30 Most Affordable Master’s in Sports Management Degrees Online: Private Colleges in 2021

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Updated June 25, 2021

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In this article, we profile the 30 most affordable private colleges for online master's in sports management degree programs of 2020.

The difference between a bachelor's in sports management and a master's is pay increase. Generally, the more education one earns in a specialized field, the more promising the career trajectory. In the competitive field of sports management, setting yourself apart from the competition is critical. To help assist with your research of sport management online degrees, we reviewed some of the nation's top private colleges.

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These top, accredited schools offer a variety of online graduate degree programs. Figuring out where to apply? Consider one of these online Master’s or PhD programs.

In fact, we reviewed over 60 private colleges that offered online sport management programs or closely related degrees. We narrowed our pool of schools by selecting regionally or nationally ranked institutions with an annual graduate tuition and fees of less than $25,000. We gathered the tuition and fees from the most recently published data on the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) College Navigator site. In addition to the above indicators, we tried to select only schools or programs that had received rankings or recognition from major publications like U.S. News and World Report. We then listed the schools in order of raw affordability.

Below is our list of the 30 most affordable private colleges for online master's in sports management degree programs.

Most Affordable Private Colleges for Online Master's in Sports Management

  1. American Public University
    Location

    Charles Town, WV

    Tuition

    $6600

    American Public University offers an online master's in sports management for students interested in a career within the athletic and sport sector. Graduating students may qualify for jobs in coaching, athletic administration, sports marketing, and event/facilities management. The 36-credit degree can be completed in two years and must be completed within seven years from the date of initial enrollment. Students can choose from one of three concentrations including general, sports administration, and coaching theory and strategy. Classes include critical thinking in the sports and health industries, leadership and management in sport, and sports marketing and promotion. U.S. News and World Report recognizes American Public University in its cohort of regional universities South.

  2. Grace College and Theological Seminary
    Location

    Winona Lake, IN

    Tuition

    $7888

    Grace College offers online sport management programs designed for interested students seeking a career in athletic administration. The master's level program has partnered with the National Interscholastic Athletic Administrators Association. The degree program costs just $9,900 for the 2017-2018 year and is delivered fully online. The curriculum is project-based, giving students the opportunity to develop a portfolio that pertains to their future career endeavors. Courses include athletic finance and marketing management, athletic organization and administration, athletic programs assessment and enhanced leadership, and current issues and trends. Students typically finish the 36-credit degree in two years. U.S. News and World Report ranks Grace College #87 in regional universities Midwest.

  3. Wilmington University
    Location

    New Castle, DE

    Tuition

    $8438

    Wilmington University offers an online master's in sports management specifically for individuals seeking a career as interscholastic administrator. All of the courses within the sports management track are approved by the National Interscholastic Athletic Administrators Association and prepare graduates to sit for the Certified Athletic Administrator certification exam. Courses include analysis of decision-making, business strategy in sport management, leadership development and change management, and organization theory and design. Admission requirements include official transcripts, a bachelor's degree from an accredited university or college, and a meeting with the director or chair. U.S. News ranks Wilmington University #120 in best online graduate business programs.

  4. Liberty University
    Location

    Lynchburg, VA

    Tuition

    $8723

    Liberty University offers a master's in sports management online for individuals seeking a career opportunity in sports. The degree can be completed in approximately two years and includes several areas of concentration including coaching and athletic administration, general, outdoor sport, sports administration, and tourism. Students can also choose a thesis or non-thesis track within each specialization area. Liberty University is regionally accredited and is also recognized by the Commission on Sports Management Accreditation (COSMA). Courses include economic and financial management of sport, ethics in sport, social issues in sport management, and sports marketing and public relations. Liberty University is ranked #139 in U.S. News' best online MBA programs.

  5. Missouri Baptist University
    Location

    Saint Louis, MO

    Tuition

    $9405

    Missouri Baptist University offers sport management online degrees for students seeking a master's level business degree with a sport and athletic focus. All curriculum is business and leadership focused within the context of how business and leadership function in a sport/athletic environment. The 31-credit program can be attended either part-time or full-time with an estimated length to completion of 1.5-2 years. Courses include advanced sport marketing, leadership and management in sport, sport finance, and sport public relations. Graduates of the program may qualify for jobs including interscholastic athletic director, intercollegiate athletic administration, professional sports marketing, sporting event and facilities management, and more. U.S. News and World Report ranks Missouri Baptist #126 in regional universities Midwest.

