Best HBCUs for Sports Management

North Carolina A&T University is located in Greensboro, North Carolina and is the largest historically Black university in the country, with about 13,530 students. It is also considered the most affordable among North Carolina's top colleges. 

At N.C. A&T, you can pursue a sport science and fitness management degree. You can choose from three concentrations, including business administration, leisure studies, or physical therapy. If you're a first-year student in the major, you can participate in the FIT Living Learning Community. This community provides academic and peer support, and you can build your leadership skills for a sports management career.  

Hampton University is located in Hampton, Virginia and is ranked among the top five HBCUs in America. You'll benefit from small classes with a 15-to-1 student-to-faculty ratio. Today, there are over 3,500 students enrolled at Hampton. 

The program combines sports and business, so you'll learn how the two are connected. If you're interested in a professional career path in aquatics, you can concentrate in aquatics. You can also pursue a master's degree in sports administration at Hampton. The master's features three concentrations, including international sports, organizational behavior, and intercollegiate athletics.  

Winston-Salem State University in Winston-Salem, North Carolina is ranked among the top 10 military-friendly schools. WSSU is the first and only HBCU to receive accreditation from the Commission on Sports Management Accreditation. You can choose from three concentrations in WSSU's sports management degree program. Options include management and administration, marketing and promotion, and sports communication.

You can meet and learn from expert sports industry faculty and gain real-world experience through internships. The program also has an extensive alumni advisory board. You can use this board for jobs, internships, and recommendation letters. You can also join the Sport Management Major's Club to meet friends and travel to top sports cities and conferences.

Delaware State University in Dover, Delaware offers small class sizes with a 16-to-1 student-to-faculty ratio. If you're pursuing a sports management degree at DSU, you can choose from minors in coaching management, recreation management, or sports entrepreneurship management. 

As part of your senior year, you'll participate in an internship to apply classroom knowledge to the real world. DSU also offers a master of science in sports administration.

Elizabeth City University, a public university in Elizabeth City, North Carolina, is ranked the most affordable four-year HBCU in the U.S. 

ECSU's sport management degree offers three concentrations in sport management and administration, sports marketing and promotion, and sport communication. You must complete a practicum and internship before you graduate.  

Bowie State University is regarded as a top African American graduate producer by Diverse Issues in Higher Education. Bowie is also a major economic producer for Maryland's economy, as nearly 80% of graduates choose to live in the state after graduation. 

The sport management degree features diverse courses in marketing, facility management, and the legal aspects of sports. Bowie values partnerships with local and national sports teams. You can participate in field experiences with various teams. The school currently partners with the Brooklyn Nets, where you can visit facilities and get behind-the-scenes tours. 

Alcorn State University is a small public university located in Lorman, Mississippi. Founded in 1871, it is the oldest Black land grant college in the United States. The school's most notable alumni include Hiram Rhodes Revels and Medgar Wiley Evers. 

Alcorn's sport management program is housed in the health, physical education, and recreation department. The program has a student club for networking, academic support, jobs, and internships. The school also offers a master of science degree in education. The master's features paths to earn a teaching license in athletic administration and coaching and a nonlicensure degree in athletic administration and coaching. 

Claflin University is a private university founded in 1869. Claflin has a 14-to-1 student-to-faculty ratio, so you can learn in a small intimate setting. The sport management degree combines classroom and fieldwork learning experiences. During the second semester of your second year, you'll complete a pre-internship where you'll work with a local sports team. During your last semester, you'll complete a 10-week internship to ensure that you're well prepared for the rigors of a sports management career. 

Students have had the opportunity to complete internships with several noted organizations and clubs, including the Atlanta Falcons, the University of South Carolina, and the Atlanta Braves.

Johnson C. Smith University is located in Charlotte, North Carolina. The University has an 11-to-1 student-to-faculty ratio, offering personalized classroom experiences for its students.

Focused on the inner workings of the finance, marketing, and administration of sport management, JCSU students get hands-on experiences with on-campus internships. You can choose from 11 minors, including physical education, sports medicine, and sport coaching. Courses emphasize real-world knowledge and prepare you to work with local professional teams in the Charlotte area. 

Coppin State University is located in Baltimore, Maryland and has a 12-to-1 student-to-faculty ratio. Courses in the sport management program cover facility and equipment operations, ethics and law, and administration. You can specialize in either sport administration or athletic training management.

You'll also gain hands-on experience through a practicum and internship in the professional sports world.