Alabama has a unique relationship with sports, perhaps more than any other state. There are no major professional teams here, but it would almost be inappropriate if there were: Alabamians’ love of sports is too pure for the prospect of cash-driven corruption. What matters are sports for the sake of sports, amateur playing on every level — youth and adult recreation leagues, high school sports, and above all collegiate athletics. Most notably, Auburn versus Alabama, a rivalry which takes no vacations, sick days, or summers off. Its annual culmination is the Iron Bowl, but football is just one aspect of the heated rivalry. Outside of the state’s organized sports, there are a wealth of opportunities for outdoors enthusiasts: from world-class fishing and hunting grounds, to miles of hiking and cycling trails, water sports, golf, and more. There are also a number of semi-pro and minor league teams in Alabama, including minor league baseball in Birmingham, Mobile, and Montgomery, and the Talladega Superspeedway, which hosts NASCAR and IndyCar series. Given the state’s passion for sports, many Alabamians have chosen to make their living off it, and several schools have ramped up their sports-related degree offerings. Check out our favorite locations, universities, and degree programs for sports management below!
Planning Your Education
Currently there are 7 universities in the state of Alabama offering online programming in sports management degree fields located throughout the state. While this level of choice and convenience is great, potential students should be counseled to know that there are many potential ways to enter into sports management fields. Many degree types can give students a variety of unique edges on competition, but it’s for students to choose which degree type is the best for entering into a sports management field or role of their choice. For an in-depth treatment of this subject, check out our degrees page. Or if you already know what degree types your interested in, check out our directory of sports management degrees in Alabama.
Types of Degrees Surveyed:
- Sports Management
- Coaching Education
- Nutrition
- Recreation Management
- Kinesiology
- Communications and Public Relations
- Physical Education
- Health and Wellness
- Sports Psychology
- Business Administration: Sports Management
Degree Levels Surveyed:
- Associates
- Bachelors
- Masters
- Doctoral Degrees
- Graduate and Undergraduate Certifications
Career Opportunities
There are about 2,000 sports management professionals in Alabama, which has seen a decline in overall employment in recent years. Still, there a still range of quality positions available, including full- and part-time, internships, temp roles, and commission and contract jobs, most of which are offered at the entry level, according to Indeed.com. Following general state economic trends, Birmingham is the largest employment center for sports management careers, followed by Vance, Tuscaloosa, Auburn, Dothan, Montgomery, Mobile, and Huntsville, among others. The most desired jobs are typically at the major universities — Alabama and Auburn – but several other D-1 schools have highly competitive athletic programs, including University of Alabama – Birmingham and University of South Alabama. High school sports are another major employer, as well as private clubs, health and fitness centers, and sporting goods retailers.
Earning Percentiles for Sports Management Professionals in Alabama
While overall employment has dropped, wages for sports management professionals have risen 10%, and salaries in the field generally outperforms the statewide median salary. In fact, salaries compare favorably on a national level, as well: the mean salary for management positions in spectator sports is $117,000 nationwide, which places it near the 75th percentile in Alabama. Top earners can take in more than $130k, and even the bottom 10th percentile – which typically represents entry-level positions – makes $48k a year, which is the median salary of all college-educated workers in the country. While there’s a large compensation disparity between upper- and entry-level positions, that’s the case for most states we’ve reviewed; and Alabama’s lowest-tier earners still out-earn comparable roles elsewhere by a factor of two.
Need more inspiration to pursue sports management-related opportunities in Alabama today? Check out the range of job opportunities below!
Top Sports Management Degree Programs: AL
While there are a variety of top schools offering a range of sports management-related degrees online in Alabama, students will first and foremost want to consider the exact degree type they're interested in pursuing. We've chosen out our three "recommended" schools for Alabama below, but aspiring students should keep in mind that not each of these universities will necessarily have a program of study that can lead directly to the particular sports management career of your choice. If you're already set on pursuing sports management-related schooling in the state of Alabama, we advise you to not only consult out ranking of top schools below, but also peruse our database of all sports management-related programs in Alabama below. While there are additional benefits of pursuing an online degree in your own state (in-state tuition, and the ability to take classes or intensives in person), future students should also note that there are many online programs available nationwide, and consult our wide-ranging rankings for the top online sports management schools in the nation.
With that said, there are many top Alabama-based programs available entirely online. We've selected our top three through equally weighting two metrics: the number of sports-management related degrees available online through the institution, and the academic prestige of the given institution.
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AL Sports Management Degree Database
| University of Alabama Bimingham | Birmingham, AL | Online SM Degrees: 3 | |
 ADDRESS & CONTACT INFO (205) 934-4011 1720 2nd Ave S, Birmingham, AL 35294 GRADUATE DEGREES
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Flexible coursework| Troy University | Troy, AL | Online SM Degrees: 3 | |
 ADDRESS & CONTACT INFO (800) 551-9716 600 University Ave, Troy, AL 36082
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| United States Sports Academy | Daphne, AL | Online SM Degrees: 3 | |
 ADDRESS & CONTACT INFO (251) 626-3303 1 Academy Dr, Daphne, AL 36526
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| University of Alabama | Tuscaloosa, AL | Online SM Degrees: 1 | |
 ADDRESS & CONTACT INFO (205) 348-6010 Tuscaloosa, AL 35487
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| Jacksonville State University | Jacksonville, AL | Online SM Degrees: 1 | |
 ADDRESS & CONTACT INFO (256) 782-5781 700 Pelham Rd N, Jacksonville, AL 36265 GRADUATE DEGREES
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| Alabama State University | Montgomery, AL | Online SM Degrees: 1 | |
 ADDRESS & CONTACT INFO (334) 229-4100 915 S Jackson St, Montgomery, AL 36104
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| Auburn University at Montgomery | Montgomery, AL | Online SM Degrees: 1 | |
 ADDRESS & CONTACT INFO (334) 244-3000 7400 East Dr, Montgomery, AL 36117
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