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Sports & Entertainment Business

What you'll do in college

These majors focus on the glitz, glam, and grueling logistics of sports, entertainment, and media. You'll dive deep into general business principles while mastering the unique nuances of talent management, sports law, ticketing, and event production. Internships are the lifeblood of these programs—you'll likely spend your summers hustling at sports agencies, record labels, or team front offices.

What you'll do after college

Grads typically start at the bottom of highly competitive industries—think the mailroom at a talent agency, ticket sales for a minor league team, or early-morning event coordination. Promotion paths are largely built on relentless networking, grit, and long hours during peak seasons. The payoff? Modest early salaries often lead to glamorous, highly lucrative careers for those who survive the initial grind.

Famous graduates

  • Sean McVay — Youngest Super Bowl-winning Head Coach in NFL history; B.S. in Health and Sports Studies from Miami University
  • Rob Pelinka — General Manager of the Los Angeles Lakers; B.B.A. with a sports management focus from the University of Michigan

Selectivity vs. earnings

By acceptance rate

$53,107
1,109
100–88%
$53,241
2,118
88–80%
$52,952
2,143
80–72%
$55,768
2,145
72–62%
$58,676
2,164
62–40%
$63,635
1,060
40–0%
Acceptance rate · bar = degree-weighted earnings

By SAT median

$48,286
813
400–1030
$51,318
1,619
1030–1110
$53,147
1,640
1110–1190
$56,825
1,636
1190–1270
$64,386
1,590
1270–1380
$70,371
801
1400–1600
Combined SAT composite median (submitters + non-submitters) · bar = degree-weighted earnings

