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College of Business
Copeland Hall
1 Ohio University
Athens OH 45701-2979

Master in Sports Administration Careers

Create a Winning Career with the OMSA

Upon completing the Online Master of Sports Administration degree, you'll have the breadth of knowledge to pursue a range of leadership roles in industries such as college athletics, professional sports, sports media, and more. You will understand and apply business concepts, trends, principles, and theories that broaden your horizon, and examine the diverse issues that are encountered by sports executives.

  • Earn average salaries over $76,0001
  • Position yourself for athletic director, VP and C-suite careers

What Can You Do with an Online Master in Sports Administration?

The OMSA is your ticket to in-demand career options thanks to the master's level knowledge of critical sports business functions you will gain in the program.

  • Operations Manager Average Salary

    $120,207

    per year2

  • Marketing Manager Average Salary

    $76,329

    per year1

  • Director of Ticket Operations

    $73,412

    per year3

  • Director of Operations

    $200,631

    per year4

MSA Alumni Across the Country – and the World

Ohio University’s Master of Sports Administration has over 1900 alumni members. Our world-class connections can help you access benefits like industry-leading job placement, high starting salaries and other exciting professional opportunities after graduation. 

You can find MSA Alumni: 

  • 7 Countries
  • 10 Fortune 500 Employers
  • 23 Professional Sports Teams
Graphic image of a map of the United States that depicts states with Master of Sports Administration (Online & Professional) Alumni in different colors.

Job Titles 

  • Account Supervisor
  • Director of Development 
  • Director of Operations 
  • Event Manager

Employers

  • 4FRONT
  • Major League Soccer
  • NY Jets
  • US Air Force

Work Settings 

  • High School/Collegiate Sports
  • Sport Marketing Agency
  • Military
  • Professional Sports

MSA Alumni Network Infographic Transcript

Graphic image of a map of the United States that depicts states with Master of Sports Administration (Online & Professional) Alumni in different colors.  The upper right corner shows a legend of the image colors with dark green for Ohio, medium green for other alumni states, and light green for those states with no alumni.  Ohio is shaded with dark green.  Ten states are shaded with a light green and the remaining 41 states are shaded in a medium green color.  In the lower left corner there is a list of International Alumni locations including Canada, Ireland, Jamaica, Spain, and Thailand.

Rise to Leadership in Sports Administration

At Ohio University, we work with students to create layered, comprehensive and diverse experiences that build the know-how and character it takes to disrupt, impact, and lead any business.

Upon completing your degree, your education will empower you to pursue a range of leadership roles in college athletics, professional sports, sports media, and more. Ohio University has a long tradition of preparing professionals for meaningful career advancement. When you graduate, you will be prepared to pursue new opportunities in the sport business world or level up in your current organization.

  • Join more than 1,900 alumni employed in key, high-level positions across the sport industry.
  • The average sports management salary for someone with a master's degree is $127,000 per year and can range from $95,000 to about $178,000 per year.5
"I chose Ohio University because of its top-ranked sports management program. The rigorous academic curriculum coupled with real-world application and the most distinguished alumni network in the industry make the OHIO PMSA program simply the best in sports business." —Chad Brinker Pro Scout, Green Bay Packers

Program Outcomes and Skills Acquired

What You'll Learn

  • An understanding of sports business knowledge across business disciplines.
  • Professional abilities that are relevant to the sports business professions.
  • The ability to formulate decisions using sports business principles, methods, trends, and best practices.

Skills You'll Gain

  • The ability to deliver solutions for effective operations of sport facilities and events.
  • The ability to integrate various sport governance structures with legal implications to inform decision-making and policy development.
  • The ability to generate revenue using advanced sports marketing, finance, and sales strategies.
  • The ability to construct research instruments to validate or forecast data outcomes that can solve sports business problems.
  • The ability to develop and deliver multi-mode communications that convey a clear understanding of the unique needs of different audiences.
  • The ability to lead and collaborate with people of different backgrounds to form new sports business ideas, strategies, and decisions.

Career Services

Ohio University's online students have access to free career support through OHIO Online Career Services. Connect with a personal career coach, access AI-assisted resume and interview tools, explore job search resources, and tap into alumni networking — all designed to support you wherever you are in your career journey.

Learn about Career Services

Personalized Career Coaching

Schedule a one-on-one appointment with the OHIO Online Career Services team for personalized guidance on career goals, job search strategy, and professional development.

Job Search Resources

The OHIO Online Career Hub provides resume templates, interview practice tools, job boards, and professional development webinars.

Professional Development Sessions

OHIO students can also participate in free professional development sessions led by industry experts. These live, virtual sessions cover topics like career self-concept, basic job search skills, and how to qualify for promotions and prepare for leadership opportunities.

Sources

  1. "Average Marketing Manager Salary," PayScale. Retrieved April 16, 2026, from https://www.payscale.com/research/US/Job=Marketing_Manager/Salary.
  2. "Average Operations Manager Salary," PayScale. Retrieved April 16, 2026, from https://www.salary.com/research/salary/benchmark/operations-manager-salary.
  3. "Director of Ticket Operations Salary." Comparably. Retrieved April 16, 2026, from https://www.comparably.com/salaries/salaries-for-director-of-ticket-operations.
  4. "Operations Director Salary in the United States.” Salary.com. Retrieved April 16, 2026 from https://www.salary.com/research/salary/benchmark/operations-director-salary.
  5. "Sports Management Pay FAQ," Glass Door. Retrieved April 22, 2026, from https://www.glassdoor.com/Salaries/sports-management-salary-SRCH_KO0,17.htm.
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