If you’re passionate about sports and want to turn that passion into a career, you’ve probably wondered: What degree is best for sports management?
From professional teams and athletic organizations to marketing agencies and eSports enterprises, the world of sports is a thriving business, and Sports Management degrees are designed to get your foot in the door.
With revenues exceeding hundreds of billions of dollars annually and showing no signs of slowing, the global sports market continues to grow rapidly, so getting the right education is your first step toward joining it. Choosing the right educational program, such as exploring colleges with Sports Management majors, is a great place to begin.
Understanding Sports Management
Sports management is a multifaceted field that requires both creative thinking and analytical problem-solving, combining the excitement of sports with the strategic demands of modern business.
Professionals in this field manage team operations, plan sporting events, oversee sponsorships, handle athlete representation, and develop fan engagement strategies, to name a few essential tasks. They work tirelessly behind the scenes to ensure athletes can perform at their best, fans have memorable experiences, and organizations operate profitably and sustainably.
The field also encompasses emerging areas like sports technology integration, data analytics for performance optimization, and digital fan engagement platforms that are revolutionizing how teams connect with their audiences.
Because of this range, the best degree is one that combines strong business training with sport-specific knowledge and real industry experience. The most successful sports management professionals understand not only business principles but also how those principles apply uniquely to the sports environment.
Comparing Sports Management degree options
When you choose a degree in Sports Management, you’re combining business fundamentals with industry knowledge. However, there are alternate paths to landing a role in this industry.
Although deciding what degree is best for sports management depends on where you’d like to fit within the industry, you should hone in on what specific roles you are interested in. Think about whether you’ll pursue leadership and organizational roles, a background role like marketing or operations management, or connection roles, such as PR and Event coordination.
This specialized education prepares you to understand the specific challenges and opportunities within sports: managing seasonal revenue fluctuations, navigating collective bargaining agreements, understanding Title IX compliance, and balancing competitive success with financial sustainability.
Business Administration degree
A business degree provides a strong foundation in management, finance, and organizational leadership, skills that are essential in sports.
However, a general business degree typically doesn’t cover the unique aspects of the sports industry, such as contract negotiation, facility management, or fan behavior.
You’ll learn the fundamentals, but you might miss the applied context that helps you stand out in sports-specific roles. Ultimately, you get the best of both worlds with Sports Management degrees.
Marketing or Communications degree
Marketing majors gain valuable expertise in branding, public relations, and digital media. This background is particularly valuable in today’s digital age, where social media presence, influencer partnerships, and viral marketing campaigns can make or break a team’s connection with its fanbase.
Marketing graduates understand how to craft compelling narratives, manage public perception, and leverage emerging platforms to reach younger audiences. Still, a Marketing and Communication degree lacks courses in sports law, operations, and event management that are critical for leadership positions in the field.
Sports Management degree
A Bachelor’s in Sports Management degree brings everything together, combining core business education with industry-specific courses in sport finance, facility management, sport marketing, and event operations.
You’ll also get hands-on experience working with teams, leagues, and organizations, experiences that can’t be replicated in a traditional business or marketing program.
Sports Management curriculum will generally cover business analytics, managerial finance, and business policy and strategy. When paired with the electives focusing on Sports Management classes and sports ethics (among other course offerings) you’ll learn how people are motivated, how brands grow, and how experiences are designed, all within the dynamic, high-stakes world of sports.
You’ll study real case studies from sports organizations, analyze what makes successful franchises thrive, and understand the ethical considerations unique to working with athletes, fans, and competitive environments.
University of Bridgeport is where opportunities meet support and where futures take shape.
Career paths with a degree in Sport Management
A degree in Sports Management can lead to a variety of exciting and high-impact careers. Graduates work in professional and collegiate athletics, fitness and recreation, event management, marketing, and even emerging fields like eSports.
Athletic director
Athletic directors or assistant directors plan, organize, and strategize athletes’ training programs and practice sessions for competitions, including eSports, which vary in training but essentially remain the same.
They oversee budgets, hire coaching staff, ensure compliance with league regulations, and create the strategic vision for athletic programs. While contracts vary depending on your role, the median annual salary for athletic directors was $45,920 in 2024.
Sports marketing managers
Sports marketing managers are responsible for PR, promotions for the athlete or team, brand awareness, sales, and campaign creation across digital and traditional media platforms, making a median annual salary of $161,290 in 2024.
Event or facility coordinators
Event or facility coordinators are responsible for planning the scope of an event and following guidelines on venue, transportation, third-party payments, and ensuring the overall success of the event. The median annual salary for event planners was $59,440 in 2024, with top earners making closer to $101,310.
Player relations
Player relations is distinct from marketing managers in that they connect a company and its players. Those specializing in player relations concentrate on communication, player well-being, and maintaining relationships both internally and externally with the sports community, while receiving a median annual salary of around $69,780, with top earners making well over six figures in 2024.
These careers blend business insight, leadership, and passion for sports, and they all start with the right degree program.
UB supports your Sport Management path
When comparing colleges with sports management majors, look for programs that combine academic rigor with real industry experience.
UB stands out for its BS in Sport Management, offered through the School of Business, a program that connects students directly with professionals through internships, guest speakers, and collaborative projects in many of the sports management classes. These experiences can’t be replicated in traditional Business or Marketing programs.
The BS in Sport Management at University of Bridgeport prepares students to receive the business acumen, practical experience, and professional connections needed to thrive in one of the most dynamic fields today.
UB’s specialized concentrations in eSports and Sport Marketing give students the flexibility to focus on the areas that inspire them most, something many other schools simply don’t offer.