Earnings vs. selectivity rank

$42,269p10 $63,474p90 Work College Military Female-only Liberal Arts Public University Religious University Private University Liberal Arts 1–20 Public University 1–25 Private University 21–40 Private University 1–20 Alice Lloyd College · $40,333 Blackburn College · $47,636 Citadel Military College of South Carolina · $70,220 Ursuline College · $50,238 Claflin University · $31,797 Florida Southern College · $51,538 Barton College · $42,592 Berry College · $54,009 Illinois Wesleyan University · $56,030 Ohio Wesleyan University · $46,524 Tabor College · $51,306 Catawba College · $45,156 Adrian College · $54,468 Friends University · $42,081 Lees-McRae College · $45,545 Bethel University · $47,755 Dordt University · $46,833 Erskine College · $44,732 Belhaven University · $44,902 Augustana University · $55,718 Carroll University · $73,249 Crown College · $46,997 Buena Vista University · $52,330 King University · $49,385 Graceland University - Lamoni · $46,518 Kansas Wesleyan University · $52,393 North Central College · $50,987 Huntingdon College · $43,319 Saint Mary's College of California · $63,474 Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College · $47,389 Colby-Sawyer College · $50,521 Franklin Pierce University · $54,171 Loras College · $53,583 Pfeiffer University · $45,396 Wittenberg University · $70,843 Gustavus Adolphus College · $57,683 Taylor University · $51,606 Albertus Magnus College · $52,812 Allen University · $37,505 Georgetown College · $39,190 Illinois College · $49,423 Ferrum College · $46,864 Manchester University · $50,633 Viterbo University · $51,817 Davis & Elkins College · $53,538 Mitchell College · $39,192 York College of Pennsylvania · $57,821 Huntington University · $47,432 Greenville University · $36,619 Ripon College · $51,028 Roanoke College · $67,877 Rocky Mountain College · $55,806 Guilford College · $49,235 Keene State College · $43,486 Nebraska Wesleyan University · $60,778 Wartburg College · $49,328 Schreiner University · $61,235 West Virginia Wesleyan College · $59,412 Linfield University · $99,698 McPherson College · $47,364 Batten University · $48,632 Lenoir-Rhyne University · $50,797 Muskingum University · $45,852 Eureka College · $49,225 Wilmington College · $42,241 Aquinas College · $60,813 Clarke University · $41,996 Covenant College · $51,713 Pacific University · $56,664 Simpson College · $55,150 Culver-Stockton College · $48,772 Goshen College · $51,173 Hiram College · $51,736 Wilson College · $50,313 Briar Cliff University · $49,714 Eastern Mennonite University · $54,086 Westminster College · $51,300 Coker University · $47,445 University of Mary Hardin-Baylor · $54,848 Bowie State University · $54,672 Alabama A&M University · $44,740 Alcorn State University · $40,575 Coppin State University · $42,332 Delaware State University · $45,739 North Carolina A&T State University · $38,460 University of Minnesota - Crookston · $52,126 Fayetteville State University · $41,877 Northern Illinois University · $51,319 University of West Florida · $43,987 University of Connecticut · $71,823 University of South Carolina · $63,908 Tarleton State University · $54,677 University of Missouri - Saint Louis · $51,462 University of Massachusetts - Amherst · $70,648 State University of New York at Cortland · $61,501 Minnesota State University, Mankato · $53,139 Arkansas State University · $54,271 Southern Arkansas University · $47,689 Texas Southern University · $56,348 Wayne State University · $54,370 University of Central Missouri · $44,405 Winthrop University · $48,959 Kentucky State University · $45,154 University of Alaska - Fairbanks · $50,507 University of Minnesota - Twin Cities · $62,213 University of Houston · $57,412 Ball State University · $54,684 Central Michigan University · $56,525 Eastern Michigan University · $52,579 Oklahoma State University · $51,384 Texas Tech University · $58,772 SUNY Oneonta · $52,373 Texas State University · $57,963 Louisiana State University · $57,216 Northern Michigan University · $47,940 Eastern Illinois University · $50,730 George Mason University · $61,833 Georgia Southern University · $58,072 Indiana University - Kokomo · $49,224 Marshall University · $60,936 Millersville University of Pennsylvania · $51,172 Missouri Southern State University · $45,715 Morehead State University · $50,745 Ohio University · $60,673 Radford University · $49,722 Salem State University · $53,920 Southern Illinois University - Carbondale · $42,513 Temple University · $63,192 Texas A&M University - Corpus Christi · $52,328 University of Delaware · $81,053 University of Memphis · $50,267 University of Nebraska at Kearney · $50,597 University of Southern Indiana · $52,582 University of Tennessee Southern · $38,408 Eastern Connecticut State University · $50,860 Farmingdale State College · $57,536 University of Pittsburgh - Bradford · $44,113 Miami University - Ohio · $60,114 University of Alabama in Huntsville · $48,285 University of West Alabama · $40,611 Bemidji State University · $46,167 Clayton State University · $41,771 Michigan Technological University · $60,932 Old Dominion University · $51,432 University of Alabama · $54,031 University of Louisville · $52,717 University of Wisconsin - Parkside · $70,830 Washington State University · $64,225 SUNY Brockport · $49,733 University of Minnesota - Morris · $43,369 Elizabeth City State University · $34,785 University of North Florida · $50,021 East Tennessee State University · $46,637 Eastern Kentucky University · $50,358 University of New Hampshire · $50,713 Coastal Carolina University · $46,652 