Online Sports Management Degree Bachelor of Science

Flexible

With no set class meeting times, you can learn on your schedule and access online course materials 24/7.

Affordable

Take advantage of some of the lowest online tuition rates in the nation, plus financial aid for those who qualify. We also make it easy to transfer to SNHU by accepting up to 90 credits from your previous institution.

Respected

Founded in 1932, Southern New Hampshire University is a private, nonprofit institution with over 100,000 graduates across the country. SNHU is accredited by the New England Commission of Higher Education (NECHE), which advocates for institutional improvement and public assurance of quality.

Recently, Southern New Hampshire University has been nationally recognized for leading the way toward more innovative, affordable and achievable education:

• “Most Innovative” regional university honors from U.S. News & World Report each year since 2015
• A $1 million grant from Google.org to explore soft skills assessments for high-need youth
• Recognition as a 2017 Digital Learning Innovator by the Online Learning Consortium

Network

As a Southern New Hampshire University student, you'll have access to a powerful network of more than 200,000 peers, alumni and staff that can help support you long after graduation. Our instructors offer relevant, real-world expertise to help you understand and navigate your industry. Plus, with our growing, nationwide alumni network, you'll have the potential to tap into a number of internship and career opportunities.

96.5% of students would recommend SNHU.⁴ Discover why SNHU may be right for you.

Part of our mission to expand access to quality higher education means removing the barriers that may stand between you and your degree. That’s why you can apply at any time and get a decision within days of submitting all required materials.

Acceptance decisions are made on a rolling basis throughout the year for our 6 (8-week) undergraduate terms.

Simply contact an admission counselor, who can help you explore financial options, answer all your questions and walk you through the application process. Start by:

• Completing a free undergraduate application
• Providing previous institutions attended – so we can retrieve transcripts for you at no cost

Test scores are not required as part of your application.

Notes: 

• Laptop or desktop?  Whichever you choose depends on your personal preference and work style, though laptops tend to offer more flexibility. 

• Note:  Chromebooks (Chrome OS) and iPads (iOS) do not meet the minimum requirements for coursework at SNHU. These offer limited functionality and do not work with some course technologies. They are not acceptable as the only device you use for coursework. While these devices are convenient and may be used for some course functions, they cannot be your primary device. SNHU does, however, have an affordable laptop option that it recommends: Dell Latitude 3301 with Windows 10. 

• Office 365 Pro Plus is available free of charge to all SNHU students and faculty. The Office suite will remain free while you are a student at SNHU. Upon graduation you may convert to a paid subscription if you wish. Terms subject to change at Microsoft's discretion. Review system requirements for Microsoft 365 plans for business, education and government. 

• Antivirus software: Check with your ISP as they may offer antivirus software free of charge to subscribers. 

Yes, you can. Earning an online sports management degree lets you attend class when it’s convenient for you. An online degree can also help you balance your coursework with whatever other commitments and responsibilities you may have.

SNHU has six 8-week undergraduate terms each year, so you can finish your degree at your own pace.

You'll have access to student services along the way. These include tutoring, writing assistance, career counseling and wellness programs. Online student clubs and networking opportunities are also available.

Virtual environments in some courses can give you access to the technology you need for your degree – and your career. Technology includes software applications, simulations and virtual desktops.

Finally, through hands-on learning via an internship or experiential-learning opportunity, students can gain real-world experience as part of their required coursework that can be completed in either a virtual or in-person setting that's convenient for them.

Sports management degrees focus on the economics and business of the sports industry, as well as marketing, branding and facilities management. Graduation requirements depend on the type of sports management degree you want.

At SNHU, the sports management bachelor’s degree program features a mix of general education, business and sports management courses. These courses give you a solid foundation in all aspects of running an athletic organization.

You’ll also gain business skills like written and oral communication, critical and creative thinking, analysis and problem solving. And you’ll learn from instructors with years of experience in the sports management field.

The program will culminate with an internship or an experiential learning course (or both!), giving you an immersive experience in sport that doesn't interfere with your other commitments. This hands-on experience provides the skills you need to take your learning from degree to career.

Additional sports management degrees are also available at Southern New Hampshire University.

A bachelor's degree in business administration with a concentration in sports management, for example, provides a strong foundation of interpersonal, operational and problem-solving skills. You'll also explore the business of sports and prepare for entry-level sports jobs.

A master's in sports management or an MBA with a concentration in sports management can also help you start or advance your career in the field.

The MS in Sport Management explores the ins and outs of running a professional organization. Courses include sports marketing, finance and economics and the internationalization of sports business.

The sports management MBA program offers key industry knowledge, with a focus on leadership development, entrepreneurship and data-driven decision-making.

It depends. The actual cost of your online sports management degree will vary based on the courses you take, the materials required for each course and your prior educational experience.

At Southern New Hampshire University, online tuition rates for bachelor’s degree programs are some of the lowest in the nation. Undergraduate courses cost just $320 per credit hour, or $38,400 for a 120-credit online bachelor's degree.

