What can you do with a Sports Management degree from University of Michigan?

First, some facts. Of the Sports Management graduates from University of Michigan 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 26 LinkedIn profiles (see below).

The verdict? Slightly above average. Overall, with an average relevance score of 70%, Sports Management graduates from University of Michigan have a slightly higher likelihood (+3%) of finding work in this field compared to the average graduate across all fields:

Average score: 70%
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 30% 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 Management graduates, and it's normal to look for work straight after graduation.

See the details:

View a random Sports Management graduate from University of Michigan and our analysis:


Relevance score: 8%

We think this person has NOT gone into a career related to their degree.

DEGREE INFO

Graduated in 2023 from University of Michigan with a Bachelor's degree in Sports Management. No other secondary education since.

JOB HISTORY SINCE GRADUATION
Tech Division Apprentice
My Gym Enterprises
Jan 2023 - Apr 2023
The role of Tech Division Apprentice at My Gym Enterprises may involve some transferable skills related to sports management, but it does not specifically utilize the core qualifications from the degree.

Junior Paralegal
Kirkland & Ellis
Jun 2023 - Present
The position of Junior Paralegal at Kirkland & Ellis does not require any skills or knowledge related to sports management, making it unrelated to the Bachelor's degree.

ABOUT

No information provided.

What jobs can you get with a Sports Management degree from University of Michigan?

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


From what I've seen, the most common jobs that graduates with a Sports Management degree from the University of Michigan have taken on range from coaching positions and roles in athletic administration to sales and marketing positions within sports organizations. Many of these roles, especially those like Assistant Athletic Director, Sports Property Sales, or Group Sales Account Executive at places like the Detroit Pistons or Los Angeles Kings, clearly align with the skills and knowledge gained through their degree. These jobs require a solid understanding of sports management principles, from team dynamics to marketing strategies in the sports industry.

However, there are also quite a few positions that don't directly relate to sports management. For example, many graduates have found themselves in sales, marketing, or administrative roles in various industries, such as working at Oracle or Molson Coors, where their duties revolve more around general business practices. While some of these roles may utilize transferable skills from their degree, they often don’t dive deep into the specialized knowledge of sports management. So, while it seems like many alumni have gone on to pursue relevant careers, there’s a noticeable number that have branched out into fields that don’t leverage the full breadth of their education. It’s a mixed bag, but there are definitely strong ties to sports management in many paths they've taken!

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

What kind of career trajectories do Sports Management graduates from University of Michigan have? What do they do 1, 5 or 10 years out?

Graduates with a degree in Sports Management from the University of Michigan typically kick off their careers in roles that are either directly related to sports or share relevant skills, like event coordination or coaching. For many, the first jobs post-graduation are often internships or entry-level positions in sports organizations, marketing, or coaching. For instance, some graduates have become assistant coaches at various universities or taken on sales and marketing roles within sports-related companies. This initial experience allows them to forge valuable connections in the sports industry, which is super important in any competitive field.

Fast forward five to ten years, and many of these graduates appear to maintain their trajectories within sports management or related fields, often moving into more senior positions. Some have climbed the ranks to become assistant athletic directors, sales executives, or community relations managers for professional sports teams. However, it’s worth noting that there are also graduates who have drifted away from this direct path and found success in unrelated areas like law or tech, which can happen when sports management roles aren't a perfect fit. Overall, while many have certainly thrived in sports management, others show that flexibility can lead to diverse opportunities in different industries.

How hard is a Sports Management degree from University of Michigan?

Getting a Bachelor's degree in Sports Management at the University of Michigan—or anywhere, really—can be a mixed bag, depending on your interests and strengths. Overall, it’s not typically considered one of the toughest degrees out there, especially if you’re passionate about sports and enjoy topics like marketing, management, and event planning. That said, there are still challenges, like any group project that feels endless or the occasional tough statistics class. You’ll have to stay on top of your assignments and engage with the material, but if you’re someone who loves sports and is willing to put in the effort, you’ll probably find it pretty manageable. Just remember, like any degree, it’s what you make of it!

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 Management.

Do Sports Management graduates from University of Michigan tend to make good money?

Looking at the job paths of these University of Michigan Sports Management grads, it seems like they’ve landed some pretty decent gigs, though it varies a lot by individual. The earlier graduates tended to start with roles like interns or assistants, which generally pay less, but some have climbed the ranks into solid positions like Assistant Athletic Directors or Category Insights Executives. By the time you get to the more recent grads, you've got folks starting in internships and entry-level roles, but there are already some landing roles at big companies like Google and the NFL, which typically come with better pay. Overall, if they keep climbing the ladder and leveraging their experiences, they should be making pretty respectable money down the line!

What buzzwords do Sports 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 Sports Management (this is across all Sports Management graduates we've analyzed, not just those who went to University of Michigan). This may or may not be useful:

What are the best colleges for Sports Management?

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

College Score Count
Nichols College 78 10
Syracuse University 76 19
East Stroudsburg University of Pennsylvania 75 14
University of Michigan 70 26
Washington State University 66 11
Bowling Green State University 65 18
Springfield College 65 10
St. John's University 64 19
California University of Pennsylvania 64 11
State University of New York College at Brockport 63 10
University of Minnesota-Twin Cities 62 10
West Virginia University 61 11
Minnesota State University, Mankato 61 10
Liberty University 60 20
Texas A&M University 59 36
Towson University 59 25
The University of Georgia 59 11
University of Tampa 59 10
State University of New York College at Cortland 59 25
Florida State University 58 16
Texas Tech University 58 15
Louisiana State University 58 10
University of Florida 57 26
Ohio University 57 13
Kennesaw State University 57 11
Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania 57 11
The University of Texas at Austin 56 18
University of Missouri-Columbia 55 13
Western Kentucky University 55 15
York College of Pennsylvania 54 10
Endicott College 53 11
University of North Florida 52 13
North Carolina State University 51 28
Georgia Southern University 49 20
Grand Canyon University 48 17
Southern New Hampshire University 43 15