors in the U.S. Graduate students will be equipped with skills including critical thinking, management and leadership, sport marketing and finance, and problem-solving. Graduates of the degree will be competent in planning and executing appropriate solutions and implementing positive outcomes within their sports organizations. The program melds innovative courses with professional development so that distance learners can find jobs in the areas of fan relations, sales, marketing, intercollegiate and interscholastic athletics, sporting goods and marketing companies, and community recreation and sports centers.

The College of Applied Health Sciences at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign features an online Master of Science in Recreation, Sport & Tourism. The college encourages graduate students to foster a healthy lifestyle with a career set in the world’s largest industries. Distance learners in the Department of Recreation, Sport and Tourism benefit from an award-winning faculty, have the chance to work alongside world-class researchers, and will gain hands-on, practical skills throughout their site visits, courses, internships, and study tours of related professional organizations. The University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign offers this exemplary online graduate degree as two exciting online programs: the online Master of Science in Recreation, Sport and Tourism, and the university’s Professional Certificate. Students will often complete this degree in just 18 months. The non-thesis degree features 36-credit hours. Candidates for this program are not required to have a background in Recreation, Sport & Tourism. This fully online degree features a tuition rate of just over $25,000.

The School of Education at the University of Kansas offers a Master of Science in Education (M.S.E.) degree in Health, Sport Management, and Exercise Science with a focus in Sport Management. Program designers have constructed the sport management courses in a way that graduate students will be qualified for a variety of roles within sport management, sport marketing player personnel and team management, and event management. The online Master’s in Sport Management at the University of Kansas transfers the university’s unique sports history to the online curriculum, allowing students to make connections directly in the area of the sports industry they intend to work within. Students can graduate with this excellent distance degree in just two years and work to complete a portfolio that qualifies with the competencies of the North American Society for Sport Management. Sport Management courses include Socio-Cultural Dimensions of Sport, Understanding Research in Education, Sport Sponsorship, Ethics in the Sport Industry, Sport Fundraising, and Sport Marketing.

An online Masters of Science in Sport Management is available at the College of Education and Human Development at Texas A&M University. Program designers have constructed a degree that provides graduate students with a skill set they will need to become future leaders of sports organizations as decision-makers, administrators, and managers. Distance learners are equipped for careers in professional sports, university and interscholastic athletic departments, media and communications operations, charitable and youth organizations, health and country clubs, as well as many roles in the areas of activity programming, sport marketing and promotions, event management and planning, and facility management and planning. Graduate students seeing this 100% online degree may choose to go the thesis or non-thesis route as both are made available by the College of Education and Human Development. Required Sport Management Core courses listed in the degree’s curriculum include Management of Sport Organizations, Financial Management in Sport, Diversity Ethics in Sport Organizations, Sport Marketing, Sales and Revenue Generation in Sport, and Sport Media and Communications.

The School of Continuing Studies at Georgetown University currently provides an online Master of Professional Studies in Sports Industry Management. Georgetown’s stellar 30-credit hour program equips graduate students with the knowledge and skills they will need to succeed and lead in the highly competitive field of sports management. Distance learners will study with an unrivaled faculty of academic professionals who are actively contributing at the highest levels within a diverse cross-section of the global sports industry. The online Master’s in Sports Management program focuses on career mentoring and networking opportunities to give its graduates a leg up in the sports industry. Graduate students of the Sports Industry Management program complete their degree with the insight, inspiration, and seasoned knowledge crucial for the successful career advancement achieved by their distinguished practitioner educators. Graduates of this extraordinary degree also hold the advantage of attaining a sports management graduate degree from one of the best institutions for sports management in the country.

An online MS in Sports Analytics and Management is currently available at American University’s School of Professional & Extended Studies. This exciting 30-credit hour degree in Sports Analytics and Management offers distance learners the skills employers are looking for when hiring. To ensure graduate students have ample knowledge and understanding, the college has built a four-phase curriculum model or framework known as the Professional Studies Experience (PSE). The program’s PSE model has been applied to the Sports Analytics and Management master’s program and features courses with professionally aligned coursework and required courses that encourage a broader skillset that many employers have identified as critical and relevant. Students within this 100% online program will receive advanced training centered on building workplace skills in ethical decision-making, communication, teamwork, emerging technologies, and innovation. Distance learners will gain cross-cultural competencies and collaboration techniques essential for success in the 21st-century global economy. American University has priced this degree at just over $40,000.

