Best HBCUs for Sports Management

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The sports industry is a booming business with national and global success. A 2022 Sports Global Market Report states that the global sports market is expected to grow from about $355 billion in 2021 to nearly $708 billion in 2026.
And career outlook projections also show the growing demand for sports management careers. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), entertainment and sports occupations are projected to grow by 13% from 2021-2031, higher than the 5% average growth rate for all jobs. And the BLS projects management roles to grow by 8% from 2021-2031.
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HBCUs play a significant role in educating future sports management leaders. Among the most notable names is sports broadcaster, tv personality, and professional NFL football player Michael Strahan. The defensive end veteran for the New York Giants credits much of his personal and professional success to his education at HBCU Texas Southern University.
Sport managers can work for various employers, including professional and collegiate teams, recreational departments, and marketing firms. Careers in sports management are diverse, with several options including:
- Coach
- Athletic director
- Facility manager
- Public relations manager
- Sports economists
Why Attend an HBCU for Sports Management?
HBCUs offer a competitive business education through accomplished faculty, commitment to faculty development, and connections to professional organizations like the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB). Many HBCUs are members of the AACSB's Business Education Alliance, with 22 schools holding accreditation.
AACSB allows faculty to share teaching methods and best practices for enhancing their students' business acumen. Many businesses have created partnerships with HBCUs to expand student career opportunities and increase hiring and retention diversity within their companies.
With over 100 HBCUs across the country, you have many location options to choose from. HBCUs offer a vibrant campus life and a reputable education. Here are more benefits of attending an HBCU.
Community Building
Black students report a greater sense of belonging, more support, and greater access to mentors at HBCUs. Steeped in African American culture and tradition, HBCUs offer a thriving campus life with active Greek organizations, community service opportunities, and homecoming celebrations. They even have renowned marching bands.
At HBCUs, you'll have the opportunity to meet with peers from similar cultural backgrounds and build self-confidence and leadership skills. Through these co-curricular opportunities, you'll hone essential skills important for a sports management career, such as time management, flexibility, leadership, and creativity.
Networking
HBCUs provide you with student support that extends beyond graduation. All graduates of HBCUs can join the National HBCU Alumni Association. This association provides graduates with an extensive national alumni network of graduates. As a member, you can do volunteer or community service work, mentor aspiring HBCU students, and attend career fairs or networking events.
Black Greek organizations are also beneficial in providing you with connections to internships and employment. Involvement in a Black Greek organization gives you access to successful alumni and allows you to participate in civic and community engagement.
Access to Urban Settings
Many HBCUs are located in or near large metropolitan cities with large African American populations. Being located in a large and diverse city means you have more employment and activity options. This benefit can be especially useful for new graduates who want to work for large corporations or in cities with sports teams.
Many urban cities have mass transportation options, making commuting to and from events and venues easy. This may give you more opportunities for jobs and internships.
2023 Best HBCUs for Sports Management
Rankings compiled by the BestColleges Ranking Team
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North Carolina A & T State University
Greensboro, NC - 4 years
- Online + Campus
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
Hampton, VA - 4 years
- Online + Campus
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
Winston-Salem, NC - 4 years
- Online + Campus
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
Dover, DE - 4 years
- Online + Campus
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 State University
Elizabeth City, NC - 4 years
- Online + Campus
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.
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Bowie State University
Bowie, MD - 4 years
- Campus
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
Alcorn State, MS - 4 years
- Online + Campus
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
Orangeburg, SC - 4 years
- Online + Campus
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
Charlotte, NC - 4 years
- Online + Campus
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
Baltimore, MD - 4 years
- Online + Campus
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.