The global sports economy is expected to reach $3.7 trillion by 2030, prompting institutions to launch programs to support the boom.
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With the sports and entertainment sector expected to add nearly 100,000 jobs annually through 2034, colleges and universities are rethinking their program offerings to capitalize on the industry’s growth.
At least 10 colleges and universities plan to launch programs related to sports business and management this fall, including American University, Indiana University Indianapolis, Washington University in St. Louis and the University of Wisconsin–Stevens Point. They follow the dozens of sports business programs that have launched over the past several years, including at Georgetown University, Vanderbilt University, Chatham University and Cleveland State University.
Experts say the slew of new programs will prepare students for a variety of careers in the sports industry. They argue that sports education programs housed within business schools offer a wider range of career opportunities and align with the increasing professionalization of the sector, compared to sports management programs housed in schools of kinesiology or colleges of education that prepare students for more administrative roles.