We also accept up to 90 transfer credits toward your bachelor’s in sports management. With maximum transfer credits, you could finish your degree in as few as 5 terms, or 10 courses - saving you as much as $28,800 in tuition.

Interested in a sports management master’s degree? The accelerated BS-to-MS pathway allows you to take up to 2 graduate-level courses during your bachelor’s program at the online undergraduate tuition rate – saving you time in the long run.

An online sports management degree can help you succeed in one of the world’s biggest industries. In the United States, the sports industry is projected to generate $83.1 billion annually by 2023.¹ Earning a sports management degree can help you get in the game.

Earning a sports management online degree can give you the business, communication and marketing skills you need to stand out when applying for competitive positions in this growing field.

"I knew I couldn’t just rely on my life knowledge of the game," said SNHU student Daniel Comstock. "I had to learn how to be a good manager and be a good leader."

"All these classes that I’ve taken at Southern New Hampshire University have really helped me open up my box, thinking outside of the sports world, which is something I’ve been so involved with my whole life," he said.

For Alvaro Filardo '21, a sport management education helped him grow his own passion for teaching.

"I do feel my degree program was worth it," he said. "I've been coaching sports since I graduated high school. It took me a while before I really realized what my true passion was: and that's teaching and instructing young adults the many benefits of playing sports."

For Filardo, SNHU offered a pathway to complete his degree. He was able to get the support he needed, and even take his time in reaching his goals – a luxury he wouldn't have traded for the world.

"It literally took me 7 years to complete my degree and I am not ashamed of it," he said. "This is the beauty of attending SNHU online. The support I got from my advisors, teachers and classmates was all worth it. It was like having my own cheerleading team by my side on my way to obtain my degree."

An internship or experiential learning opportunity is required as part of the online BS in Sport Management program at SNHU.

They provide powerful opportunities to apply what you've learned, build practical workplace skills and network with professionals in your field. For all those reasons and more, these experiences can be game-changers for sport management professionals looking to start or advance their careers.

Keep in mind that a sport management internship doesn't necessarily have to be with a major league team. There are plenty of internship opportunities available to you, including:

• Athletic departments
• Pro and semi-pro teams
• Sports marketing vendors
• Youth and adult leagues
• Esports teams
• Parks and recreation

And with an experiential learning course, you can tailor your experience and learning to your goals. You can build off areas already covered in the program that you want to learn more about, explore industry platforms, tools or credentials, or create projects with faculty guidance.

Our graduates have gone on to complete experiences in roles such as fitness and athletic training, facilities and operations, event planning and sport broadcasting and media. As long as you find something you're passionate about, there are few limits to what you can do.

There are many different sports management careers. With a bachelor’s degree, roles in marketing, sales, media relations, promotions and events and facilities management may be available.

Sports management careers include:

• Sports marketing: Lead an organization’s advertising and promotion efforts to increase sales and raise public awareness. Marketers conduct market research, create and manage advertising campaigns and work with company leaders to define and promote an organization’s brand.
• Public relations: Handle a sports organization’s communication with the public, including fans, investors and the media. PR pros create and maintain a positive public image for an organization, write media releases and lead social media campaigns to shape public perception.
• Athletic director: Work in public school districts, colleges or with professional sports teams to advance sports programs. Directors manage coaching staff, competition schedules and player recruitment. In professional sports organizations, athletic directors also lead the training and wellness program for athletes.
• Events coordinator: Help keep game-day operations running smoothly and act as a liaison between the organization and corporate and community partners to plan special events.
• Facilities manager: Lead grounds and maintenance crews, working with security officials to maintain facility safety.
• Sports data analyst: Work for a collegiate or professional sports program to collect, analyze and share player and team data for internal and media use.

¹ PWC, At the Gate and Beyond: Outlook for the Sports Market in North America Through 2023, on the internet, at: https://www.pwc.com/us/en/industries/tmt/library/sports-outlook-north-america.html (viewed April 26, 2022)

² Newzoo, Global Esports & Live Streaming Market Report 2022, on the internet, at https://newzoo.com/insights/trend-reports/newzoo-global-esports-live-streaming-market-report-2022-free-version// (viewed April 26, 2022)

³ Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, on the internet, at:

• https://www.bls.gov/ooh/business-and-financial/meeting-convention-and-event-planners.htm (viewed April 26, 2022)
• https://www.bls.gov/ooh/management/advertising-promotions-and-marketing-managers.htm (viewed April 26, 2022)
• https://www.bls.gov/ooh/media-and-communication/public-relations-specialists.htm (viewed April 26, 2022)
• https://www.bls.gov/ooh/management/sales-managers.htm (viewed April 26, 2022)

Cited projections may not reflect local and/or short-term economic or job conditions and do not guarantee actual job growth.

⁴ According to more than 9,200 SNHU online students in survey responses from the fall of 2019.