The College of Health and Human Performance at the University of Florida delivers an online Master of Science in Sport Management. Specializations within this program include Athlete Development, High-Performance Coaching, and Sport Law. The emerging area of expertise related to Athlete Development has tremendous potential to benefit both the athlete and those who are put in place to help him with matters including financial literacy, career development, and professionalism and behavior. The Athlete Development focus also gives distance learners the chance to meet the academic stipulations for certification required by the Professional Association of Athlete Development Specialists. Courses within this exciting 36-credit hour degree include Sport Psychology, Evaluation Procedures in Health and Human Performance, Training High-Performance Athletes, Sport Event Management Principles and Applications, Sport Marketing, and Sport Science for Athlete Development Specialists. The tuition rate listed for this degree is just over $20,000. Candidates holding a professional or graduate degree from a regionally accredited university may apply for a GMAT waiver during the application process.

The College of Business & Economic Development at the University of Southern Mississippi offers an online Master of Science in Sport Management. Program designers have crafted this graduate degree for distance learners with a passion for sports and a desire to work in the sports industry. The curriculum within this 33-credit hour degree adequately provides the knowledge working professionals will need to be successful in the many areas of the sports industry. Graduates of this program can expect to be well-versed in being equipped as sports and special events managers armed with the knowledge of meeting the challenges of safety and security in a sports environment. No visits to the school’s campus in Hattiesburg, Mississippi, will ever be asked of graduate students as all coursework is delivered through a 100% online format. Sport Marketing and Public Relations, Sport Management Practicum, Applied Research Methods and Statistics in Sport, Trends and Issues in Sport, Sport Venue and Event Management, and Socio-Ethical Issues in Sport are just some of the excellent courses currently offered within this 33-credit hour degree.

Drexel University offers an online Master of Science in Sport Management at the Bennett S. LeBow College of Business. Program designers have constructed this degree to help prepare distance learners for a fruitful career in the continually evolving sports industry. Whether one’s goal is to work with intercollegiate athletes as an athletic administrator, or in the business side of sports, M.S. students be given the tools and connections they need to stand out in the competitive job market. The curriculum within this 45-credit hour degree covers the topics of economics, sports media, law, marketing and sales, and event management. Students can expect a solid foundation across the industry. To help support the M.S. in Sport Management, distance learners have the option of adding a graduate minor. Minors are currently available in areas like business analytics and athletic administration. With excellence in flexibility, the business school offers the chance for any of the online business degrees to be paired as a dual degree such as an M.S. Business Analytics/M.S. Sport Management or an MBA/MS Sport Management, with shared coursework typically through elective credits.

An online Master of Science in Kinesiology is currently available at the School of Health Promotion & Kinesiology at Texas Woman’s University. This remarkable 36-credit hour degree centering on sports management has been designed for the ultimate sports fan who desires to work in the sports fields of marketing, business, or operations. A 100% online format means that students can pursue this M.S. in Kinesiology from virtually anywhere in the world without ever having to visit Texas Woman’s campus in Denton, Texas. Sports Management emphasis courses related to this degree include Sport in American Society, Sport Venue and Event Management, Sport Media and Marketing, Legal Issues in Sport, Sport for Development, Leadership Theory and Practice in Sport and the Health Sciences, and The Sport Industry. This degree features a tuition rate of well below $15,000 and is the most affordable program within this ranking. Graduates of this degree go onto work in sport-related industries like major and minor leagues, recreational and wellness facilities, and amateur athletic associations.

The College of Education, Criminal Justice, and Human Services at the University of Cincinnati features an online Master of Science in Sport Administration. Program designers have crafted this stellar distance degree for students interested in becoming one of tomorrow’s sport industry leaders. The University of Cincinnati brings decades of educational experience directly to graduate students with its 100% online Master in Sport Administration degree. Online MS in Sport Administration students will take advantage of a high-quality, autonomous learning experience specifically designed to help working professionals achieve their career goals. The 30-credit hour program is customized for industry professionals who want to pursue advanced careers in interscholastic and intercollegiate athletics. Today, jobs in the sports industry vary immensely. Distance learners within the sport management program at the University of Cincinnati have the business acumen combined with a knowledge of the unique nature of the sports industry that will equip them for the competitive world of sports business.

An online MS in Sport and Exercise Science with a Sport Administration focus is currently available through the College of Natural and Health Sciences at the University of Northern Colorado. The 30-credit hour degree is offered 100% online, and incoming applicants do not need to submit a GRE or GMAT score during the application process. Topics like sport finance, program management, events & facilities, marketing, law, fundraising & development, and current issues in the sports industry are explored throughout this degree, which takes just one year to complete. Graduates of this degree will be well-versed in discovering new resources and expanding their networking contacts, transferring new skills to their work environments and opening new career opportunities, demonstrating more significant expertise in their field, and incorporating talents and interests into a degree. Graduate students have the choice of taking a non-thesis or thesis route throughout this degree’s curriculum. Sport Administration courses include Legal Aspects of Sport, Sport Facility and Event Management, Critical Thinking and Ethical Consideration in Sport Administration, and Administration of Sport Organizations and Employees.

