Why Earn Your Sport Business Degree at Saint Leo University?
How much love do you have for the game? With a sport business degree, you’ll score big in one of the fastest growing industries in the U.S. today.
At Saint Leo, you’re in a prime location for sports-related internships, apprenticeships, networking and the ultimate prize after college—a job. Our campus—located just outside of Tampa—is within one hour of more than 50 sport organizations, including the Rays, Lightning, Buccaneers, MLB spring training and Saint Leo's NCAA Division II Athletics. While earning your sport business degree on campus, you’ll have access to new and upgraded facilities—including the 3,500-square-foot Fitness Center, six-lane outdoor pool, and brand new, state-of-the-art College of Business building.
Network with industry professionals at national conferences, and build your resume interning with pro sports teams around the world—our faculty have connections everywhere from the Chadstone Lacrosse Club in Australia to FC Bayern Munich soccer in Germany.
This program is offered:
Campus
Sport business offers a complete immersion into the sport business industry, analysis of management issues, concepts, and strategies as applied to sport organizations.
Est. Time to Complete:
4 years
Credit Hours:
120 hours
Program Overview
The sport industry is recognized as one of the fastest growing areas in our country's economy. According to Plunkett Research Limited, a leading provider of industry sector analysis and research, industry trends and industry statistics, "the estimated value of the entire sport industry in the United States in 2014 was $435 billion", and according to Sport Business Journal "that figure is twice the size of the United States auto industry and seven times the size of the movie industry." In addition, at a recent global business of sports summit at Georgetown University, it was stated that "the sports industry, valued at over $1 trillion worldwide, is central in global brand-building and economic expansion strategies for emerging growth companies in apparel, mobile technology, sporting venues and more."
Flexible Learning, Focused on Your Success
Learn your way at Saint Leo University with flexible options—online, campus, or at an education center. Each program has its own modality to fit your needs. Whichever option you choose, Saint Leo University is committed to your success. View the details below to see how this degree program is offered.
Campus
Immersive Campus Experience, A Community That Feels Like Home
Saint Leo University's campus in Saint Leo, Florida, offers a transformative educational experience amidst scenic landscapes, including Lake Jovita and rolling green spaces. Home to over 2,000 students from all 50 states and more than 100 countries, the university fosters a tight-knit, inclusive community.
Campus students benefit from comfortable residence and dining halls, advanced learning facilities, and a vibrant student life with numerous clubs and organizations. The proximity to Tampa Bay provides additional cultural and recreational opportunities, enriching the overall student experience.
Experience Campus LifeCareer Outlook
No matter which learning experience you choose, you will receive plenty of professional development opportunities, industry knowledge from expert professors, and support from the Saint Leo community. All this together means that you will be ready for a successful career or continued studies upon graduation.
How will you gain real experience?
Conferences
Network with industry professionals, attend Saint Leo's annual International Business Conference, and participate in a national case study competition at the Sport Marketing Association Conference.
Internships
Students have interned with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, New York Yankees, Boston Red Sox, Madison Square Garden, International Softball Federation, numerous minor league baseball clubs, and FC Bayern Munich (Germany). View current Sport Business student internship information, including application requirements.
Co-curricular activities
Be an active member of the Sport Business Association.
Study abroad
Tour Australia for three weeks to learn about international sports and tourism, and meet industry professionals in rugby, cricket, netball, water sports and surfing.
What skills you will learn?
- facility and event management,
- organizational analysis,
- social relations,
- sport marketing,
- sport finance
What can you do with a sport business degree?
Graduates go on to work in facility and event management, marketing and promotion, sport communication, sales, sport tourism, and amateur and professional sport management.
What are the top sport business degree jobs?
| Career | Growth | Salary |
|---|---|---|
| Sport Facility Manager | 9% (As fast as average) | $98,890 per year $47.54 per hour $72,056 |
| Marketing Manager | 10% (As fast as average) | $141,490 per year $68.03 per hour |
| Athletic Director | 24% (Much faster than average) | $76,400 per year $36.73 per hour |
From the Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2020.
Where are Saint Leo sport business graduates now?
Many Saint Leo graduates have attained senior-level positions in the sport industry. Graduates work in a variety of sport-related fields—from the collegiate level to the minor and major leagues.
College of Business
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Saint Leo University’s Donald R. Tapia College of Business provides a values-centered education that develops tomorrow’s business leaders. Our students create a personal legacy of character and integrity, developing into responsible global citizens ready to contribute to society across numerous fields. As the largest Catholic business College in the U.S., students find flexible degree program options at University Campus, education centers in five states, and online.
From associate to doctoral offerings, our accredited degree programs infuse student-centered teaching, future-paced research, entrepreneurial leadership, and professional networking opportunities. Students publish papers in esteemed academic journals, present original research at national conferences, and travel around the world to learn about the complexities of overseas markets. Faculty bring decades of practical experience to the coursework, ensuring students are on the cutting edge of their desired field to achieve career success.
Accreditation
Saint Leo University is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges to award associate, bachelor’s, master’s, specialist, and doctoral degrees.
Saint Leo University is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs (ACBSP).