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Stephanie Arpaia, who earned her online sports management degree in 2010, using a computer in an office.

Online Sports Management Degree Bachelor of Science

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Register By: June 24 Classes Start: June 26

Earn an Online Sports Management Degree

  • $320/credit (120 total credits)
  • Transfer up to 90 credits
  • No application fee or SAT/ACT scores
  • Accredited by ACBSP
  • Gain real-world, hands-on experience
  • Accelerated BS-to-MS Pathway option

Online Sports Management Degree Program Overview

Turn a passion for sports into a career with a Bachelor of Science (BS) in Sport Management degree online. Our innovative bachelor’s degree program has been preparing students for careers in sports for more than 25 years.

The sports industry continues to evolve. SNHU’s online sports management degree can help you evolve with it. You’ll take a mix of business, liberal arts and sports management courses and gain valuable field experience to help you get in the game.

With a sports management degree, you’ll gain key industry knowledge that will prepare you to handle the demands of a career in sports. Your degree will culminate in the opportunity for hands-on, real-world experiences. With the support of SNHU faculty, academic advising and career services, you'll be able to explore opportunities for internships or experiential learning, applying your sport management skills gained from your coursework to authentic industry challenges and opportunities.

Your sports management courses are designed by professionals working in the field. As a result, courses offer cutting-edge learning resources to help prepare you for success in this growing industry.

Accelerated Bachelor's-to-Master's Pathway Option: Earning a master’s degree can set you apart in a competitive field and prepare you for top sports jobs. Our accelerated BS-to-MS pathway can help you earn your degree faster.

The accelerated degree program lets you:

  • Save money: Take up to 4 graduate-level courses (12 credits) during your bachelor's program at the online undergraduate tuition rate.
  • Save time: Apply your graduate credits to your master's in sports management to complete your program in as fast as one year.

Interested in the BS-to-MS pathway? Talk with your academic advisor to make sure you meet all the academic requirements.

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What You'll Learn

  • The business and economics of sports
  • Sport management principles
  • Ethics and social responsibility in the sports business
  • How to gather and analyze data
  • Communication and collaboration skills

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How You'll Learn

At SNHU, you'll get support from day 1 to graduation and beyond. And with no set class times, 24/7 access to the online classroom, and helpful learning resources along the way, you'll have everything you need to reach your goals.

Career Outlook

There are many career options with a sports management degree, including:

Athletic director

Lead scholastic, college or professional athletic programs and manage sports schedules and athletic services. 

Administrative services manager

Plan, coordinate and manage activities and initiatives to help an organization run efficiently.

Guest relations specialist

Work with guests at sporting events to solve problems, address complaints and create a positive customer experience.

Marketing manager

Promote a sports organization and sports events through social media, advertising and other means.

Media relations assistant

Create and maintain the reputation of a sports organization. Coordinate and assist with media coverage.

Sales manager

Lead an organization's sales team, setting sales goals and analyzing performance.

Special events coordinator

Plan and manage operations of special events for sports organizations.  

Sports information director

Provide statistics, player details and other information about a sports organization to the media.

While a bachelor's degree is enough to start most sports management jobs, some leadership roles will require a master’s degree.

A master's in sports management can give you the skills and real-world experience you need to advance your career. The BS-to-MS pathway makes continuing your education a seamless process.

Other sports management degree options are also available. Our online business degree and online MBA both offer concentrations in sports management. These degrees provide a strong foundation of business and leadership knowledge you can use in a sports career.

Job Growth and Salary

Actual job growth and earning potential will depend on the career you choose and your level of education but, overall, the sports industry provides a lot of opportunity.

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Job Growth

According to PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC), the sports market is projected to generate $83.1 billion in 2023 in the U.S.1 fueled by technology, marketing and the evolution of sports. By the end of 2022, esports is expected to generate nearly $1.38 billion in revenues globally.2

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Salary

Event planning jobs earned a median annual salary of $49,470 in 2021 and are projected to grow 18% through 2031.3 Advertising, marketing and promotions managers – an important part of a sports organization - earned a median annual salary of $133,380 in 2021.3

Start Your Journey Toward an Online Sport Management Degree

Be Competitive with a Degree in Sports Management

Michael Newhouse-BaileyMichael Newhouse-Bailey, associate dean of business at SNHU

“The sport industry is very competitive and most entry-level openings will have a lot of applications. A degree in the field allows a student’s resume to demonstrate that they have a skill-set based in the business of sport operations that will serve them well in the workplace.”