The College of Graduate and Professional Studies at Indiana State University offers a Master of Science in Sport Management. Program designers of this degree have customized this degree for working professionals who have experience in private and public organizations and now seek a graduate-level program to further advance their education and foster career growth. This program focuses on preparing students for positions of leadership in order to excel in the growing discipline of sport management. The degree features 36-credit hours of content and is delivered through a 100% online format. Students lacking a sport management major or minor will be responsible for an additional three credit hours. Up to nine credit hours of applicable graduate coursework may be transferred into this degree. The curriculum includes an emphasis on preparing students to enter the expanding discipline of sport management, with a specific focus on sport finance, governance of sport, sport marketing, management functions, and event and facility planning.

The Van Loan School of Graduate and Professional Studies at Endicott College features an online Master of Science in Sport Leadership Program. The graduate school believes that learning leads to personal growth on multiple levels. Relationship building is a significant priority for course writers as it helps blaze a successful trail to opportunities for excellence in the sports industry. This 39-credit hour degree features an emphasis on sport management and administration and current trends in the sports industry. Distance learners within this program will build a solid foundation to pursue careers at non-profit organizations, schools, colleges, universities, businesses, sport fitness and wellness facilities, sport governing bodies, and recreation department and state parks. A graduate student can pursue this stellar program for less than $20,000 in tuition. While the school’s campus in Beverly, Massachusetts, is an impressive one, graduate students will never have to travel to it as all course requirements are fulfilled 100% online.

An online Master of Science Sport Management is available at the Division of Health and Sport Sciences at Missouri Baptist University. Course designers have built this 31-credit hour degree to help provide students with skills to lead in a wide range of sport-related enterprises effectively. Areas of focus include facility management, interscholastic athletics, sport-marketing firms, intercollegiate athletics, amateur and professional sports, and special event management. As the program features a flexible format, students can move through the program at their schedule and at their own pace as they work towards their bourgeoning career in sports business. Distance learners will also have the chance to develop professionally and think creatively through research, projects, hands-on problem solving, and internships. The tuition associated with this 100% online degree is right between $15,000 and $20,000. Most students will graduate with this degree from Missouri Baptist University anywhere from between 18 and 24 months. Courses include Sport Facility Management, Sport and Social Media, Research Methods, Sport Law, and Sports Psychology.

The Center for Sport Leadership at Virginia Commonwealth University currently provides an online Master of Sport Leadership. This highly structured graduate program combines classroom theory with ample exposure to relevant field opportunities. Throughout the 100% online sport leadership program, graduate students will be equipped to assume the responsibilities for emerging professional and amateur athletes and will become competent to manage sports programs in a variety of public, academic, and private fields. The curriculum and interdisciplinary faculty ensure that students have the opportunity to focus on areas most important to them and also most relevant to the sports business. Distance learners enrolled in this program are required to complete a comprehensive exam revealing their comprehension. Graduate courses by the Center for Sport Leadership at Virginia Commonwealth University are offered online for students already working who want to take advantage of an educational opportunity through the Internet. Three classes are available each semester to distance learners.

The California University of Pennsylvania delivers an online Master of Science in Sport Management Studies at the School of Graduate Studies and Research. The university advertises this degree as the first online graduate program in sport management studies in America. There are no campus visits required throughout this program’s duration, as all assignments, tests, lectures, and projects are provided through a 100% online format. The three specialization options offered at the business school include Strategic Sport Analysis, Sport Management Generalist, and Intercollegiate Athletic Administration. Students pursuing this program through the accelerated cohort will satisfy all program requirements in just 13 months, while those seeking the traditional cohort can graduate in 17 months. Courses within the degree include Mentorship, Leadership and Management in Sport, Sport Ethics, Sport Finance, Legal Aspects in Sport, Public Relations in Sport, Sport Marketing, and Research Methods in Sport. The California University of Pennsylvania offers this program with a tuition rate of between $15,000 and $20,000.

