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What Can I Do with a Master’s in Sports Management?

Whether you’re a seasoned athlete or a fantasy leaguer, you can turn your love of sports into a meaningful career with an MBA in sports management. This degree program gives you the inside track of athletics, which has become a billion-dollar business. To earn your sports management MBA, you’ll take courses on sports operations, economics, analytics, communications, industry trends and much more.

If you’re wondering what jobs you can get in sports management, note that this field is projected to grow 22 percent from 2020 to 2030, so the opportunities are plentiful.

Reasons to Get a Master’s Degree in Sports Management

There are plenty of reasons to choose a sports management MBA as your field of study, but many students go for an MBA in sports management because this degree program offers the ideal blend of personal interest and professional opportunity

  • Money: The salary range for a master’s in sports management depends on a lot of factors, but in general you can expect to earn higher than the median annual wage for other occupations.
  • Prestige: Even if you’re not on the court, you can play a role in a sports team’s success.   A sports management MBA can pave the way to a high-profile leadership role that comes      with lots of perks and admiration.
  • Inspiration: Sports is an art form, and there’s something to be said for working alongside athletes who are operating at peak performance and giving it their all every day.
  • Purpose: In ways big and small, you’re part of the team when you find a job that utilizes your sports management MBA. This means you have more than a job, you have a rewarding and meaningful career.
  • Excitement: For many people, the ultimate goal is to have a job that doesn’t feel like work. If you’re a big sports fan and are lucky enough to find one of many master’s in sports management jobs, you’ll be among the fortunate few to say they love their job and mean it.

With a little imagination and a lot of determination, you’ll see that there are so many things to do with a sports management degree. You can also read about two of our students—a high school athletics administrator who is pursuing his MBA and a chief technology officer who is planning to transition careers. These students give real-life examples of what it’s like to study sports and give you an idea of the sports MBA jobs that are available after graduation.

What is the Salary for Sports Management?

While you likely won’t see multi-million-dollar contracts like the athletes you work with when you earn an MBA in sports management, the salary for sports management is still very rewarding. The annual median wage for managerial roles in sports is $127,270, while jobs in sports marketing, public relations and advertising pull in an annual median wage of $128,090. Even mid-level careers with a sports management MBA are high paying. For example, the annual median wage for project management specialists is $65,250.

What Jobs Can You Get with a Sports Management Degree?

What jobs can you get in sports management? All kinds. From communications to coaching, there’s truly no wrong way to apply your degree. Whether you’re working in the major leagues or part of a college sports program, you can put the knowledge you’ve gained in your sports management MBA program to good use.

Major or minor league teams

  • Business development director
  • Coach
  • Finance director
  • Human resources director
  • Marketing director
  • Professional scout
  • Public relations director
  • Sponsorship coordinator
  • Statistical analyst

Sports facilities

  • Corporate fitness director
  • Director of stadium operations
  • Director of ticket operations
  • Field maintenance director
  • Fitness center manager
  • General manager
  • Promotions director
  • Recreation director
  • Sports information director

Talent agencies

  • Athlete representative/agent
  • Publicist

Public relations and marketing firms

  • Account director
  • Event director

Sports broadcasting firms

  • Advertising sales management
  • Analyst
  • Announcer

Colleges and universities

  • Athletic director
  • Fundraising director

How Long Does a Master’s Degree in Sports Management Take?

Stadium before a match from ground

Earning your MBA in sports management can be a sprint or a marathon, thanks to Tiffin University’s flexible options. The 14-month MBA program is available online or on-campus, with flexible start dates. The degree requires between 32 and 36 credit hours, which can be earned on your time. Part of your degree includes a 200-hour online mentorship session with an industry professional with insider knowledge.

On average, full-time students complete their sports management MBA in less than one-and-a-half years and part-time students complete their degree in less than two-and-a-half years. Best of all, there are no application fees or GRE/GMAT requirements and tuition hasn’t increased in the last seven years.

If you’ve already laid the groundwork for an MBA in sports management by receiving an undergraduate degree, you’ll be happy to know that Tiffin University accepts transfer credits where applicable.

Advancing Your Career Path in Sports Management

Tiffin University’s MBA in sports management program puts you in the arena for a well-paying and exciting career with plenty of opportunities. Whether you’re studying online or attending classes in person, you’ll find that this field of study will lead to a long-lasting and versatile job market. See the program up close and personal and learn more about what Tiffin University can do for you.

Start Exploring the MBA in Sports Management program

Watch to learn more about the advantages of our MBA in Sports Management: