Research transparency
How this page was developed
Online, self-administered cross-sectional survey of current students and recent graduates of U.S. sport management bachelor's and master's programs, fielded June 15 through July 31, 2026.
Sample size: 421
Key findings
65% of master's respondents rated career prospects good or excellent, compared with 52% of bachelor's respondents.
39% of bachelor's respondents and 27% of master's respondents reported being unsure about their career path.
55% of master's respondents reported working in a sport-related field, compared with 39% of bachelor's respondents.
What does this survey measure?
This report presents Study Kinesiology’s 2026 survey of current students and recent graduates of bachelor’s and master’s sport management programs. It measures career prospects, satisfaction, confidence and readiness, perceived value relative to cost, current employment alignment, further-education plans, and whether respondents would choose or recommend the degree again.
It is primary survey research, not a school ranking, job-placement report, or causal study. The findings describe an opt-in sample and should not be read as a population estimate or proof that one degree level creates a particular employment outcome.
Who was included in the 2026 Sport Management Student Survey?
The final analytic sample was 421 respondents: 301 bachelor’s respondents (71.5%) and 120 master’s respondents (28.5%). It included 312 current students (74.1%) and 109 recent graduates (25.9%). The online survey ran from June 15 through July 31, 2026, with an estimated completion time of five to seven minutes.
Eligible respondents were at least 18 years old, currently enrolled in or recently graduated from a sport management program, and completed the required questions. Recent graduates had finished within the preceding five years. The study excluded people outside the field, people under 18, incomplete responses, duplicate submissions, and responses that failed quality-control checks.
Recruitment used university student groups, department and program mailing lists, student organizations, LinkedIn, Reddit, and other social-media channels. This was not a probability sample. People who chose to respond may differ from people who did not see or complete the survey.
How were responses checked and reported?
The survey was online and self-administered. Duplicate submissions were identified through response metadata and or identical response patterns; only the first valid submission was retained. Responses with substantial missing data, implausibly short completion times, or patterned or inattentive responses were excluded.
Percentages use valid responses to the individual question as the denominator. For five-point items, 1 represented very poor or very dissatisfied and 5 represented excellent or very satisfied. “Good or excellent” and “satisfied or very satisfied” mean responses of 4 or 5. A sport-related field includes sport administration, event operations, athletic administration, marketing, facilities, community sport, sport performance support, or closely related work.
How did bachelor’s and master’s respondents rate career prospects?
| Reported result | Bachelor’s | Master’s |
|---|---|---|
| Good or excellent career prospects | 52% (157/301) | 65% (78/120) |
| Career prospects, average | 3.3 / 5 | 3.7 / 5 |
| Confident about career | 49% (147/301) | 64% (77/120) |
| Career confidence, average | 3.1 / 5 | 3.5 / 5 |
| Feel prepared for career | 48% (145/301) | 62% (74/120) |
| Career readiness, average | 3.0 / 5 | 3.4 / 5 |
| Unsure about career path | 39% (117/301) | 27% (32/120) |
Master’s respondents in this sample reported stronger career perceptions, but the result cannot establish that graduate education caused them. Prior experience, specialization, local opportunities, and self-selection into graduate school may also affect responses.
How satisfied were respondents with their degree?
| Reported result | Bachelor’s | Master’s |
|---|---|---|
| Satisfied or very satisfied | 64% (193/301) | 73% (88/120) |
| Overall satisfaction, average | 3.5 / 5 | 3.8 / 5 |
| Would choose degree again | 57% (172/301) | 68% (82/120) |
| Would not choose degree again | 24% (72/301) | 18% (22/120) |
| Would recommend degree | 62% (187/301) | 71% (85/120) |
| Likelihood to recommend, average | 6.5 / 10 | 7.2 / 10 |
The gap between satisfaction and career certainty matters. Students can value sport as a field while still needing better visibility into entry roles, internship quality, compensation structures, and the local relationships that often shape early opportunities.
What did respondents report about value, employment, and next steps?
| Reported result | Bachelor’s | Master’s |
|---|---|---|
| Good or excellent ROI | 44% (133/301) | 55% (66/120) |
| Degree ROI, average | 3.0 / 5 | 3.3 / 5 |
| Working in a sport-related field | 39% (117/301) | 55% (66/120) |
| Plan additional education | 42% (126/301) | 31% (37/120) |
This survey points to a practical decision problem, not a verdict on the field. Before paying for a program, students should identify the first two or three roles they would realistically pursue, ask what experience those roles require, and investigate whether the school offers direct access to those experiences and networks.
What should prospective students do with these results?
Use this survey as one student-experience input alongside program facts. Ask advisors how internships are sourced and supervised, which employers regularly recruit students, how alumni networks operate, and whether the school tracks placement or graduate-school outcomes.
Compare the sport management concentration, read the kinesiology degree ROI guide, and use the online-program vetting checklist before applying.
How should this survey be cited?
Li, Mark. 2026 Sport Management Student Survey: Career Outlook, Satisfaction, and Degree-Level Differences. Study Kinesiology. Fielded June 15 to July 31, 2026. Accessed August 13, 2026. https://studykinesiology.com/insights/2026-sport-management-student-survey/
What are the limits of this survey?
This is a self-reported, opt-in, cross-sectional survey. It cannot establish causation, predict an individual student’s outcome, or represent all U.S. sport management students and graduates. It does not replace institution-level outcome reporting or independently verified employment records. The published report contains aggregated findings and methodological definitions; respondent-level data are not published because survey responses may contain identifying information.
Primary sources
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