Best Colleges for Sports Management in Iowa

by Alex Morgan · June 9, 2023

Iowa is a good state to start a career. So, which colleges are the best for sports management jobs in Iowa?

Iowa is one of the most scenic Midwestern U.S. States. This state has many great job opportunities, and sports management happens to be one of them. That’s why a lot of students look to enroll in sports management colleges at Iowa State.

So, which of the best colleges for sports management in Iowa are ideal to enroll in a sports management degree program? What’s the situation of sports management jobs in Iowa? Let’s answer all these questions and more.

5 Best Colleges for Sports Management in Iowa

Now that you know the lucrative nature of sports and recreation management salary and job outlook in Iowa, it’s only fitting that we talk about the best course to help you become a sports manager. For that, we will be looking at some of the best sports management colleges in Iowa. Here are five of them:

1. The University of Iowa – Iowa City, Iowa

The University of Iowa is one of the best universities in Iowa State. You could say it’s the leading university in the state as it offers two of the best colleges for sports management degrees in Iowa. They are called:

The BS in Sport and Recreation Management is one of the leading sports programs in Iowa. The University of Iowa provides many great courses in this program’s curriculum, such as:

Liability in Sport and Recreation
Design and Management of Sports and Recreation Facilities
Sport Business Practices
Sport and Recreation Promotion
Finance in Sport and Recreation

And then you have the M.A. in Sport and Recreation Management. This degree is ideal to help you get started post-graduation in the field of sports. So, you don’t need to be a sports graduate to enroll in the master’s program.

2. Iowa State University – Ames, Iowa

Iowa State University is one of the leading institutions in the Hawkeye State. This sports management university in Iowa is known for its flexible coursework and affordable degrees. That’s why the two sports degrees here are particularly popular:

The Bachelor of Science in Athletic Training is an ideal program for those who wish to become coaches, scouts, etc. That’s why it has some of the most intricate sports courses in the curriculum, such as:

Fundamentals of Human Physiology
Fundamentals of Human Anatomy
General Chemistry I and II
Physics for the Life Sciences

And then you have the Master of Athletic Training, which basically has the advanced levels of the same programs. However, it’s a 2-year program, so anyone with a graduate background in Kinesiology or Exercise Science can enroll in it.

3. Grand View University – Des Moines, Iowa

Grand View University in Des Moines is located in one of the most scenic Iowa locations. The university is known for its outstanding programs, and one of them happens to be its sports management degree program in Iowa. It has two degrees called:

The Bachelor in Sport Management is truly an undergraduate sports management degree in Iowa that prepares you for sports as a business. Thus it has courses like:

Sport Marketing
Sports and Media or Public Relations Principles
Writing for Business
History, Organization, and Administration of Physical Education

Or, if you’re a graduate, you can simply opt for the M.S. in Sport Management program. This program also focuses on sports as a business, and that’s why it’s one of popular Iowa sports management master’s degree.

4. Simpson College – Indianola, Iowa

Simpson College in Indianola is one of the leading colleges for sports management in Iowa today. It is known for its great programs, and two of them are sports bachelor:

Both of these sports bachelors have great courses. As you can see, one of them focuses on health and exercise, whereas the other is focused on management. Therefore, check out their curriculums and see which one suits you better.

5. Upper Iowa University – Fayette, Iowa

Upper Iowa University is located in the beautiful Fayette, Iowa. The university is located in a small town, and that’s why it has an affordable range of degrees. One of them is the B.S. in Exercise Science degree.

B.S. in Exercise Science

It has outstanding courses such as Coaching of Sports, Coaching and Theory Ethics, Physical Conditioning, etc. Therefore, it has all the tools to help you become a coach or a scout in sports management.

Why Choose A Sports Management Career?

Choosing a sports management career is not only ideal for many people but also very lucrative. Many high-school students pick the sports and recreation management degree to work in their favorite sports. And probably with their favorite sports stars and personalities.

Their understanding and love of their sports bring it to this career. However, there are other benefits of taking this degree, such as high-paying jobs, better job outlook, etc. Besides that, a sports management college degree in Iowa does not require your casual academic prowess.

You don’t need to be good with math, physics, chemistry, or other subjects to become a good sports manager. You just need to have a knack for sports as a business.

Sports Management Jobs and Salaries Prospects for Graduates

The sports management job outlook is something that will continuously increase until 2031. According to B.L.S., the overall job outlook for sports occupations in the United States will see a 13% increase by the time 2031 rolls around.

Besides that, B.L.S. also estimates various salaries for different groups in sports management. For instance:

Athletes or Competitors – 77,000
Umpires, Referees, and Officials $35,000
Coaches and Scouts $40,000

Source: B.L.S.

Now it’s important to understand that all of these are entry-level median wages. Now in Iowa, the median wage for sports managers, in general, happens to be around $53,000.

Whereas the entire state has around 19,600 people working in the industry, with 12 people per thousand job capita.

Source: B.L.S. Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics

Conclusion

These are some of the top programs in sports management schools in Iowa. You can take up any of these programs and thrive in that particular field of sports, i.e., management, marketing, coaching, athletics, etc.