What Are the Best Sports Management Programs of Colleges in California?

by Alex Morgan · January 11, 2023

Finding a sports management program? Let’s help you find the right one in California.

California is one of the best places to be in the United States. Sunny and warm weather most of the year is one of the reasons. The other reason is extravagant sceneries, places to go, and job opportunities. One of which includes sports-related fields

So, which sports management schools in California should you pursue to secure a high-paying job with job security? There are plenty of options, but today, we’re going to explore the best programs and colleges in California. So, let’s get started.

Should I Go to a California College for my Sports Management Degree?

There is no reason why you shouldn’t choose a sports management degree offered by a college in California. They are as good as any sports management school program in other states. However, what makes them the ideal choice are these factors.

These colleges are near home or online so they are accessible.
They are rated high for their graduate programs in sports management in California.
The sports management degrees secured from the California state colleges are in demand by the local industry.
The courses are varied catering to all types of fields and majors.

Given these reasons, you can expect to get a fine sports management degree from a college in California. Whether you decide to get admission into a graduate program or an undergrad one, the choice will offer you a bright future in the state and beyond. Considering California is a densely populated region, with a degree in hand, you can expect to enter the industry with sterling credentials and polished skills.

5 Best Sports Management Graduate Programs in California

Now that we know why a sports management degree is one of the safest bets in California, let’s talk about some of the best sports management programs for high school students or college graduates:

1. California State University Sports Management

The California State University, Long Beach, is a public university and one of the 23 campuses in the California State University system. CSULB offers more than 130 degree and certificate programs in eight colleges.

The two sports-concentrated programs offered by the university include:

- Master of Arts in Sport Management (M.A)
- Bachelor of Arts in Sport Management (B.A)

M.A. in Sport Management by California State University Long Beach is for students who are looking to get a degree in the field. Moreover, California State University Long Beach offers an extensive undergraduate program as well as an online graduate program.

The undergraduate program is designed to provide students with the fundamental knowledge and skills necessary for successful careers in sport management. The graduate program provides students with advanced knowledge and skills that prepare them for leadership positions in sport industry organizations.

2. The University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) Sports Management

The University of California, Los Angeles, is a public research university, which resides in the Westwood neighborhood of Los Angeles, California. The institution offers around 337 undergraduate and graduate degree programs and all of them fall within in a wide range of disciplines.

However, the program that should interest you is:

Master of Business Administration Sport Management

The Anderson School of Management at UCLA is home to the Sports Management major. The program provides students with an understanding of how different aspects of sports are interconnected and how they can be utilized in a variety of careers.

The program also provides opportunities for students to develop skills that will prepare them for working with sports organizations, teams, and athletes on a local and international level. Students can choose from three concentrations:

Sports Marketing
Sports Media Relations
Or Athletic Administration/Sports Management.

These concentrations will give you an advantage in many industries, including professional sports leagues, collegiate athletic departments, professional sports teams, or agencies that represent athletes or coaches.

3. Pepperdine University Sports Management

Pepperdine University is one of the most-sought-out universities in the Golden state, as it’s located right in the heart of beautiful Malibu. But, that’s not the reason you need this university’s degree; you need it because it’s ranked as one of the leading institutions in the nation by U.S News and World Report.

Pepperdine University offers two varieties of sport management degrees to suit the needs of students.
Including:

MBA Entertainment, Media, and Sport Management
B.A Sport Administration

Now, which program is more suitable for you depends on you. If you’re a graduate, you should pursue the MBA program in Entertainment, Media and Sports Management as it prepares you for the challenges and requirements of sports management. Meanwhile, high schoolers or aspirants should go for the bachelor’s Sports Administration to build a solid base in sports management.

4. San Jose State University Sport Management

San Jose State University is a public research university in San Jose, California. Its main campus has been located at 1600 Holloway Avenue for over 150 years. The university has grown from a small liberal arts college to a fully-fledged research university with more than 30,000 students.

San Jose State University offers two sport management programs under its Department of Kinesiology:

Bachelor of Science in Kinesiology, Sport Management Concentration, B.S
Master of Kinesiology, Sport Management Concentration, M.A

The program has been ranked as one of the best sports management graduate programs in California. In this program, students will learn about all aspects of sport management, including:

Sports administration
Facilities and event management
Marketing and promotions for sports organizations
Sports marketing and sponsorship

Hence, it’s one of the best and most complete sport management-related degrees you can find in California.

5. University Of San Francisco Sports Management

The University of San Francisco is a Jesuit University located in San Francisco and it’s another great option if you are looking for an affordable and credible option in the heart of California. And, since this Californian university is a privately-held Catholic institution, it is another outstanding option for sports management pursuers– as it has a separate college for sports studies, which is called The USF College of Arts and Sciences.

Moreover, U.S News & World Report ranks it as one of the top 10 schools for sports management in California.

The main program offered by USF is:

M.S in Sport Management

The program covers a variety of areas in sport management, and the curriculum includes courses such as:

Managing Sport in a Dynamic Environment
Sport Law
Sports Economics and Finance
Sport Marketing

Hence, the program covers all the necessary areas of study and prepares students for a variety of potential careers.

Why it’s Good to Have a Degree in Sports Management in California

Sports management degrees are one of the safest career bets in the United States. Considering the fact that more than a quarter of the U.S. population (26%) consumes live sports, it makes the sports market value around $71.06 billion.

Hence, the management and arrangement of these sporting events need a handler. Moreover, when you consider team management, coaching staff, and event organizers, the possibilities of job opportunities stand out.

The state also requires many types of staff personnel who handle teams, events, stadiums, arenas, etc. Then, there’s the content segment, which handles broadcasts, marketing, et cetera.

All that combined ensures:

A safe and high-paying career in a constantly upgrading industry
Annual increments in salaries
A long-term commitment to their favorite sport

These factors make sports management schools in California teeming with life—as many students wish to get started in sports management. Therefore, it’s good to have a degree in this field. So, let’s keep digging to find the best sports management colleges in California.

Sports Job Opportunities in California and Employment Rate

Before you go searching which California colleges with sports management degrees are near me, let’s talk about the opportunities you will have. As mentioned before, California is home to many great sports teams.

This includes Los Angeles Lakers, San Francisco 49ers, Oakland Athletics, etc. Besides that, it features one of the largest stadiums in the United States, Rose Bowl Stadium. Then, there are major arenas like Staples Center, MGM Grand, etc.

All these factors play a major role behind the 5800+ job opportunities in California as of this writing. That’s why California sports management schools prepare students for full-time and long-term careers in sports, which could earn them as high as $72,000 per year.

Area of expertise;
Job seniority;
Previous experience as a professional or athlete.

Besides all this, PennWest California’s academic research projects sport management job occupations to grow 10% by 2026. Making now the right time to find the best sports management graduate programs in the state.

Conclusion

These are the best colleges that offer outstanding programs in the state of California. All of these universities and schools have a prolific name. Hence, their degrees won’t only prepare you for the technical challenges of sport management but also adaptive challenges.

More Sports Management Degrees

What Sports Management Schools in Georgia Have the Best Programs?

Top 10 Schools For Sports Management Graduate Programs In Texas

Top 10 Sports Management Colleges In New York That Secure The Best Jobs

Feature Photo by Anelale Nájera on Unsplash