UnisHub University Compass

Sport and Fitness Management: Program Overview, Universities, Careers & Salaries

Program Overview

Designed for aspiring leaders in the dynamic world of athletics and wellness, this program equips students with the strategic, operational, and managerial expertise needed to thrive in competitive sport and fitness environments. It integrates core principles from business, coaching, and physical education to prepare professionals for leadership roles across athletic organizations, fitness centers, rehabilitation facilities, and recreational services.

  • Program Planning and Development: Learn how to design, implement, and evaluate sport and fitness initiatives tailored to diverse populations and organizational goals.
  • Business and Financial Management: Master budgeting, financial forecasting, revenue generation, and cost control strategies essential for sustainable operations in sport and wellness enterprises.
  • Sales, Marketing, and Recruitment: Develop skills in brand positioning, customer engagement, digital marketing, and talent acquisition to grow membership and support programs effectively.
  • Event Promotion, Scheduling, and Management: Gain hands-on experience in organizing and executing sporting events, from logistics and vendor coordination to crowd management and post-event analysis.
  • Facilities Management: Understand the design, maintenance, safety compliance, and operational efficiency of athletic and fitness facilities.
  • Public Relations and Community Engagement: Build strategies to enhance organizational reputation, foster stakeholder relationships, and promote positive community impact.
  • Legal Aspects of Sports: Explore liability, contracts, athlete rights, compliance with regulations, and risk mitigation in sport and recreation settings.
  • Health and Safety Standards: Apply industry-specific protocols to ensure safe environments, prevent injuries, and meet accreditation requirements across sport and fitness operations.

Sport and Fitness Management Graduate Trends (2010-2024)

17,472
Total Graduates (2023-2024)
655
Universities & Colleges
4
Career Pathways

Sport and Fitness Management Career Pathways & Salary Outlook

The following table presents salary data for occupations typically aligned with Sport and Fitness Management degrees, including Entertainment and Recreation Managers, Except Gambling, Recreation and Fitness Studies Teachers, Postsecondary and Exercise Trainers and Group Fitness Instructors. These career paths represent common employment outcomes but are not guaranteed for all graduates. Salary ranges vary by location, employer, experience level, and specific role requirements. Nationally, these occupations employ approximately 603,940 professionals.


National Average Salaries

Occupation Median Salary Salary Range Total Employment Hourly Rate
Entertainment and Recreation Managers, Except Gambling 11-9072 $77,180 $45,320 - $134,680 36,700 $37.11
Recreation and Fitness Studies Teachers, Postsecondary 25-1193 $75,890 $44,150 - $158,240 12,680 N/A
Exercise Trainers and Group Fitness Instructors 39-9031 $46,180 $27,580 - $82,050 303,620 $22.20
Coaches and Scouts 27-2022 $45,920 $27,490 - $93,980 250,940 N/A

Sport and Fitness Management Salary Map by State

Geographic location significantly impacts earning potential for these careers. Average salaries range from $43,385 in Delaware to $77,953 in California—a 80% difference. The highest-paying states include California, District of Columbia, and Massachusetts. Nationwide, these occupations employ over 603,940 professionals across all states. Explore the interactive map below to compare regional compensation and identify optimal markets for your career goals.

Average Salary Range:

Top Universities for Sport and Fitness Management by Graduate Enrollment

Below are the top 100 institutions offering Sport and Fitness Management programs for the 2023-2024 academic year (the most recent data reported as of 2025), ranked by the number of graduates. The highest graduate enrollment in Sport and Fitness Management is found at University of Florida (UF) (367 graduates), University of South Carolina (USC), Columbia (299 graduates), Florida State University (FSU) (286 graduates), Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College (LSU) (274 graduates), and Texas A & M University, College Station (255 graduates). Combined, these colleges produced 10,026 graduates across all degree levels. Program availability varies by award level, including Associate, Bachelor's, Master's, and Doctoral degrees at participating universities and schools.

