What can you do with a Sport and Recreation Management degree from University of Iowa?

First, some facts. Of the Sport and Recreation Management graduates from University of Iowa we've analyzed , here's how many have used (or NOT used) their degree in their career:


These are estimates based on AI analysis of 10 LinkedIn profiles (see below).

The verdict? Slightly above average. Overall, with an average relevance score of 72%, Sport and Recreation Management graduates from University of Iowa have a slightly higher likelihood (+5%) of finding work in this field compared to the average graduate across all fields:

Average score: 72%
Average relevance score across all fields: 67%

And for comparison, here's the chart for all profiles we've looked at across all degrees.

× Chart

Also, after graduating, only 20% of these graduates have pursued further education other than another Bachelor's degree (such as a Masters degree or other), compared to the average across all profiles of 35%. This suggests a Bachelors degree is enough for most Sport and Recreation Management graduates, and it's normal to look for work straight after graduation.

See the details:

View a random Sport and Recreation Management graduate from University of Iowa and our analysis:


Relevance score: 95%

We think this person has gone into a career highly relevant to their degree.

DEGREE INFO

Graduated in 2021 from University of Iowa with a Bachelor of Science - BS in Sport and Recreation Management. No other secondary education since.

JOB HISTORY SINCE GRADUATION
Associate
Chicago Wolves
Jan 2021 - May 2021
The role of Associate at Chicago Wolves may involve some skills related to sport management, but it does not directly utilize specific knowledge or competencies from a Bachelor's degree in Sport and Recreation Management on a daily basis.

Member Service Manager/ Operations Manager
LA Fitness
Aug 2021 - Present
As a Member Service Manager/Operations Manager at LA Fitness, this position directly applies the skills and knowledge obtained from a degree in Sport and Recreation Management, focusing on the operations of a fitness facility and member engagement strategies.

ABOUT

As a Member Service Manager and Operations Manager at L.A. Fitness, I am dedicated to delivering exceptional customer service and ensuring the efficient management of facility operations. With a solid foundation in Sport and Recreation Management from the University of Iowa, I maintain a strong focus on customer service and business development while consistently surpassing sales goals and enhancing facility operationsThrough my experiences, I've honed my skills in operations management, customer service and team leadership. I'm eagerly looking to connect with like-minded professionals and explore opportunities to contribute to the advancement of the sports sector. The sports industry's unmatched potential for impact and innovation aligns perfectly with my career goals.

What jobs can you get with a Sport and Recreation Management degree from University of Iowa?

The top 10 most common jobs done by the graduates we've analyzed (ranked most common to least) are:


After looking through the job titles of folks who graduated with a degree in Sport and Recreation Management from the University of Iowa, it’s interesting to see a mix of roles—some pretty relevant to their studies and some that aren’t so much. A lot of graduates have landed positions in event management, sports operations, and youth development, which clearly align with their degree. For example, Event Managers and Sport Operations Managers seem to utilize the practical skills they learned in college, like event planning and sports facility management. These roles are directly tied to the knowledge they gained, making them a good fit for their background.

On the flip side, there are quite a few graduates who took paths that drift quite far from Sport and Recreation Management. Many ended up in roles like admissions counselors, corporate pilot positions, or office assistants, which don’t really use the core skills from their degree. While some of these roles might involve general management or customer service skills that could have some overlap, they lack the necessary focus on recreation or sports management. Overall, it seems like graduates have a decent shot at finding relevant work in their field, especially if they aim for event or sports management roles, but there's definitely a chunk of them who ventured into unrelated jobs too. It's a mixed bag for sure!

Here is a visual representation of the most common words in job titles for Sport and Recreation Management graduates (this is across all Sport and Recreation Management graduates we've analyzed, not just those who went to University of Iowa):

What kind of career trajectories do Sport and Recreation Management graduates from University of Iowa have? What do they do 1, 5 or 10 years out?

So, checking out the career paths of graduates from the University of Iowa with a degree in Sport and Recreation Management, it looks like they generally start off with some pretty relevant first jobs. Fresh graduates tend to find positions like event staff, admissions counselors, and ticket operations interns. These initial roles often lead to more specialized positions within sport and recreation over a few years. For instance, someone could start as an intern and then move up to an event manager or even a sports operations manager within a sports facility. It’s clear that many are taking the skills they learned in college and applying them directly to the sports and recreation industry, which is great to see!

Fast forward five to ten years, and it seems a good number of these graduates have moved into significant roles. We see them taking on managerial positions within universities, sports complexes, and organizations like the YMCA or USA Triathlon. Some even climb the ranks to director-level positions within these entities. However, there are a few outliers who ventured into unrelated fields, like mortgage consulting or corporate flying, which suggests that not everyone sticks to the sport and recreation path. Overall, though, it's encouraging to see that many graduates have successfully found careers that align with their studies and passions, leading to fulfilling roles in the sports and recreation domain!

How hard is a Sport and Recreation Management degree from University of Iowa?

Honestly, a Bachelor’s degree in Sport and Recreation Management, whether at the University of Iowa or elsewhere, tends to be on the easier side compared to some other majors. Sure, there are challenging classes, especially if you're not a big fan of stats or management theory, but a lot of the coursework is practical and hands-on, often involving projects, group work, and internships. It’s all about learning how to manage teams, plan events, and understand the sports industry, which many students find interesting and engaging. If you're passionate about sports and recreation, you’ll probably have a good time with it and find it manageable overall!

How long does it take?

Most commonly, in the LinkedIn profiles we've looked at, it takes people 3 years to finish a Bachelor degree in Sport and Recreation Management.

Do Sport and Recreation Management graduates from University of Iowa tend to make good money?

Looking at the career paths of these Sport and Recreation Management grads from the University of Iowa, it seems like they’re generally doing alright financially, but there’s quite a mixed bag. Some have jumped into roles that can lead to solid salaries, like the corporate aviation jobs or event management positions, which are known to pay pretty well, especially as they gain experience. Others have taken on positions in non-profits or educational settings, which might not be as lucrative. The recent grads are still climbing the ladder, so they might need another couple of years before they hit their stride in terms of salary. Overall, they seem to be budgeting their way through life pretty decently, but those aiming for the highest paychecks might need to hustle a bit more or look for opportunities in the corporate or sports management sectors.

What buzzwords do Sport and Recreation Management graduates use to describe themselves?

Here is a visual representation of the most common words seen in the "about" section of LinkedIn profiles who have a Bachelor degree in Sport and Recreation Management (this is across all Sport and Recreation Management graduates we've analyzed, not just those who went to University of Iowa). This may or may not be useful:

What are the best colleges for Sport and Recreation Management?

Here are all colleges offering a Bachelor degree in Sport and Recreation Management (ordered by the average relevance score of their Sport and Recreation Management graduates, best to worst) where we have analyzed at least 10 of their graduates:

College Score Count
University of Iowa 72 10
Temple University 63 14