Minnesotans stay active: a recent study by the Centers for Disease Control ranked the state first in the country for physical exercise; according to a survey, 85% of respondents said they had exercised at least once in the last month. And despite bitterly cold winters, Minnesotans like their outdoor recreation, including traditional sports like skiing and hockey, plus ice fishing, snowshoeing, curling, broom ball, and bandy, a hockey-like sport that’s unique to Minnesota. In the summer, people take advantage of blue skies and near-perfect temps. Water sports are highly popular — water skiing was invented here – and nearly 40% of residents fish, second only to Alaska. Camping, hiking, and bike trails are another go-to. At the professional level, Minnesota has teams in every major sport, including the Vikings, Twins, Timberwolves, Wild, and Minnesota United FC, all of which enjoy avid fan bases. Twenty-seven schools compete in the NCAA, and Minnesota also boasts a large population of Olympic athletes. All this makes Minnesota a great home for sports management professionals, and universities are starting to expand relevant offerings at the undergraduate and graduate level. To review some of the top sports management degrees available in-state, check out our favorite locations, universities, and degree programs below!
Planning Your Education
Currently there are 5 universities in the state of Minnesota 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 Minnesota.
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
Number of Jobs
There more than 14,000 sports management professionals in Minnesota, which makes up about 4% of the sector’s national workforce and represents a 28% uptick in recent years, six times the national growth rate. According to Indeed.com, the majority of positions are entry level and full-time, but part-time, contract, commission, temp, and internship roles are also available for those interested. As expected, Minneapolis-St. Paul is the field’s biggest employment hub, followed by Bloomington, Rochester, Woodbury, Eden Prairie, and Chanhassen. Among the most desirable jobs can be found at one of the state’s five major professional sports teams: the Vikings remain one of the most popular, storied franchises in the NFL, and the Minnesota Wild sold out more than 300 NHL games in a row. From there, high school and collegiate athletics offer excellent opportunities, as do a number of Minnesota health and fitness clubs, sports retailers, and more.
Earning Percentiles for Sports Management Professionals in Minnesota
e in recent years. To compare at the national level, the mean salary for management positions in spectator sports is $117,000 nationwide, which would land around the 60th percentile in Minnesota. Earners at the top of the bracket can make over $160k, but the real distinguisher is at the low end, where even the 10th percentile (typically entry-level workers) can make over $60k a year. (That’s $15,000 more than the mean salary for most college-educated entry-level professionals.) Better yet, national trends indicate that the sports management field will continue to grow and Minnesota should follow suit.
Need more inspiration to pursue sports management-related opportunities in Minnesota today? Check out the range of job opportunities below!
Top Sports Management Degree Programs: MN
While there are a variety of top schools offering a range of sports management-related degrees online in Minnesota, 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 Minnesota 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 Minnesota, 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 Minnesota 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 Minnesota-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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MN Sports Management Degree Database
| Northwest Technical College | Bemidji, MN | Online SM Degrees: 1 | |
 ADDRESS & CONTACT INFO (218) 333-6600 905 Grant Ave SE, Bemidji, MN 56601
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Streamlined program requirements