DePaul University offers an online Master of Science in Sport, Fitness, and Recreation Leadership. Course designers have crafted the program with sports, fitness, and recreation professionals in mind. The 48-credit hour degree emphasizes the holistic care and health of athletes and practitioners in fitness and recreation settings. Graduate students will gain an awareness of current trends and issues, build a useful professional network, and work to earn the credentials critical to pursuing leadership positions in sports, fitness, and recreation management. After graduating with this degree, business professionals will be able to work as athletic directors, within leadership or management roles in athletic departments, in university athletic programs, at recreation and fitness facilities, or within corporate fitness centers. The tuition rate for this degree is just over $30,000. Twelve required courses and two in-person seminars are included in this degree. Core curriculum courses include Program and Specials Events Management in Sport, Fitness, and Recreation Leadership, Advanced Care of the Athlete, and Finance and Revenue Generation in Sport and Fitness

Western Kentucky University offers an online MS in Recreation & Sport Administration at the College of Health and Human Services. The four concentrations that are included in this degree are Sports Media and Branding, Athletic Administration and Coaching, Intercollegiate Athletic Administration, and Facility and Event Management. WKU’s 33-credit hour degree is priced between $20,000 and $25,000. There are no GMAT or GRE score requirements listed within the application process, and all courses are delivered through a 100% online format. Graduate students interested in Interscholastic (K-12) Athletic Administration & Coaching can gain knowledge, research, and experience within the coaching emphasis. Courses included in this program include Public Relations in Recreation and Sport, Research Methods in Recreation and Sport, and Facility & Event Security Management. The Facility and Event Management track centers on enhancing graduate students’ knowledge and understanding in areas vital for successful career advancement in venue management. Core Courses within this degree include Fiscal Practices in Recreation and Sport, Research Methods in Recreation and Sport, and Theoretical Foundations of Recreation and Sport.

An online MS in Sport Management is available at the Graduate & Professional Studies at Lasell University. Program designers had the working professional in mind when they created this 100% online degree that caters to business leaders with professional and personal demands outside of their education. The curriculum within this program evolves just as the industry does so distance learners can be sure they are receiving the most relevant education in the nation. Students will learn from seasoned educators like Sport Management Program Chair Dr. Dwayne Thomas. Dr. Thomas brings more than 30 years of experience in the field of sport management and administration. Another excellent instructor is Assistant Professor Young Tae Kim, who is an expert in sport sponsorship. Specialized concentrations that can be chosen to accompany this 36-credit hour degree include Athletic Administration, Sport Leadership, Parks and Recreation, and Sport Tourism and Hospitality Management. The tuition rate for this degree sits between $20,000 and $25,000.

An online MS in Sport Administration is provided at Delaware State University’s College of Business. The world of Sport Administration is a highly competitive field. Graduate students with an eye on their future understand that the right credentials can set one apart from others pursuing the same professional opportunities. The MS in Sport Administration is provided as a 100% online experience with zero visits required to the campus in Dover, Delaware. Program creators have designed the degree as a 30-credit hour program that is flexible and accelerated to allow recreational, sport, and fitness professionals the chance t compete for advanced administrative responsibilities within sport-related organizations. Featuring an attractive tuition rate of well below $15,000, the degree will develop one’s ability to lead and manage sport and sport-related organizations while also adapting to changing social, legal, economic, and political influences. DSU gives graduate students the business savvy and professional edge that are sure to make employers take note.

An online Master’s in Sports Administration is available at the School of Education & Human Services at Canisius College. Featuring 33-credit hours, the degree’s flexible, hands-on curriculum focuses on contemporary communications skills, emerging sports industry trends, and cutting-edge technologies utilized in sports administration. Program designers have created coursework that teams with internships, travel abroad opportunities, and industry activities that give the graduate student a broad education in leadership and business skills needed in the global sports industry. Distance learners with access to the school’s campus who are looking for an accelerated experience will be happy to know all program requirements can be satisfied in as little as one year when taking advantage of combining online and on-campus courses. Graduate students can also participate in the School of Education & Human Services’ Institute for Research in Sport (IRIS) to add even more of an edge to one’s academic and professional credentials. Students are free to pursue independent research opportunities that are relevant to their interests in the sports industry with the ultimate objective of having their work published. Tuition rates for this degree come in at less than $30,000.

An online MS in Sport Management is available at the Darden College of Education & Professional Studies at Old Dominion University. This 100% online degree has been designed as a 36-credit hour program and is a part of the Darden College of Education & Professional Studies Department of Human Movement Sciences. Program outcomes include a graduate’s becoming competent in applying theory to practical application in a multitude of sport management settings, using critical decision-making skills to solve problems, and conducting financial and management principles to achieve organizational goals. Students will also be versed in how to do research while analyzing data, plan significant events and manage sport facilities, and use existing and emerging technologies within the vast field of sport management. While many courses within this degree do not feature a scheduled meeting time, students have the choice to set a schedule that works for them. The tuition rate for this program sits below $20,000.