College Name Award Levels Graduates Location Control Website
University of Florida (UF)
Bachelor's
Postbac Cert.
Master's
Residency
367 Gainesville, Florida Public ufl.edu
University of South Carolina (USC)
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
299 Columbia, South Carolina Public sc.edu
Florida State University (FSU)
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
286 Tallahassee, Florida Public fsu.edu
Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College (LSU)
Bachelor's
Master's
274 Baton Rouge, Louisiana Public lsu.edu
Texas A & M University
Bachelor's
Master's
255 College Station, Texas Public tamu.edu
Concordia University (CUI)
Bachelor's
Master's
247 Irvine, California Private cui.edu
Liberty University
Bachelor's
Postbac Cert.
Master's
222 Lynchburg, Virginia Private liberty.edu
Southern New Hampshire University (SNHU)
Bachelor's
Master's
212 Manchester, New Hampshire Private snhu.edu
American Public University System (APUS)
Bachelor's
Postbac Cert.
Master's
197 Charles Town, West Virginia Private apus.edu
University of Michigan (U‑M)
Bachelor's
Master's
195 Ann Arbor, Michigan Public umich.edu
James Madison University (JMU)
Bachelor's
Master's
188 Harrisonburg, Virginia Public jmu.edu
University of Cincinnati (UC)
Bachelor's
Master's
185 Cincinnati, Ohio Public uc.edu
Southeastern Oklahoma State University
Bachelor's
Master's
178 Durant, Oklahoma Public se.edu
The University of Tennessee
Bachelor's
Master's
165 Knoxville, Tennessee Public utk.edu
University of Massachusetts
Bachelor's
Master's
164 Amherst, Massachusetts Public umass.edu
University of Louisville (UofL)
Bachelor's
Master's
157 Louisville, Kentucky Public louisville.edu
Ohio State University
Bachelor's
149 Columbus, Ohio Public osu.edu
University of Georgia (UGA)
Bachelor's
146 Athens, Georgia Public uga.edu
Southern Methodist University (SMU)
Bachelor's
Master's
142 Dallas, Texas Private smu.edu
Miami University
Bachelor's
Master's
141 Oxford, Ohio Public miamioh.edu
Georgetown University (GU)
Master's
139 Washington, District of Columbia Private georgetown.edu
University of Iowa
Bachelor's
Postbac Cert.
Master's
139 Iowa City, Iowa Public uiowa.edu
Temple University
Bachelor's
Master's
138 Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Public temple.edu
State University of New York
Bachelor's
Master's
137 Cortland, New York Public www2.cortland.edu
Coastal Carolina University (CCU)
Bachelor's
Master's
134 Conway, South Carolina Public coastal.edu
University of Miami (UM)
Bachelor's
Master's
132 Coral Gables, Florida Private miami.edu
Grand Canyon University (GCU)
Bachelor's
128 Phoenix, Arizona Private gcu.edu
Texas Tech University (TTU)
Bachelor's
Master's
128 Lubbock, Texas Public ttu.edu
Arkansas State University (A-State)
Bachelor's
Master's
127 Jonesboro, Arkansas Public astate.edu
University of Minnesota (UMN)
Bachelor's
Master's
117 Minneapolis, Minnesota Public twin-cities.umn.edu
North Carolina State University (NC State)
Bachelor's
115 Raleigh, North Carolina Public ncsu.edu
Ohio University (OHIO)
Bachelor's
Master's
Other Award
113 Athens, Ohio Public ohio.edu
Kennesaw State University (KSU)
Bachelor's
113 Kennesaw, Georgia Public kennesaw.edu
Towson University (TU)
Bachelor's
109 Towson, Maryland Public towson.edu
North Carolina A & T State University (NC A&T)
Bachelor's
105 Greensboro, North Carolina Public ncat.edu
Monroe College
Associate's
Bachelor's
102 Bronx, New York Private monroecollege.edu
University of Kansas (KU)
Bachelor's
Other Award
101 Lawrence, Kansas Public ku.edu
Rutgers University
Bachelor's
Master's
99 New Brunswick, New Jersey Public newbrunswick.rutgers.edu
Syracuse University
Bachelor's
96 Syracuse, New York Private syracuse.edu
The University of Tampa (UTampa)
Bachelor's
82 Tampa, Florida Private ut.edu
Georgia Southern University
Bachelor's
Master's
81 Statesboro, Georgia Public georgiasouthern.edu
University of San Francisco (USF)
Master's
79 San Francisco, California Private usfca.edu
St. John's University (SJU)
Bachelor's
Master's
79 Queens, New York Private stjohns.edu
Bowling Green State University (BGSU)
Bachelor's
79 Bowling Green, Ohio Public bgsu.edu
The University of Texas
Bachelor's
78 Austin, Texas Public utexas.edu
Wingate University
Bachelor's
Master's
77 Wingate, North Carolina Private wingate.edu
University of North Florida (UNF)
Bachelor's
76 Jacksonville, Florida Public unf.edu
University of Florida (UF Online)
Bachelor's
73 Gainesville, Florida Public ufonline.ufl.edu
Endicott College
Bachelor's
Master's
71 Beverly, Massachusetts Private endicott.edu
