As the world of sports grows more and more every year, professionals in the sports management industry are becoming needed in many different positions. Most of these positions require a bachelor’s degree in sports management, so you’ll need to attend a four-year school before you’re qualified for a job as a coach, trainer, marketer, athletic director, event coordinator, agent, or other sports industry staff member. Unfortunately, college can be expensive. In fact, many students can’t afford a degree with financial aid. Scholarships are one of the best kinds of financial aid, since they never have to be repaid, as you’ll find with student loans.

Since sports management students are enrolling in school in increasing numbers every year, organizations, colleges, and other groups have been offering more and more sports management scholarships. Here are some to which you can apply if you’re interested in an education in this field:

• Dorothy Harris Endowed Scholarship: Available from the Women’s Sports Foundation, this scholarship is available for female students studying sports management, physical education, sport psychology, or sport sociology who have the intention to go to grad school. You can read more from the Women’s Sports Foundation.

• Institute of Sports Management Scholarships: This organization offers two different scholarship programs, but you have to be a member to apply. The first is called the “Additional Study Scholarship,” and is designed to support students who already have a degree, but want to pursue an additional advanced degree. The second program is called the “Salary Subsidy Scholarship,” and this program is for students who are looking for a job and sign up with one of the institute’s “host employer.” For more information, check out the ISM website.

• Black Coaches Association Scholarship: Every year, the BCA gives out multiple scholarships for post-grad minority students who have been accepted into a sports administration-related field. Applications are due annually by May 1. You can find out more about this scholarship program at the BCA website.

• Jim McKay Scholarship Program: The NCAA’s Jim McKay scholarship is awarded annual to one male and one female student pursuing a degree in the sports communication field. Applications are due in January annual. Read more from the NCAA website.

You can also look for general scholarships, which are available no matter what your degree program. Students.gov is a great place to start looking for scholarships, and you can also contact your college directly. More schools offer scholarship programs not just for sports stars, but also for students who excel academically. Your college’s financial aid office should be able to tell you about the opportunities available from your school, and you can also talk to the head of your department about more scholarships, as well as other funds for education, such as grants and low-interest loans.

For those looking to begin or advance a career in sports management, there are several accredited online colleges that offer degrees in the subject. For beginners, associate's degrees and bachelor's degrees are available. For graduate students wishing for more in-depth study, master's degrees and MBAs in sports management are also available.

	University of Phoenix — The University of Phoenix offers an associate's degree in sports management. This degree program lays the foundation for further study in recreation management and sport. Students will learn about management, ethics, leadership, finance, marketing, and more.
	Ashford University — The bachelor's degree in sports management from Ashford University will prepare its students for managerial positions in the sport and recreation industry, including gymnasium management, athletics equipment merchandising, and professional sports management.
	Southern New Hampshire University — Southern New Hampshire University's MBA in sport management program teaches its students to become adept in the business and marketing side of the sport industry. For this particular program, no GMAT or GRE is required, but applicants must have a bachelor's degree.
	California University of Pennsylvania — The BS in sports management from California University of Pennsylvania features a concentration in fitness and wellness, allowing graduates of this program to find careers working in fitness clubs, gyms, strength coaching, and more. This is a full four-year program that is available 100% online.
	St. Leo University — The MBA degree in sports business from St. Leo University will give its students a thorough understanding of teamwork, ethics, communication, and management within a sport and recreation environment.
	Drexel University — The Master of Science degree in sports management from Drexel University is designed to help sports managers and administrators receive a full understanding of the links between management skills, nutrition, psychology, and sport.
	Tiffin University — TIffin University's MBA program in sports management prepares its students for management positions in recreational, collegiate, and professional sports. The main focus of the program is on developing skills in communication, leadership, IT, and problem solving.
	Columbia Southern University — The MBA in sport management program from Columbia Southern University is designed to produce leaders within the sports industry. Areas of study include HR management, marketing, MIS, ethics, business policy, sport law and risk management, sport fund raising, and sport administration & finance.
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