2026 Best Sports Management Schools in Tennessee
Sports Management degree programs prepare students for a range of careers in the field. While the number of schools offering the program varies, there are still top-quality ones to be found.
For its 2026 ranking, College Factual looked at 23 schools in the United States to determine which ones were the best for sports management students pursuing a degree.
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Best Schools for Sports Management in Tennessee
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest overall sports management education in Tennessee.
Top Schools in Sports Management
Our analysis ranked The University Of Tennessee the best school in the country for a degree in sports management. The University Of Tennessee is a very large public school located in the city of Knoxville. The University Of Tennessee graduates 74% of students within six years. There were roughly 165 sports management students who graduated with this degree at The University Of Tennessee in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, sports management degree recipients from The University Of Tennessee generally make around $35,175. Typical student debt for the program is $21,500.
See the full sports management program report for The University Of Tennessee
A rank of #2 makes Cumberland University one of the top schools for sports management. This mid-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the town of Lebanon. About 42% of students finish within six years. Cumberland University awarded about 11 sports management degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, sports management degree recipients from Cumberland University generally make around $47,696. Cumberland University graduates carry a median of $21,902 in student loans.
Get the full sports management details for Cumberland University
Belmont University is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in sports management, landing the #3 spot this year. Set in the city of Nashville, Belmont University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 70% of students complete a degree within six years here. Belmont University awarded about 38 sports management degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, sports management degree recipients from Belmont University generally make around $37,139. Belmont University graduates carry a median of $20,000 in student loans.
More information about a degree in sports management from Belmont University
Students looking for a strong sports management program will find one at Milligan College, which ranked #4. Milligan College is a small private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Milligan. Milligan College graduates 63% of students within six years. Milligan College awarded about 11 sports management degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their sports management degree from Milligan College earn around $64,327 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $23,601 to complete this degree.
See the full sports management program report for Milligan College
Freed Hardeman University is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in sports management, ranking #5. Freed Hardeman University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the town of Henderson. Freed Hardeman University graduates 69% of students within six years. Freed Hardeman University awarded about 12 sports management degrees in the most recent data year. Sports Management graduates of Freed Hardeman University earn a median of $54,530 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $24,479.
See the full sports management program report for Freed Hardeman University
East Tennessee State University landed the #6 spot for sports management this year. East Tennessee State University is a large public school located in the city of Johnson City. Roughly 53% of students complete a degree within six years here. East Tennessee State University awarded about 64 sports management degrees in the most recent data year. Sports Management graduates of East Tennessee State University earn a median of $34,043 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $22,036.
Read more about the sports management program at East Tennessee State University
University Of Memphis placed #7 among the best sports management schools. University Of Memphis is a very large public school located in the city of Memphis. Roughly 51% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 69 sports management degrees were awarded at University Of Memphis in the most recent year. Sports Management graduates of University Of Memphis earn a median of $35,610 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $27,500.
More information about a degree in sports management from University Of Memphis
Trevecca Nazarene University placed #8 among the best sports management schools. Set in the city of Nashville, Trevecca Nazarene University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Trevecca Nazarene University graduates 53% of students within six years. Trevecca Nazarene University awarded about 12 sports management degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, sports management degree recipients from Trevecca Nazarene University generally make around $52,004. Typical student debt for the program is $24,962.
More information about a degree in sports management from Trevecca Nazarene University
Carson Newman College placed #9 among the best sports management schools. Set in the suburb of Jefferson City, Carson Newman College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 52%. Carson Newman College awarded about 19 sports management degrees in the most recent data year. Sports Management graduates of Carson Newman College earn a median of $25,972 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $25,625 to complete this degree.
Get the full sports management details for Carson Newman College
Tennessee Wesleyan College came in at #10 for sports management this year. Set in the town of Athens, Tennessee Wesleyan College is a small private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 48% of students complete a degree within six years here. Tennessee Wesleyan College awarded about 10 sports management degrees in the most recent data year. Sports Management graduates of Tennessee Wesleyan College earn a median of $58,859 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $29,750.
More information about a degree in sports management from Tennessee Wesleyan College
Tusculum College ranked #11 on our 2026 list of the best sports management schools. Set in the town of Greeneville, Tusculum College is a small private not-for-profit institution. About 26% of students finish within six years. Tusculum College awarded about 37 sports management degrees in the most recent data year. Sports Management graduates of Tusculum College earn a median of $22,825 early in their careers. Tusculum College graduates carry a median of $24,000 in student loans.
More information about a degree in sports management from Tusculum College
Bethel University Tennessee ranked #12 on our 2026 list of the best sports management schools. Located in the town of McKenzie, Bethel University Tennessee is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. The six-year graduation rate is 17%. Bethel University Tennessee awarded about 11 sports management degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, sports management degree recipients from Bethel University Tennessee generally make around $31,638. Students borrow a median of $29,677 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in sports management from Bethel University Tennessee
More Sports Management Rankings
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Notes and References
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 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 · 23 schools evaluated.
- The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a branch of the U.S. Department of Education (DOE), serves as the core of our data about colleges.
- Some other college data, including much of the graduate earnings data, comes from the U.S. Department of Education’s (College Scorecard).
More about our data sources and methodologies.