University of Houston (UH)
Bachelor's
Master's
71 Houston, Texas Public uh.edu
Central Michigan University (CMU)
Bachelor's
Master's
69 Mount Pleasant, Michigan Public cmich.edu
University of Memphis (UofM)
Bachelor's
Postbac Cert.
Master's
69 Memphis, Tennessee Public memphis.edu
Western Michigan University (WMU)
Bachelor's
Master's
68 Kalamazoo, Michigan Public wmich.edu
Western Carolina University (WCU)
Bachelor's
Master's
67 Cullowhee, North Carolina Public wcu.edu
University of Southern Mississippi (USM)
Bachelor's
Postbac Cert.
Master's
66 Hattiesburg, Mississippi Public usm.edu
East Tennessee State University (ETSU)
Bachelor's
Postbac Cert.
Master's
66 Johnson City, Tennessee Public etsu.edu
Washington State University (WSU)
Bachelor's
Master's
66 Pullman, Washington Public wsu.edu
Minnesota State University
Bachelor's
Master's
65 Mankato, Minnesota Public mnsu.edu
Kent State University
Bachelor's
Master's
65 Kent, Ohio Public kent.edu
Pennsylvania Western University (PennWest)
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Professional)
65 California, Pennsylvania Public pennwest.edu
Columbia University in the City of New York
Master's
64 New York, New York Private columbia.edu
Concordia University (CUC)
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
63 River Forest, Illinois Private cuchicago.edu
Northern Illinois University (NIU)
Bachelor's
Master's
63 Dekalb, Illinois Public niu.edu
Wayne State University (WSU)
Bachelor's
Master's
63 Detroit, Michigan Public wayne.edu
Grand Valley State University (GVSU)
Bachelor's
61 Allendale, Michigan Public gvsu.edu
Xavier University (XU)
Bachelor's
Master's
61 Cincinnati, Ohio Private xavier.edu
Wichita State University (WSU)
Bachelor's
Master's
60 Wichita, Kansas Public wichita.edu
University of Wisconsin
Bachelor's
Master's
58 Kenosha, Wisconsin Public uwp.edu
Southern Connecticut State University (SCSU)
Bachelor's
Master's
57 New Haven, Connecticut Public southernct.edu
University of Delaware (UD)
Bachelor's
57 Newark, Delaware Public udel.edu
Ball State University (BSU)
Bachelor's
Master's
57 Muncie, Indiana Public bsu.edu
University of Connecticut (UConn)
Bachelor's
56 Storrs, Connecticut Public uconn.edu
Gonzaga University
Bachelor's
Master's
56 Spokane, Washington Private gonzaga.edu
Clemson University
Master's
54 Clemson, South Carolina Public clemson.edu
Texas State University (TXST)
Bachelor's
54 San Marcos, Texas Public txst.edu
California State University (CSULB)
Master's
53 Long Beach, California Public csulb.edu
Farmingdale State College
Bachelor's
53 Farmingdale, New York Public farmingdale.edu
Old Dominion University (ODU)
Bachelor's
Master's
53 Norfolk, Virginia Public odu.edu
Eastern Kentucky University (EKU)
Bachelor's
52 Richmond, Kentucky Public eku.edu
Canisius University
Bachelor's
Master's
52 Buffalo, New York Private canisius.edu
Indiana State University (ISU)
Bachelor's
Master's
51 Terre Haute, Indiana Public indstate.edu
SUNY Oneonta
Bachelor's
51 Oneonta, New York Public suny.oneonta.edu
Elon University
Bachelor's
51 Elon, North Carolina Private elon.edu
Northwestern University
Master's
Post-Master's
50 Evanston, Illinois Private northwestern.edu
Boston College (BC)
Master's
50 Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts Private bc.edu
Tiffin University (TU)
Bachelor's
Master's
50 Tiffin, Ohio Private tiffin.edu
Baldwin Wallace University (BW)
Bachelor's
Master's
47 Berea, Ohio Private bw.edu
Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU)
Master's
47 Richmond, Virginia Public vcu.edu
Springfield College
Bachelor's
46 Springfield, Massachusetts Private springfield.edu
Eastern Michigan University (EMU)
Bachelor's
Master's
46 Ypsilanti, Michigan Public emich.edu
University of Central Missouri (UCM)
Bachelor's
Master's
46 Warrensburg, Missouri Public ucmo.edu
SUNY Brockport
Bachelor's
Master's
45 Brockport, New York Public brockport.edu
Merrimack College
Bachelor's
44 North Andover, Massachusetts Private merrimack.edu
Davenport University
Bachelor's
44 Grand Rapids, Michigan Private davenport.edu
University of New Hampshire (UNH)
Bachelor's
44 Durham, New Hampshire Public unh.edu
Benedict College
Bachelor's
Master's
44 Columbia, South Carolina Private benedict.edu
Colorado Mesa University (CMU)
Bachelor's
Master's
43 Grand Junction, Colorado Public coloradomesa.edu
Drexel University
Bachelor's
Postbac Cert.
Master's
43 Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Private drexel.edu
University of Arizona
Other Award
42 Tucson, Arizona Public arizona.edu
Bryan University
Bachelor's
42 Tempe, Arizona Private bryanuniversity.edu

