With an MBA in sports management online you are prepared for every opportunity in the growing sports and entertainment industry. The facilitation of behind-the-scenes careers in the field has become a rapidly expanding market for educated professionals with a passion for leadership, organization, statistics, and athletics. Opportunities are on the rise as developing athletes need guidance, teams need coaching, events need marketing, and venues need managing. By pursuing an MBA degree, you are focusing on all aspects of business applicable to leadership in the sports industry.
According to BLS, the job outlook for coaches and scouts is projected to rise 26 percent over the next 10 years, much faster than average growth. Jobs in marketing, promotions, or advertising are projected to rise 10 percent, and management occupations are above average for growth and salary across the board. By choosing an MBA in sports management online, you are choosing a higher salary and a better career in line with your passion.
GetEducated has surveyed 46 schools offering 47 prestigiously accredited MBA in sports management online programs to create a “Best Buy” list. These rankings will reveal the most affordable options available in the United States. Become an informed consumer before purchasing a degree in the professional field of sports management.
ARTICLE NAVIGATION: Rankings Table | Career Guide
Average Cost (In-state): ~$25,400
Least Expensive: Fort Hays State ~$11,900
Most Expensive: Temple University ~$62,561
Our data-driven research creates a truly reliable system of scientific rankings. There are no fancy formulas here. We meticulously calculate total full-time tuition—including any fees—for the most accurate total cost. Our rankings cannot be bought, and therefore factually showcase the cheapest MBA in sports management online. The online MBA degrees listed above the gray dividing line are official 2022 “Best Buys” and cost less than the national average.
Most Affordable MBA in Sports Management Online
| Rank | School / Degree | State | Price | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Fort Hays State University | (KS) | $11,900.00 | All Students |
2 | Rogers State University | (OK) | $12,588.00 $22,776.00 | In-State Out-of-State |
3 |  University of West Alabama | (AL) | $14,472.00 | All Students |
4 |  American Public University System | (WV) | $15,625.00 $10,100.00 | In-State/Out-Of-State Military |
5 | Shorter University | (GA) | $16,675.00 | All Students |
6 | University of North Texas | (TX) | $17,327.20 $19,026.76 | In-State Out-of-State |
7 | University of Southern Mississippi | (MS) | $17,559.96 | All Students |
8 | Midway University | (KY) | $17,625.00 | All Students |
9 | Colorado Mesa University | (CO) | $18,540.00 | All Students |
9 | University of Central Missouri | (MO) | $18,540.00 | All Students |
11 |  Southern New Hampshire University | (NH) | $18,960.00 $14,250.00 | In-State/Out-Of-State Military |
12 | Lincoln Memorial University | (TN) | $19,320.00 | All Students |
13 | St. Thomas University | (FL) | $19,440.00 | All Students |
14 | Carson-Newman University | (TN) | $19,800.00 | All Students |
15 | Southeastern University | (FL) | $20,400.00 | All Students |
16 | Husson University | (ME) | $21,127.00 | All Students |
17 | Bryan College | (TN) | $21,930.00 | All Students |
18 | Friends University | (KS) | $21,978.00 | All Students |
19 | University of the Southwest | (NM) | $22,500.00 | All Students |
20 | Caldwell University | (NJ) | $23,215.00 | All Students |
21 | Ohio Dominican University | (OH) | $23,580.00 | All Students |
22 | Salem University | (WV) | $23,800.00 $18,220.00 | In-State/Out-Of-State Military |
23 | New England College | (NH) | $23,960.00 | All Students |
24 | Friends University | (KS) | $23,976.00 | All Students |
25 | Lakeland University | (WI) | $24,732.00 | All Students |
26 | University of South Florida | (FL) | $24,750.00 | All Students |
27 |  Saint Leo University | (FL) | $25,260.00 | All Students |
| School / Degree | State | Price | Note | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Belhaven University | (MS) | $25,760.00 $16,940.00 | In-State/Out-Of-State Military | |
Anderson University - IN | (IN) | $25,775.00 | All Students | |
Tiffin University | (OH) | $26,000.00 | All Students | |
Franklin Pierce University | (NH) | $26,135.00 | All Students | |
Fisher College | (MA) | $26,179.00 | All Students | |
Hardin-Simmons University | (TX) | $26,400.00 | All Students | |
Ashland University | (OH) | $27,000.00 | All Students | |
Lynn University | (FL) | $27,750.00 | All Students | |
Azusa Pacific University | (CA) | $28,324.00 | All Students | |
Concordia University Wisconsin & Ann Arbor | (WI) | $28,373.00 | All Students | |
University of Colorado - Colorado Springs | (CO) | $28,780.00 $33,968.00 | In-State Out-of-State | |
Johnson & Wales University | (RI) | $29,412.00 | All Students | |
Florida Atlantic University | (FL) | $32,000.00 | All Students | |
Florida Southern College | (FL) | $34,555.00 | All Students | |
 Concordia University - Chicago | (IL) | $34,800.00 | All Students | |
 Grand Canyon University | (AZ) | $35,918.00 $23,930.00 | In-State/Out-Of-State Military | |
Rider University | (NJ) | $36,780.00 | All Students | |
St. Thomas Aquinas College | (NY) | $42,240.00 | All Students | |
San Diego State University | (CA) | $49,000.00 | All Students | |
Temple University | (PA) | $62,561.00 | All Students |
Accreditation & Program Notes
To qualify for a ranking, a program must be regionally accredited. Additional programmatic accreditation is noted in the rank table.
