2023 Most Affordable Online Master's Degrees in Sports Management

Grace College and Theological Seminary is a private, evangelical college offering a Master of Athletic Administration. This program requires 36 credit hours, which students can finish in one year if they maintain a full-time schedule. Approximately 75% of prospective students are accepted into Grace, with 73% graduating.

PathwayU is the primary LMS software Grace students use, allowing for 100% online coursework. This program is partnered with the National Interscholastic Athletic Administrators Association (NIAAA) to deliver a curriculum based on leadership, organization, risk management, and ethics. Required classes include Athletic Decision-Making, Foundations of Athletics Administration, and Risk Management and Ethical Issues. To graduate, students must also complete a 3-credit capstone project. Careers may be available in coaching, facility management, and event management.

Missouri State University (MSU) is a public university that offers a Master of Professional Studies - Sports Management requiring 33 credit hours. Most full-time students complete this program in around one year. MSU's acceptance rate is 87%, with 57% of students graduating with their degrees.

At MSU, students use Blackboard as their LMS to study online. While faculty deliver some classes asynchronously, others may require scheduled web conferences. Additionally, students are required to finish three to six credits of in-person field experience. The curriculum for the master's in professional studies explores topics such as finance, ethics, law, research, and communication. Specifically, the sports management concentration looks closer at the skills needed to manage and lead athletic programs. Core classes include Principles of Sports Management; Current Problems in Sports Administration; and Risk Management for Recreation, Sport, and Park Agencies. Alums may find career opportunities as athletic directors, event coordinators, and sports journalists.

Briar Cliff University is a private institution offering a 33-credit hour Master of Arts in Management - Sports Management. This online degree program requires five full semesters of courses, which may take students around two years to complete. All students are accepted into Briar Cliff, which has a 47% graduation rate.

Students at Briar Cliff use Brightspace, a popular LMS, which allows them to study 100% online with courses tailored to students' schedules. The curriculum for this degree is centered around enhancing leadership and organizational skills alongside promoting ethical standards in sports management. Among the required classes are Management Theories and Ethics, The Business of Sport, and Event and Facility Operations. In addition, students have the option to complete a thesis or opt for the non-thesis option, where they would take an extra course instead. Career options may include fitness manager, facilities manager, event coordinator, and contract administrator.

University of Central Arkansas (UCA) is a public university that offers an Executive Master of Arts in Sport Management. Students must complete 30 credit hours, which most finish in 20 months while enrolled full time. Of all the students that apply, 94% are accepted into UCA programs, while approximately 44% graduate.

At UCA, students utilize the Blackboard LMS, where students can learn online through either synchronous or asynchronous formats, depending on instructors' preferences. The curriculum for this degree teaches students advanced leadership and management techniques as they relate to the sports industry, with required classes that include Financial Principles in Sport, Sport Organization Communication, and Leadership in Sport Management. A Business Simulation capstone project is also required. Graduates may seek employment in the broader entertainment or sports industries.

University of Central Missouri (UCM) is a public university that hosts a Master of Science in Sport Management requiring 30 credit hours. Typically, full-time students complete this degree in one to two years. The acceptance rate at UCM is 64%, and the graduation rate is 53%.

UCM students utilize Blackboard as the chosen LMS to complete their coursework remotely on a flexible schedule. The curriculum is designed for working professionals with previous experience in sports, and it's intended to advance the careers of its graduates. Here are three examples of core classes students are required to complete: Statistics in Sport Management, Organizational Leadership in Athletics and Sports, and Introduction to Research in Sport Management. There is an option to complete an internship, which requires an additional three credit hours. Career options after graduation range from working with professional sports teams and athletic facilities to recreational sports programs.

Arkansas State University (A-State) is a public institution with an online Master of Science in Sport Administration. Students enrolled in this program must complete 36 credit hours, which may take as few as 12 months. A-State students are accepted at a rate of 67%, with 51% of students reaching graduation.

Canvas is the LMS used by online students at A-State, allowing them to study completely online and asynchronously. The curriculum aims to develop skills in networking, communication, organizational efficiency, and program evaluation. Students participate in two seven-week internships as well as core classes, such as Ethical Issues in Sport, Sport in Society, and Sport Marketing. Graduates may explore upper management positions in parks departments, professional athletic teams, and amateur sports organizations.

Jacksonville State University (JSU) is a public university offering a Master of Science in Sport Management that requires 30 credit hours. Students can finish this online degree program in one to two years, depending on how many courses they choose to take each semester. There are two degree options, including one for non-educator professionals and another for existing professional educators. JSU's acceptance rate is 64%, with 47% of students earning diplomas.

JSU students use Canvas for all remote courses, which are taught in synchronous and asynchronous formats. The online sport management master's is designed to equip students with the necessary skills to work in the field. Core classes include Issues and Trends in Athletics, Sport Finance, and Sport Marketing. Internships are required for both degrees. Career opportunities may differ slightly, with licensed educators able to pursue roles in high school and collegiate athletic programs. Non-educators, on the other hand, are better suited for roles as sports marketers, agents, and facility managers.

Campbellsville University (CU) is a private university offering a Master of Arts in Sport Management that requires 30 credit hours. The estimated completion time of this degree is two years for students studying full time. This degree also has two available concentrations: (1) Sports Administration and (2) Sports Marketing. At CU, 78% of applicants are accepted for enrollment, while 39% of enrolled students graduate.

Moodle is the primary LMS for distance learning at CU Online. This software allows students to complete their coursework fully online and on a flexible schedule. The core curriculum requires a capstone internship and focuses on the fundamental facets of sports management, such as finance, research methods, facility development, and ethics. For example, some core classes include Sport Administration, Ethics in Sport, and Managerial Finance. Career opportunities may differ slightly based on a student's chosen emphasis, but some options include human resources manager, event manager, and facilities manager.

The University of Southern Indiana (USI) is a public institution offering a Master of Science in Sport Management, which requires 33 graduate credit hours. There is a one-year accelerated option and a two-year alternative option. USI has an acceptance rate of 94%, with 46% among the graduating class.

Students enrolled in the sport management master's program use Blackboard for their 100% online coursework. Classes are available on a flexible schedule to meet the needs of busy students and working professionals. The curriculum — with core classes like Sport Law, Sport Marketing, and Contemporary Issues in Sport and Exercise — focuses on developing communication and networking skills as well as an advanced understanding of equality and social justice. Graduates are eligible to explore careers in facility management, sports marketing, and sports agent.