Frequently Asked Questions

Find answers to the most common questions about Sport and Fitness Management programs

How much can I earn with a Sport and Fitness Management degree?

Salaries for Sport and Fitness Management graduates vary by role and location. Entertainment and Recreation Managers, Except Gambling earn a median of $77,180 annually, while Recreation and Fitness Studies Teachers, Postsecondary earn around $75,890. Geographic location significantly impacts earnings—professionals in California average $77,953 compared to $43,385 in Delaware. Approximately 603,940 professionals work in related occupations nationwide.

Salary data from U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS program, May 2024. Earnings vary by experience, employer, and market conditions.

Which universities have the largest Sport and Fitness Management programs?

Currently 655 accredited institutions offer Sport and Fitness Management degrees across the U.S. Programs with the highest enrollment include University of Florida (UF) (367 graduates), University of South Carolina (USC), Columbia (299 graduates), and Florida State University (FSU) (286 graduates).

Program size doesn't necessarily indicate quality—consider factors like faculty expertise, production opportunities, location, and available degree levels when choosing a school.

Data based on IPEDS program completions for 2023-2024 academic year. Numbers reflect programs where students graduated.

Is enrollment in Sport and Fitness Management growing or declining?

Graduate numbers have increased over the past decade, rising from 8,848 in 2010 to 17,472 in 2023-24. This represents a 97% increase overall from 2010.

The field remains specialized with steady interest, though opportunities are most concentrated in major metropolitan areas with active arts scenes like New York, California, and Illinois.

Graduate enrollment data from IPEDS, 2010-2024 academic years. Trends reflect reported completions at participating institutions.

What career paths are available with a Sport and Fitness Management degree?

This degree prepares you for roles such as Entertainment and Recreation Managers, Except Gambling, Recreation and Fitness Studies Teachers, Postsecondary, and Exercise Trainers and Group Fitness Instructors. Related occupations employ approximately 603,940 professionals nationwide.

Skills in project management, creative leadership, and collaboration also transfer to event planning, arts administration, marketing, and corporate training roles. Many professionals work freelance or on a project basis across theatre, film, and live events.

Career pathways mapped using CIP-SOC crosswalk from the National Center for Education Statistics. Employment data from BLS OEWS May 2024.

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