14 Program is no longer accepting new students.
15 AACSB International (AACSB)
16 International Assembly for Collegiate Business Education (IACBE)
17 Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs (ACBSP)
Rankings Note
These online college rankings are based on a GetEducated Winter 2021 review of regionally accredited MBA in sports management online programs. Total cost includes full-time tuition and fees and was valid at the time of collection and specific to the online learning program. School profiles for the online MBA degrees in our directory may reflect a slightly different cost based on different editorial update schedules.
The published cost is an estimated sticker price for the entire online degree including fees. Actual costs may vary by student. Factors such as transfer credits, prerequisite courses, professional licensing and financial aid availability will affect final cost.
Editorial Note
Online schools do NOT pay to be included in any GetEducated online degree ranking. These rankings are editorially independent, open to any regionally accredited or candidate college that offers an MBA that is available at least 80 percent through online learning and that is open to enrollment by the public. If your online college is regionally accredited and not currently reviewed by GetEducated, please contact us for inclusion.
These rankings of the cheapest online schools for an MBA may NOT be re-posted online or reprinted in any format without a license from GetEducated ®. Consumer finance bloggers and writers can contact our editors for a free custom article on the best MBA in sports management online options for use on your website. Our mission: Help consumers GetEducated ® about the best online colleges for cost and credibility.
Career Guide: MBA in Sports Management Online
If you love sports, but don’t see yourself as a professional athlete (a reality almost all of us deal with at some point!), these MBA degrees allow you to stick with the industry you love while earning a strong income.
An MBA in sports management online gives you a deep understanding of the sports market, how it is consumed by fans, how it generates a profit, how it thrives in good times and bad. The opportunities to work in sports go well beyond the field, as people are needed to organize, manage, and oversee teams. People are needed to run the front office, work behind the scenes to make sure an event has all the right equipment, to work on behalf of athletes to make sure they are properly paid. All of these tasks are important, and with an MBA in sports management, you’ll have the skills to tackle all of these challenges.
What to Expect from an MBA in Sports Management
During an MBA in sports management online, you’ll learn to apply analytical tools to the sports industry. You’ll become versed in the ethics of sports, and laws governing the activities of athletes and teams. You’ll explore the sports industry as a global entity, allowing you to better understand the connection between culture, sports, and society.
These degrees are, first and foremost, MBA programs. Standing for “Master’s of Business Administration,” these are some of the highest educations you can achieve in the field of business. While other sports management degrees may be taught by various university departments (sports and leisure or liberal arts departments, as examples), these are all taught by a school’s business department. An MBA, regardless of the specialization, focuses on business leadership and management skills. It gives you a strong understanding of business through disciplines like marketing, leadership, finance, and entrepreneurship.
If you enroll in an MBA in sports management, you’ll complete numerous classes that build your understanding of business and management, as well as the sports industry. The programs are generally divided into two sections, the first being your core classes, which apply to all MBAs, the second being your specialization classes, which in this case means sports management.
The core classes may include a variety of subjects that are designed to shape you into a strong business professional, one that can handle almost any type of business-related challenge. Course will include marketing, accounting, business law, and hiring practices. You could also take courses on business analytics, data, theories of leadership, and other important business-related topics.
The specialization classes will take an even deeper look at the sports industry and build the skills you need to work in this sector. Classes may include financial management in sports, sports psychology, marketing for teams, and public relations in athletics. Your classes could also include sports and exercise law and other important topics that make you a stronger job candidate.
Potential Careers in Sports Management
General Manager
- Salary: $62,831
- Education: Bachelor’s (minimum)
- Experience: Some
A general manager leads a team or organization, not on the field like a coach, but in the front office. They help to build a team from the ground up, creating the plan for the future, and working to establish a longterm agenda that helps the team succeed for years, even decades. They are responsible for finding and signing talent, either through drafts or through free agency, and they often have to manage salaries to keep the team on budget.
The work of a general manager may not be as glamorous as a coach. They don’t give rousing speeches, and formulate complex plays. But they do bring a team together, and that, perhaps, is even more important.
Agent
- Salary: $110,000
- Education: Bachelor’s
- Experience: Greater experience garners larger salaries
These are the people who represent athletes, helping them get more money for their talents. Sports agents negotiate with teams to reach the best possible deals for their clients. Agent’s salaries are structured so that the more an athlete gets paid, the more the agent earns.
Agents are good at negotiating with teams (usually the general manager and their staff), as well as marketing, building up the athlete’s reputation so teams want to pay the most money possible. They need good networking skills and solid salesmanship, all of which are developed during an MBA in sports management online.
Requirements to Work in These Careers
To work in these careers, you won’t need licensing. Experience, however, will be crucial. To work as a general manager, for example, you’ll need experience working for the front office of a team. You’ll likely need to spend years performing front-office administrative work before you can be hired as a general manager, which is one of the most important positions for a team.