What can you do with a Sports Administration degree?

First, some facts. Of the Sports Administration graduates 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 63 LinkedIn profiles (see below).

The verdict? Significantly below average. Overall, with an average relevance score of 56%, Sports Administration graduates have a much lower likelihood (-11%) of finding work in this field compared to the average graduate across all fields:

Average score: 56%
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 28% 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 Sports Administration graduates, and it's normal to look for work straight after graduation.

See the details:

View a random Sports Administration graduate and our analysis:


Relevance score: 98%

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

DEGREE INFO

Graduated in 2015 from Kent State University with a Bachelor of Science (B.S.) in Sports Administration. No other secondary education since.

JOB HISTORY SINCE GRADUATION
Marketing Assistant
Rice University
Aug 2015 - Dec 2015
The Marketing Assistant position at Rice University may involve some skills related to communication and event promotion, which can reflect knowledge from a sports administration degree, but it is not directly focused on sports administration itself.

Marketing Coordinator
Wright State University
Jan 2016 - Jun 2018
As a Marketing Coordinator at Wright State University, this role directly utilizes skills in promoting athletic events and managing marketing strategies specifically tailored for sports, which aligns closely with the Bachelors in Sports Administration.

Athletic Marketing Program Manager
Wright State University
Jun 2018 - Oct 2018
The position of Athletic Marketing Program Manager at Wright State University requires specialized knowledge in sports marketing and event management, making it highly relevant to the degree in Sports Administration.

Marketing Manager
Canton Charge
Nov 2018 - May 2021
As a Marketing Manager at Canton Charge, the role directly involves marketing within a sports organization, utilizing skills and knowledge acquired during the Bachelors degree in Sports Administration.

Senior Manager of Marketing & Promotions, Franchise Properties (CLE Monsters/Charge)
Rock Entertainment Group
May 2021 - Present
The role of Senior Manager of Marketing & Promotions at Rock Entertainment Group focuses on marketing strategies and promotions for sports franchises, which is directly relevant to the individuals degree in Sports Administration.

ABOUT

I am a creative mind, hard worker, and a passionate sports marketer that is looking to continue his career path within the sport marketing world. I have developed my passion, knowledge, and skills while studying Sports Administration at Kent State University along with interning with the Kent State Athletics Marketing Department. With the experience gained from Rice University, Wright State University, and the Cleveland Charge and Cleveland Monsters, I have seen myself grow into a well-rounded marketing and fan engagement specialist. My passion and excitement continues to be contagious to others around me and can only help any work area. This career path that I want to pursue is not an easy one, but I know that I have the dedication and passion to succeed in the industry of Sport Marketing.

What jobs can you get with a Sports Administration degree?

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


When analyzing the career paths of individuals who have graduated with a degree in Sports Administration, it's clear that there are various sectors and roles they have ventured into. After reviewing the job histories from different graduates, one of the most common job types seen is within event management and sports operations. Many have held positions such as event coordinators, operations managers, and roles tied to athletic departments, particularly those involving direct sports involvement or management of athletic programs. These roles are prominently associated with skills and knowledge acquired from their degree, making them highly relevant.

Despite the presence of these directly related positions, there is a significant chunk of graduates whose careers have veered away from traditional paths in sports administration. Many found themselves in roles such as sales associates, retail managers, or various unrelated positions where the connection to sports management skills is either tenuous or negligible. For instance, jobs such as a court clerk, or in logistics at UPS, highlight a trend where graduates utilize minimal to no skills related to sports management. This indicates that while the degree provides specialized knowledge, the job market often leads graduates to roles that do not engage with their education directly.

In conclusion, while positions directly related to sports administration—like athletic operations, event management, or coaching—represent a significant segment of the job landscape for graduates, there is a notable diversity in career choices. Many graduates ultimately find themselves in roles that require different skill sets, indicating a disconnect between the education in Sports Administration and the real-world application in various job markets. It’s a mixed bag where some leverage their knowledge effectively, while others tread unrelated paths where the core learnings from their degree might not play a prominent role.

Here is a visual representation of the most common words in job titles for Sports Administration graduates:

What kind of career trajectories do Sports Administration graduates have? What do they do 1, 5 or 10 years out?

From analyzing the career trajectories of graduates with degrees in Sports Administration, it becomes pretty clear that there are varying paths these individuals take post-graduation. It seems that many start off in roles that are somewhat related to sports or event management, like internships and entry-level positions in athletic departments or local sports organizations. However, as we move further down the line, when looking at the five to ten-year mark, it becomes evident that a fair number of them often drift away from direct involvement in sports, taking roles that aren't closely linked to their initial education. For example, positions in retail, sales, or even unrelated fields pop up frequently. This raises the question of whether the degree truly prepared them for sustainable careers in sports or if they struggled to find suitable opportunities.

For those who seem to stick with the sports industry, many often find their niche in coaching, event management, or administrative roles within educational or professional sports organizations. There are a solid number of graduates who move up the ladder successfully into management or director roles within the same field. They start off as interns, assistants, or coordinators, and with time, they often transition into more significant positions, like Athletic Director or roles in marketing and sales for sports teams and organizations. However, it's also worth noting that not all paths lead to a rosy end; some folks ended up in entirely different, unrelated careers, which shows a broader trend of many graduates not sticking with sports administration specifically.

In conclusion, while a Sports Administration degree opens several doors, it also can lead people down winding paths that sometimes drift away from their original objectives. If you're considering this major, you might find that while some alumni thrive and build fulfilling careers in the sports sector, many find themselves in various roles that differ significantly from what they anticipated. So, it's a mixed bag: a few stellar success stories, but quite a handful of folks who end up in quite different fields altogether.

How hard is a Sports Administration degree?

A Bachelor's degree in Sports Administration can be a mixed bag, honestly. It tends to be easier than some of the more intense programs like engineering or hard sciences, but that doesn't mean it's a walk in the park either. You’ll have to juggle subjects like marketing, management, and some finance, which can be challenging if those aren’t your strong suits. Plus, there’s often a lot of group work and projects, so if you’re not into teamwork, it might feel tough. Overall, if you have a passion for sports and can handle a bit of number-crunching and organization, you’ll probably find it manageable—and even fun at times!

How long does it take?

Most commonly, in the LinkedIn profiles we've looked at, it takes people 4 years to finish a Bachelor degree in Sports Administration.

Do Sports Administration graduates tend to make good money?

Looking at the job histories of these sports administration graduates, it's clear that their earnings vary a lot based on factors like industry, job function, and experience. Some, like the University of Cincinnati grad who moved up from intern roles to project management, likely have decent salaries now, especially as they gain more responsibility. Meanwhile, others, like the recent Georgia State grad working multiple part-time gigs, might not be making as much yet since they're still in the early stages of their careers.

Overall, it seems that while some of these grads have snagged good-paying roles, especially those in sports marketing and management sectors, others are still building their careers and may be earning less in the meantime. So, it’s a mixed bag—some are on a solid path to financial success while others might need a bit more time and experience under their belts to see those paychecks grow.

What buzzwords do Sports Administration 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 Sports Administration. This may or may not be useful:

What are the best colleges for Sports Administration?

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

College Score Count