St. John’s Master’s Program in Sport Management Ranked Among Nation’s Best

St. John’s University’s master’s degree program in Sport Management is among the best in the nation, according to recent rankings from SportBusiness, an industry thought leader and consultant to sports leagues and teams around the world.     

St. John’s Master of Professional Studies in Sport Management program was ranked 23rd in the company’s 2025 rankings, up from 29 a year ago. The 36-credit program is offered by The Lesley H. and William L. Collins College of Professional Studies and complements the College’s undergraduate Bachelor of Science in Sport Management program.      

“We are New York City’s sports University—and we take that to heart,” said David P. Hedlund, Ph.D., Professor and Chairperson, Division of Sport Management. “The University is doing much to get our students connected with those in the industry. We believe we are fulfilling the mission of St. John’s in educating our students and helping them to establish their careers.”

The University began offering undergraduate degrees in athletic administration in 1974. In 2002, the degree was reimagined as a Bachelor of Science in Sport Management. Five years later, St. John’s began its sport management master’s program.

The master’s program is broad in scope, preparing students for careers in athletic administration, events and facility management, marketing and communications, sports business, and more. Graduates can find employment in professional sports organizations, collegiate athletics, community programs, the news media, and in the nonprofit sector. According to Dr. Hedlund, 52 students are currently enrolled in the master’s program; 340 students are enrolled in the undergraduate program.  

Devin Morgan ’22MPS enrolled in the St. John’s program after playing professional soccer in Europe. He is now the Manager of Competition for Major League Soccer (MLS), a top-tier league with franchises in the US and Canada.   

He credits the St. John’s program with kick-starting his career in MLS’ administrative offices.

“What makes the Division of Sport Management—and this program—unique is the extent to which the professors, academic advisers, and career development counselors work together in providing students with the knowledge and experience to obtain a rewarding professional life,” Mr. Morgan said. “The work was challenging and always interesting, and encouragement from leaders within the Division of Sport Management played a massive role in preparing me for my current position.” 

Master’s degree candidates are required to complete 21 credits in courses such as Ethical and Legal Aspects of Sport, Financial Perspectives in Sport, and Strategic Sport Management. Candidates then select 15 credits of electives in areas such as Creativity and Innovation in Sport, Foundations and Evolution of Sport Management, Intercollegiate Athletics Administration, Risk Management in Sport, and Sports Statistics and Analytics. Full-time students can complete the program in as little as 18 months.

SportBusiness evaluated graduate programs across 25 criteria, including career support, class sizes, mentorship opportunities, postgraduation employment and salaries, and the quality of faculty. Rankings are based on responses to two surveys—one sent to administrators at peer institutions, and another sent to alumni who graduated three years ago; the 2025 rankings are based on responses from St. John’s class of 2022.

According to Dr. Hedlund, the St. John’s program is unique because of its emphasis on management, which prepares students for work in diverse career fields.

“Certainly, people who have worked in sports or who have had opportunities in sports are more drawn to our program,” Dr. Hedlund said. “But we have seen people with sport management degrees working for banks and running their nonprofit arms.” 

“We have required classes at the graduate level, and these are what we believe are the most important classes,” Dr. Hedlund continued. “But when you look at some of the elective opportunities—whether they are classes on coaching, events and facilities, or college athletics—students have an opportunity to explore these in great detail.”