Mississippi Valley State University · $38,161 Southeast Missouri State University · $47,706 Western Carolina University · $40,898 Grand Valley State University · $52,112 Metropolitan State University of Denver · $51,799 University of Central Oklahoma · $45,591 Valley City State University · $48,096 Winston-Salem State University · $44,551 Bowling Green State University · $51,116 East Stroudsburg University of Pennsylvania · $52,701 Kennesaw State University · $51,863 Kent State University at Kent · $57,369 Southern Connecticut State University · $49,371 University of Iowa · $65,473 Western Michigan University · $57,472 William Paterson University of New Jersey · $61,432 Framingham State University · $53,320 Central Washington University · $43,355 Colorado Mesa University · $49,140 Commonwealth University of Pennsylvania · $50,329 Fort Lewis College · $49,128 Indiana State University · $41,169 Lamar University · $53,871 Northern State University · $53,946 University of Akron · $47,189 University of Cincinnati · $43,997 University of Maine · $52,704 Wichita State University · $49,464 James Madison University · $65,422 Arizona State University · $53,897 Minot State University · $43,354 Towson University · $60,108 University of Kansas · $73,613 University of North Alabama · $49,324 SUNY at Fredonia · $49,403 Southeastern Louisiana University · $45,147 North Dakota State University · $58,801 Plymouth State University · $54,820 University of Southern Mississippi · $47,967 Utah State University · $53,734 Pennsylvania Western University · $45,496 Lewis-Clark State College · $46,518 Black Hills State University · $45,938 Sam Houston State University · $55,956 Middle Georgia State University · $47,126 Mayville State University · $50,019 Shawnee State University · $58,904 Southwestern Oklahoma State University · $45,062 Wayne State College · $42,138 Union University · $49,203 Fairfield University · $66,188 North Carolina Wesleyan University · $45,238 Mississippi Christian University · $51,160 Ohio Christian University · $42,665 Johnson C. Smith University · $32,373 Southeastern University · $45,498 Columbia International University · $42,032 Saint Louis University · $77,984 Southern Methodist University · $80,147 Liberty University · $48,277 Livingstone College · $37,213 Belmont Abbey College · $43,925 Madonna University · $51,129 William Peace University · $47,046 Warner University · $52,490 LeTourneau University · $52,732 Ohio Dominican University · $52,640 Oklahoma Wesleyan University · $53,285 Oklahoma Baptist University · $50,343 Newberry College · $37,428 Southern Wesleyan University · $37,388 Alvernia University · $57,066 Asbury University · $40,870 California Lutheran University · $56,496 William Penn University · $45,319 High Point University · $54,896 Quincy University · $44,301 Spring Arbor University · $50,605 University of Dayton · $69,228 Olivet Nazarene University · $46,486 Bellarmine University · $47,289 Cedarville University · $43,530 Defiance College · $47,544 Harding University · $63,587 Judson University · $50,626 Messiah University · $36,326 Missouri Baptist University · $52,197 Toccoa Falls College · $45,984 Concordia University Ann Arbor · $53,771 Mount St. Joseph University · $56,008 Evangel University · $52,370 Midland University · $49,611 Cairn University - Langhorne · $45,593 Campbellsville University · $49,678 East Texas Baptist University · $59,336 Faulkner University · $47,590 MidAmerica Nazarene University · $49,338 Kentucky Wesleyan College · $42,089 Mount Marty University · $48,973 Ottawa University - Ottawa · $45,345 The Master's University and Seminary · $38,354 Arcadia University · $52,694 Ashland University · $48,749 Averett University · $41,630 Barry University · $49,205 Bushnell University · $53,664 College of Our Lady of the Elms · $53,398 Concordia University - Saint Paul · $46,903 Siena Heights University · $50,741 William Woods University · $48,743 Concordia University Wisconsin · $53,771 Ohio Northern University · $44,682 Pepperdine University · $68,553 Queens University of Charlotte · $46,964 Seton Hall University · $73,182 North Greenville University · $44,516 Reinhardt University · $45,521 Elmhurst University · $63,657 Lewis University · $61,464 Saint Leo University · $51,955 St. John Fisher University · $56,147 Baker University · $50,261 Caldwell University · $52,459 Hilbert College · $48,046 John Carroll University · $63,796 Mount Saint Mary College · $55,269 Niagara University · $53,000 Regis College · $45,752 Saint Peter's University · $41,515 St. Ambrose University · $55,506 St. Thomas Aquinas College · $59,395 Marian University · $65,301 Saint Vincent College · $51,556 Emmanuel College · $54,725 Ouachita Baptist University · $51,565 Saint Elizabeth University · $53,439 Seton Hill University · $45,530 Shenandoah University · $63,086 Southern Adventist University · $58,697 Lourdes University · $49,879 Millikin University · $42,885 Baldwin Wallace University · $46,267 University of Dubuque · $44,201 University of Jamestown · $64,514 Warner Pacific University · $46,259 Holy Family University · $45,701 Tusculum University · $40,094 University of Sioux Falls · $57,021 DeSales University · $67,421 Emmanuel University · $48,431 Malone University · $47,798 McKendree University · $51,728 McMurry University · $56,944 Midway University · $47,044 St. Bonaventure University · $53,591 Trevecca Nazarene University · $47,666 University of Indianapolis · $59,965 University of Saint Joseph · $54,460 Carson-Newman University · $48,549 Chowan University · $44,843 Gardner-Webb University · $54,289 