“Virginia is for lovers,” they say. Let’s include “outdoor lovers,” as well. With year-round moderate temperatures, people enjoy a range of activities, from high-intensity mountain biking, to cycling and walking, to wind surfing on Virginia Beach. Hikers are especially well off: the Appalachian Trail, Virginia Creeper Trail, Blue Ridge Parkway, Tobacco Heritage Trail, and Shenandoah National Park all offer world-class hikes and stunning scenery. The Tidewater region attracts fishers, hunters, kayakers, canoers, and other water sport enthusiasts. Virginia is the largest state in the U.S. without a professional sports team, largely because of nearby Washington, D.C., and Virginia teams. (The Washington Redskins and Capitals have facilities in Virginia.) Still, a number of minor league teams call Virginia home, and collegiate athletics have a major presence, particularly UVA and VA Tech. All this makes Virginia a great spot for sports-related professionals, and a number of schools offer degrees in the field. Check out our favorite locations, universities, and degree programs for sports management below!
Planning Your Education
There are nearly 15,000 sports management jobs in Virginia, which makes up for 4% nationwide. As recently as 2007, that number was as low 10,000, so the current openings represent a 40% increase compared to just 5% national growth. According to Indeed.com, the majority of jobs are full-time, but part-time, temp, and internships positions are available, as well. Roanoke, Lynchburg, Blacksburg, Richmond, and Fairfax offer the most positions. Many employers are colleges: There are 176 colleges and universities in Virginia, and several schools feature D-1 competition. UVA leads the ACC with 17 men’s national championships, and comes in second for women’s athletics with 7 titles; Virginia Tech boasts top programs, too. Popular sports include football, basketball, baseball, lacrosse, and soccer, among others. Gyms, health and fitness clubs, hotel corporations, and athletic apparel companies are other places to look for openings.
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 are nearly 15,000 sports management jobs in Virginia, which makes up for 4% nationwide. As recently as 2007, that number was as low 10,000, so the current openings represent a 40% increase compared to just 5% national growth. According to Indeed.com, the majority of jobs are full-time, but part-time, temp, and internships positions are available, as well. Roanoke, Lynchburg, Blacksburg, Richmond, and Fairfax offer the most positions. Many employers are colleges: There are 176 colleges and universities in Virginia, and several schools feature D-1 competition. UVA leads the ACC with 17 men’s national championships, and comes in second for women’s athletics with 7 titles; Virginia Tech boasts top programs, too. Popular sports include football, basketball, baseball, lacrosse, and soccer, among others. Gyms, health and fitness clubs, hotel corporations, and athletic apparel companies are other places to look for openings.
Earning Percentiles for Sports Management Professionals in Virginia
Virginia ranks 7th in the country for median household income, and sports management degree salaries largely follow that trend. For leadership positions nationwide, the mean salary for spectator sports is $117,000, which is just above the 50th percentile for sports management-related careers in the state. This means there a large number of high-paying, upper-level positions in the field, above average wages, or — just as likely — both. Even the bottom 10% of salaries still earn over $60,000 per year, and top earners can pocket well over $130,000. Combined with the wealth of top-tier higher ed centers in the area, offering a variety of undergraduate and graduate degrees in the field, Virginia is an excellent opportunity for aspiring sports management professionals.
Need more inspiration to pursue sports management-related opportunities in Virginia today? Check out the range of job opportunities below!
Top Sports Management Degree Programs: NC
While there are a variety of top schools offering a range of sports management-related degrees online in Virginia, 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 Virginia 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 Virginia, 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 Virginia 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 Virginia-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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VA Sports Management Degree Database
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| Georgetown University | Washington, D.C. | Online SM Degrees: 1 | |
 ADDRESS & CONTACT INFO (202) 687-0100 37th and O Streets NW, Washington, DC 20057
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| George Mason University | Fairfax, VA | Online SM Degrees: 1 | |
 ADDRESS & CONTACT INFO (703) 993-1000 4400 University Drive, Fairfax, VA 22030
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| Lord Fairfax Community College | Middletown, VA | Online SM Degrees: 1 | |
 ADDRESS & CONTACT INFO (800) 906-5322 173 Skirmisher Ln, Middletown, VA 22645
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