Top 10 Sports Management Schools in 2027
The University of Massachusetts Amherst is the best school for sports management, ranked #1 in the world in the SportBusiness Postgraduate Rankings 2026. UCF (#4) and the University of South Florida (#5) follow, with Ohio University tied for #5.
At a glance
| # | Pick | SportBusiness 2026 global rank | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | University of Massachusetts Amherst | #1 in the world (total score 88.92) | The top-ranked sport management master’s in the world |
| 2 | University of Central Florida | #4 in the world (total score 85.61) | A cohort-based dual degree in Orlando with lower in-state tuition |
| 3 | University of South Florida | #5 in the world (total score 85.16) | A full year of on-the-job learning in sport and entertainment |
| 4 | Ohio University | Tied for #5 in the world (total score 85.16) | The oldest MBA/MSA sport program, with COSMA accreditation |
| 5 | Florida Atlantic University | #7 in the world (total score 84.29) | A South Florida MBA with an on-campus or online option |
| 6 | University of South Carolina | #8 in the world (total score 82.93) | A small, selective cohort in sport, entertainment and venue management |
| 7 | University of New Haven | #9 in the world (total score 82.87) | A sport analytics track in a STEM-designated master’s |
| 8 | Ohio State University | #11 in the world (total score 82.19) | A sport management master’s at a large public university in Columbus |
| 9 | George Washington University | #14 in the world (total score 81.67) | A sport business master’s in the nation’s capital |
| 10 | University of Oregon | #17 in the world (total score 80.40) | A West Coast MBA with a sports business specialization |
Pick by what you want
The ranking
University of Massachusetts Amherst
UMass Amherst offers an MBA/MS in Sport Management through the Mark H. McCormack Department of Sport Management in the Isenberg School of Management, with a network of 3,000+ alumni. It ranks #1 in the world with a score of 88.92.
University of Central Florida
UCF in the Orlando area runs the DeVos Sport Business Management program, a 51-credit-hour MSBM/MBA dual degree with a two-year cohort. It ranks #4 in the world.
University of South Florida
South Florida’s Vinik MBA/MS is a two-year dual degree whose second year is on-the-job learning with a fellowship. The program was founded in 2012 and ranks #5 in the world.
Ohio University
Ohio University’s dual MBA/MSA was introduced 50 years ago and is accredited by AACSB and COSMA. It ties for #5 in the world, and most students take graduate assistantships that lower tuition costs.
Florida Atlantic University
Florida Atlantic’s MBA in Sport Management in Boca Raton is a 23-month program of 40-43 credits, offered on campus or online. It ranks #7 in the world.
University of South Carolina
South Carolina’s Master of Sport and Entertainment Management is a 36-credit hour degree limited to 30 new students per year. It ranks #8 in the world.
University of New Haven
New Haven’s M.S. in Sport Management offers a general track and a Collegiate Athletic Administration track at 30 credits each, plus a STEM-designated Business Analytics track at 36 credits. It ranks #9 in the world.
Ohio State University
Ohio State’s Master of Science in Kinesiology, Sport Management in Columbus has prepared students for sports industry leadership for more than 40 years. It ranks #11 in the world.
George Washington University
George Washington’s 36-credit MS in Sport Management comes from an AACSB-accredited business school with more than 30 years of sport business teaching. It ranks #14 in the world.
University of Oregon
The Oregon MBA is a two-year full-time program with a Sports Business specialization, backed by the Warsaw Sports Business Center. It ranks #17 in the world with a score of 80.40.
How we ranked these
Questions people ask
What is the best school for sports management?
The University of Massachusetts Amherst, whose Mark H. McCormack Department of Sport Management program is ranked #1 in the world in the SportBusiness Postgraduate Rankings 2026, with a total score of 88.92.
Which Florida schools rank among the best for sports management?
Three Florida schools make this list: the University of Central Florida (#4 in the world), the University of South Florida (#5) and Florida Atlantic University (#7) in the SportBusiness 2026 rankings.
Which school has the oldest sports administration dual degree?
Ohio University introduced its MBA/MSA dual program 50 years ago, and the program is accredited by both AACSB and COSMA.
How is this list ranked?
By the SportBusiness Postgraduate Rankings 2026, which score programs on surveys of course leaders and alumni. This list takes the top ten U.S. universities from the global table, using each school’s campus-based master’s program, so it covers graduate study only.
SportBusiness 2026 total score (out of 100) at a glance
Official sites
- University of Massachusetts Amherst · isenberg.umass.edu
- University of Central Florida · business.ucf.edu
- University of South Florida · usf.edu
- Ohio University · ohio.edu
- Florida Atlantic University · business.fau.edu
- University of South Carolina · sc.edu
- University of New Haven · newhaven.edu
- Ohio State University · ehe.osu.edu
- George Washington University · business.gwu.edu
- University of Oregon · business.uoregon.edu
Sources
- postgraduaterankings.com
- usf.edu
- business.fau.edu
- isenberg.umass.edu
- ucf.edu
- usf.edu
- ohio.edu
- sc.edu
- newhaven.edu
- registrar.osu.edu
- en.wikipedia.org
- en.wikipedia.org
- en.wikipedia.org
- en.wikipedia.org
- en.wikipedia.org
- en.wikipedia.org
- en.wikipedia.org
- en.wikipedia.org
- en.wikipedia.org
- en.wikipedia.org
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