Geneva College · $52,151 Methodist University · $41,349 University of Mary · $50,361 Gonzaga University · $50,028 Immaculata University · $61,610 Lakeland University · $41,523 Maranatha Baptist University · $45,227 Rosemont College · $47,347 University of Mount Union · $55,235 Walsh University · $64,683 Canisius University · $57,161 Concordia University - Irvine · $66,496 Saint Joseph's College of Maine · $50,651 Shorter University · $50,900 University of Saint Mary · $42,269 Wayland Baptist University · $47,411 Mount St. Mary's University · $53,583 University of Northwestern - St Paul · $63,536 Wagner College · $61,456 Grace College and Theological Seminary · $40,842 Lee University · $44,317 Otterbein University · $55,035 University of Mount Olive · $39,790 Neumann University · $45,759 Rivier University · $51,039 Samford University · $49,586 Xavier University · $53,922 Central Baptist College · $44,532 Central Christian College of Kansas · $47,362 Houston Christian University · $44,049 Oral Roberts University · $52,260 Saint Xavier University · $52,939 St. John's University - New York · $52,794 University of Valley Forge · $43,138 University of the Cumberlands · $37,610 Wingate University · $56,061 Benedict College · $38,253 Heidelberg University · $55,764 Campbell University · $55,307 Emory & Henry University · $47,613 Mount Vernon Nazarene University · $48,483 Concordia University - Chicago · $50,705 Freed-Hardeman University · $55,118 Greensboro College · $40,055 Northwest Nazarene University · $48,149 Misericordia University · $41,874 University of Olivet · $45,939 Cornerstone University · $44,505 Indiana Wesleyan University, Marion · $48,755 Valparaiso University · $58,510 Belmont University · $49,567 Dallas Baptist University · $51,892 North Central University · $48,598 University of the Incarnate Word · $52,119 Bryan College - Dayton · $43,542 Hardin-Simmons University · $55,802 University of Pikeville · $45,671 Southwest Baptist University · $47,943 Thomas More University · $52,068 Oklahoma Christian University · $51,962 University of Lynchburg · $51,949 Rochester University · $44,408 Wisconsin Lutheran College · $69,604 Blue Mountain Christian University · $46,073 University of Saint Francis - Fort Wayne · $50,647 Grand View University · $55,780 Southern Nazarene University · $49,363 Florida Institute of Technology · $57,363 Ottawa University - Surprise · $45,345 Hampton University · $51,472 Syracuse University · $69,954 University of Tampa · $57,486 Webber International University · $40,766 Flagler College · $48,012 Lake Erie College · $45,059 Cumberland University · $62,795 American International College · $52,974 Quinnipiac University · $58,996 Endicott College · $72,529 Elon University · $63,499 Goldey-Beacom College · $50,773 Merrimack College · $55,884 Menlo College · $56,919 University of Charleston · $51,400 Aurora University · $48,482 Lasell University · $51,987 Long Island University · $47,889 University of New England · $69,231 Western New England University · $54,516 University of Bridgeport · $51,979 Lipscomb University · $52,751 Tiffin University · $57,685 Bluffton University · $49,168 Lindenwood University · $51,444 Westminster University · $52,402 Adelphi University · $66,684 Springfield College · $60,134 Trine University · $55,239 Curry College · $53,396 Husson University · $55,119 Drexel University · $74,145 Lynn University · $40,385 Marietta College · $52,419 Northwood University · $57,234 Davenport University · $51,060 Fairleigh Dickinson University - Florham · $56,799 Fairleigh Dickinson University - Metropolitan Campus · $56,799 Harrisburg University of Science and Technology · $49,827 Keystone College · $40,406 Nichols College · $58,826 Limestone University · $40,045 Utica University · $52,431 Maryville University of Saint Louis · $47,238 Nova Southeastern University · $36,499 Thomas College · $49,994 University of Rio Grande · $48,598 Hillsdale College · $52,883 University of Michigan - Ann Arbor · $73,196 University of Florida · $57,216 University of Georgia · $66,397 University of Texas at Austin · $67,127 Rutgers University - New Brunswick · $70,465 Texas A&M University - College Station · $67,447 Florida State University · $54,046 University of Tennessee, Knoxville · $61,292 Ohio State University · $54,863 North Carolina State University · $73,284 University of Miami · $79,920 Rice University · $71,586 Work College: mean $43,985 Military: mean $70,220 Female-only: mean $50,238 Liberal Arts: mean $51,219 Public University: mean $51,821 Religious University: mean $50,790 Private University: mean $53,715 Liberal Arts 1–20: mean $52,883 Public University 1–25: mean $64,533 Private University 21–40: mean $79,920 Private University 1–20: mean $71,586 All colleges: p10 $42,269 All colleges: p90 $63,474
Each dot = a college · y = degree-weighted earnings

Majors in this category

Major Colleges Degrees Male/Female Intl Earnings Employment
Sports & Entertainment Business 454 10,739 75% / 25% 4% $52,104 97%
Sport Management 172 5,180 75% / 25% 4% $52,659 96%
Sports Management 266 5,134 78% / 22% 4% $51,462 97%
Sport Industry 1 149 73% / 27% 5% $54,863 98%
Entertainment Industry Studies 1 92 16% / 84% 0% $50,279 94%
Artist Management 1 88 22% / 78% 1% $50,279 94%
Sport Analytics 1 24 67% / 33% 21% $71,586 96%
Sport and Recreation Management 2 21 52% / 48% 14% $42,736 84%
Sport and Fitness Management 12 19 74% / 26% 11% $52,228 98%
Sports, Media and Entertainment Management 1 16 44% / 56% 6% $55,895
Sports Business 1 13 92% / 8% 8% $53,897 94%
Professional Golf Management 1 3 67% / 33% 0% $45,591