  6. Concordia University
    Location

    Ann Arbor, MI

    Tuition

    $9750

    Concordia University Texas offers sports management degrees online for students desiring a leadership or administrative career track within the sport and athletics industries. Students receive comprehensive business training and education all within the context of a sport administration career. Courses within the 30-credit program include action research, critical issues/events in sports, ethics and leadership in education, and laws in sports administration. Admission requirements include a minimum 2.5 GPA, official transcripts of all colleges and universities attended, and a completed application. No GMAT or GRE scores are required. U.S. News and World Report ranks Concordia University Texas #96 in regional universities West.

  7. Belhaven University
    Location

    Jackson, MS

    Tuition

    $10170

    Belhaven University offers sport management online degrees for individuals seeking a master's level degree that prepares them for a leadership position within the athletic and sport industry. The 36-credit degree includes courses such as advanced organizational leadership, current issues and trends in sports administration, legal and regulatory environment for sports, and venue and event management. Admission includes a bachelor's degree from a regionally accredited institution with a 2.5 GPA or at least nine credit hours of graduate coursework with at least a "B" in each course. Students must also submit two letters of recommendation and a resume. Belhaven University is accredited by the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools to confer associate, bachelor's and master's degrees. U.S. News ranks Belhaven University #78 in regional universities South.

  8. Wesley College
    Location

    Dover, DE

    Tuition

    $10800

    Wesley College offers sport management online degrees for interested students pursuing degrees in the sport, athletic, and recreation and fitness sectors. The sport leadership degree includes coaching and sport management tracks. Potential careers include sports marketing and promotion, coaching, parks and recreation administration, athletic administration, and facility management. Admission requirements include 3.0 GPA, bachelor's degree from an accredited institution, two letters of recommendation, and a current resume. Students with less than a 3.0 GPA may be conditionally accepted. Courses include ethical social issues, facility management, field experience in sport leadership, and sport leadership organization and administration. U.S. News and World Report ranks Wesley College #38 in regional colleges North.

  9. Lasell College
    Location

    Newton, MA

    Tuition

    $10960

    Lasell College offers sport management online degrees in several different concentrations designed for prospective students desiring business training and education within the sport and athletic sector. Concentrations included in the 100% online degree include athletic administration, parks and recreation, sport leadership, and sport tourism and hospitality management. Courses are capped at 23 students, and the degree can be completed in 12-24 months. Admission requirements include official college transcripts, personal statement, two letters of recommendation, and resume. Students with less than three years of professional experience are recommended to have a GPA of at least 3.0. GMAT/GRE scores are not required. U.S. News ranks Lasell #30 in regional universities North and #205 in best online MBA programs.

  10. Mississippi College
    Location

    Clinton, MS

    Tuition

    $11222

    Mississippi College offers a master's in sports management online for interested students desiring a career in athletic administration at the high school or collegiate level. The program is designed to teach individuals how to build and maintain successful and fiscally prudent athletic programs. The degree program includes 37 credits that can be completed in two years. Students can choose from an interscholastic or intercollegiate track depending on their desired path. All coursework is delivered online except for two 6-week immersions that require students to spend a minimum of 60 hours at an approved site. U.S. News ranks Mississippi College #32 in regional colleges South and #12 in best value regional colleges South.

Our Methodology, Explained

Grad School Hub compiles rankings based on public data released from educational, commercial, and government databases. Sources such as the National Center for Education Statistics and the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics play a significant role in how we source our educational data. After collecting insight for each institution, we organize information into five weighted categories.
Metric Data Used Percentage
Academic Quality Full-time faculty percentage, student-to-faculty ratio, student retention and graduation rates 30%
Affordability Tuition rates, median student debt, and financial aid 10%
Reputation Admission and enrollment rates 30%
Program Offerings Number of program options 20%
Online Enrollment Score Portion of learners taking at least one online course 10%
A more comprehensive evaluation of how each category is determined and scored is accessible on our Ranking Methodology page.

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This concludes our list of the 30 most affordable private colleges for online master's in sports management degree programs.

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GradSchoolHub.com is an advertising-supported site. Featured or trusted partner programs and all school search, finder, or match results are for schools that compensate us. This compensation does not influence our school rankings, resource guides, or other editorially-independent information published on this site.

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