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2027 Best Sports Management Schools in Illinois

13 Colleges in the United States
418 Sports Management Degrees Awarded
$36,107 Avg Early-Career Salary

Sports Management is a field worth a close look when choosing where to study. The schools below stand out for the quality of their sports management programs.

College Factual analyzed 13 schools to build this 2027 ranking of the best sports management schools.

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Best Schools for Sports Management in Illinois

If you are not interested in a particular degree level and want to know which schools are the overall best at delivering an education for the sports management degrees they offer, see the list below.

Top Schools in Sports Management

1

No school ranked higher than Northwestern University this year for sports management. This very large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Evanston. Northwestern University graduates 95% of students within six years. Northwestern University awarded about 57 sports management degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, sports management degree recipients from Northwestern University generally make around $58,537. Typical student debt for the program is $16,616. Read more about the sports management program at Northwestern University

2
Elmhurst College crest
Elmhurst College
Elmhurst, IL

Elmhurst College is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in sports management, landing the #2 spot this year. Set in the suburb of Elmhurst, Elmhurst College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 70% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 20 sports management students who graduated with this degree at Elmhurst College in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, sports management degree recipients from Elmhurst College generally make around $31,538. Elmhurst College graduates carry a median of $23,375 in student loans. See the full sports management program report for Elmhurst College

3
Lewis University crest
Lewis University
Romeoville, IL

Students looking for a strong sports management program will find one at Lewis University, which ranked #3. Set in the suburb of Romeoville, Lewis University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. About 67% of students finish within six years. Lewis University awarded about 21 sports management degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, sports management degree recipients from Lewis University generally make around $28,856. Typical student debt for the program is $26,000. See the full sports management program report for Lewis University

4
North Central College crest
North Central College
Naperville, IL

Students looking for a strong sports management program will find one at North Central College, which ranked #4. Set in the city of Naperville, North Central College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 64%. There were roughly 31 sports management students who graduated with this degree at North Central College in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, sports management degree recipients from North Central College generally make around $34,609. Typical student debt for the program is $27,000. See the full sports management program report for North Central College

5
Aurora University crest
Aurora University
Aurora, IL

A rank of #5 makes Aurora University one of the top schools for sports management. Aurora University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Aurora. Aurora University graduates 60% of students within six years. There were roughly 26 sports management students who graduated with this degree at Aurora University in the most recent data year. Sports Management graduates of Aurora University earn a median of $37,256 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete this degree. See the full sports management program report for Aurora University

6

Eastern Illinois University placed #6 among the best sports management schools. Set in the town of Charleston, Eastern Illinois University is a large public institution. About 47% of students finish within six years. About 35 sports management degrees were awarded at Eastern Illinois University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, sports management degree recipients from Eastern Illinois University generally make around $36,776. Eastern Illinois University graduates carry a median of $25,000 in student loans. More information about a degree in sports management from Eastern Illinois University

7

Northern Illinois University placed #7 among the best sports management schools. Located in the suburb of Dekalb, Northern Illinois University is a large public university. The six-year graduation rate is 49%. There were roughly 78 sports management students who graduated with this degree at Northern Illinois University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the sports management program make about $36,011 in their early career. Northern Illinois University graduates carry a median of $27,418 in student loans. Read more about the sports management program at Northern Illinois University

8

Concordia University Chicago ranked #8 on our 2027 list of the best sports management schools. Concordia University Chicago is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of River Forest. Roughly 36% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 73 sports management students who graduated with this degree at Concordia University Chicago in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, sports management degree recipients from Concordia University Chicago generally make around $40,158. Typical student debt for the program is $26,166. More information about a degree in sports management from Concordia University Chicago

9

Southern Illinois University Carbondale came in at #9 for sports management this year. This large public university is located in the town of Carbondale. Southern Illinois University Carbondale graduates 60% of students within six years. There were roughly 20 sports management students who graduated with this degree at Southern Illinois University Carbondale in the most recent data year. Graduates of the sports management program make about $34,705 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $22,750. Read more about the sports management program at Southern Illinois University Carbondale

10
Eureka College crest
Eureka College
Eureka, IL

Eureka College ranked #10 on our 2027 list of the best sports management schools. This small private not-for-profit university is located in the town of Eureka. The six-year graduation rate is 41%. About 11 sports management degrees were awarded at Eureka College in the most recent year. Graduates of the sports management program make about $40,144 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $26,619. Read more about the sports management program at Eureka College

11

Mckendree University came in at #11 for sports management this year. Located in the suburb of Lebanon, Mckendree University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Roughly 53% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 15 sports management degrees were awarded at Mckendree University in the most recent year. Students who receive their sports management degree from Mckendree University earn around $31,259 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $27,000. More information about a degree in sports management from Mckendree University

12

Western Illinois University came in at #12 for sports management this year. Set in the town of Macomb, Western Illinois University is a moderately-sized public institution. About 45% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 13 sports management students who graduated with this degree at Western Illinois University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, sports management degree recipients from Western Illinois University generally make around $33,473. Typical student debt for the program is $31,000. Read more about the sports management program at Western Illinois University

13

Millikin University ranked #13 on our 2027 list of the best sports management schools. Set in the city of Decatur, Millikin University is a small private not-for-profit institution. About 55% of students finish within six years. Millikin University awarded about 18 sports management degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their sports management degree from Millikin University earn around $26,065 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $27,000. Read more about the sports management program at Millikin University

View All Sports Management Rankings >

Notes and References

This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 edition. The methodology weighs graduation rate, post-graduation earnings, cost, and program quality, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).

Ranking method: College Major Top Ranked · 13 schools evaluated.

More about our data sources and methodologies.

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