Courses & Curriculum

In the online sports management degree program, you’ll explore a broad range of industry-specific topics, and core business courses will give you a strong foundation in economics, statistics and finance, which will serve you well in a sports management career.

With 18 free elective credits available, you’ll be able to dig deeper into sports and business topics that interest you. Courses in marketing, data analysis or finance can give you specialized experience to help you stand out in a highly competitive field.

As an online sport management student, you'll have a broad range of virtual learning opportunities, and an internship or experiential learning course is required as part of the program at SNHU.

You’ll also have access to virtual tutoring, writing services, career services and even online student clubs and organizations. Cloud-based virtual environments in some courses give you access to the technology you need for your degree.

About Experiential Learning

Experiential learning allows you get course credit through real-world experience. You'll get a chance to put new skills in sport management into action through an internship, an experiential learning course, or both.

Internships can be from any number or type of sporting organization, whether it be collegiate or professional, local, recreational or in event planning, media and marketing. Whatever you choose, SNHU staff members are there to support you every step of the way.

A practicum course allows you to partner with external organizations on real-world business projects. A partnership with our esports program through our online practicum course, for example, gives sports management students the opportunity to experience this growing field, hands-on.

“For the sports management program, in particular, making personal connections in your desired area of the field and having relevant prior experience can make all the difference,” said Megan Bickford, an SNHU internship administrator.

By working closely with advisors and career mentors, you'll learn to apply knowledge from your coursework to real-world scenarios.

Daniel Comstock '20 said his internship was a key part of his sports management learning and helped him land a full-time job offer before graduation.

"There’s something to learn every single day – whether it’s from an athlete, whether it’s from a fellow employee, whether it’s from continuing education that you’re reading – that you can apply to your day-to-day life," Comstock said.

Curriculum Requirements & Resources

Business Core

Business programs require learners to complete the Business core program, which includes a variety of business-specific courses. This program focuses on 10 core competencies to prepare you for success wherever you go.

General Education

All bachelor's students are required to take general education classes. Through these foundation, exploration and integration courses, students learn to think critically, creatively and collaboratively, giving you the edge employers are looking for.

Technology Resources

We provide cloud-based virtual environments in some courses to give you access to the technology you need for your degree – and your career. Learn more about our virtual environments.

Earn Math Credits

Save time and tuition with our Pathways to Math Success assessments. Depending on your scores, you could earn up to 12 math credits – the equivalent of 4 courses – toward your degree for less than $50 per assessment. For additional information, or to register for a Pathways to Math Success assessment, contact your admission counselor or academic advisor today.

University Accreditation

Southern New Hampshire University is a private, nonprofit institution accredited by the New England Commission of Higher Education (NECHE) as well as several other accrediting bodies.

This program and its concentrations are accredited by the Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs (ACBSP). Student achievement data can be found on College Navigator.

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Tuition & Fees

As a private, nonprofit university, we’re committed to making college more accessible by making it more affordable. That’s why we offer some of the lowest online tuition rates in the nation.

We also offer financial aid packages to those who qualify, plus a 30% tuition discount for U.S. service members, both full and part time, and the spouses of those on active duty.

Online Undergraduate Programs Per Course Per Credit Hour Annual Cost for 30 credits 
Degree/Certificates $960 $320 $9,600
Degree/Certificates (U.S. service members, both full and part time, and the spouses of those on active duty)* $675 $225 $6,750

Tuition Rates are subject to change and are reviewed annually. *Note: students receiving this rate are not eligible for additional discounts.

Additional Costs No Application Fee, $150 Graduation Fee, Course Materials ($ varies by course)

Frequently Asked Questions

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