Colorado Sports Degree Programs, Online Included

Alexis Bennett

Collegiate D1 Golf Coach; MS Sport Management, University of Florida. Last updated January 25, 2024.

Depending on the level of degree you are seeking, there are nearly 15 sports degree program tracks available, several listed below, located in Colorado. While limited, there are also online track options through Colorado-based institutions, depending upon your chosen curriculum.

Depending on the level of degree you are seeking, there are nearly 15 sports degree program tracks available, several listed below, located in the state of Colorado. While limited, there are also online sports degree options through Colorado-based institutions, with options for online Bachelors in sports programs and online Masters in Sport Management degrees.

Click for more online sports programs that are taking applications for 2025.

5 Top Universities for Sports Degrees in Colorado

Adams State University - On-Campus B.S. in Kinesiology, Sport and Recreation Management, Online M.A. in Sport Managment, On-Campus M.A. in Sport Management

Adams State offers a B.S. undergraduate degree that combines a Kinesiology core (25 credit hours) with a Sport and Recreation Management emphasis (33 credit hours) so students gain experience in both the scientific and business realms of sport. Courses like Human Motor Development and Adapted Physical Activity are combined with Funding Sports Organizations and Statistics in Kinesiology.

Each program at Adams State has a Senior Capstone Project, called a Signature Work, taken in the final year to demonstrate a cumulative base of knowledge gained throughout the program. Each degree track has this requirement but the format of the Signature Work may vary widely. For some, it's an art exhibit, for others a research paper. Regardless of delivery method, the Signature Work is designed to show a student's ability to make connections from previous courses and their learning outcomes with the real world and what's ahead for the chosen student's career track of choice.

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Colorado Mesa University - Online B.S. or A.S. in Sport Management, On-Campus B.S. in Sport Management, Online M.S. in Sport Management

Colorado Mesa is easily the Colorado-based university with the widest variety of educational opportunities within the sport management landscape. You can customize your level of involvement with a minor, an Associate's degree, or the traditional undergraduate and graduate options but with the added feature of online learning. Furthermore, if affordability is a key factor in your degree selection process, Colorado Mesa University comes in at very reasonable price.

As of the 2021-2022 academic year, rates were estimated at less than $325 for both in-class and online learning programs with state and federal grants available as well as foundation and merit scholarships for those that qualify. Though not science degrees, at CMU, Sport Management still falls under the kinesiology umbrella giving students a well-rounded view as well as access to technology like the Human Performance Lab. The Masters' degree, offered via thesis and non-thesis tracks, includes three components: research core, sport management core, and elective courses.

Undergraduate Website
Graduate Website

University of Northern Colorado - On-Campus B.S. in Sport & Exercise Science, Emphasis in Sport Administration, On-Campus M.S. in Sport & Exercise Science, Sport Administration, On-Campus Ph.D. in Sport & Exercise Science, Sport Administration

The Sport and Exercise Bachelor of Science at Northern Colorado has a vast selection of concentrations, of which sport management is only one! Other concentrations to choose from include Exercise Science, Human Performance, Physical Education, and Sport Coaching. The Sport Administration emphasis though, at 120 credit hours, provides one of the more traditional, business-minded degrees for those interested in working at the organizational level of sports, where it be at an NCAA institution, in the recreational and city space, or as part of a professional team.

The four areas this emphasis track focuses on are: sport marketing, finance and economics, organizational behavior, and event or facility management. While there are again Sport Administration concentration levels with the graduate program and Ph.D. track, UNC continues to prove its dedication in this area by providing various tracks that are related. For example, UNC also has Master's in Sport Coaching, Athletic Training, and the Social Psychology of Sport as well as Doctorate level study tracks in Physical Education, Biomechanics and more. In other words, it's feasible to advance your education all the way through the three levels, while never leaving UNC, and still choose three distinctly different areas of study; well-rounded would be an understatement!
Undergraduate Website
Graduate Website

University of Colorado Denver - On-Campus B.A. in Sports Business, On-Campus B.S.B.A. in Business Administration, Sports Business

Taking a more corporate-minded approach outside of the collegiate or recreational sports level, UC Denver's undergraduate degrees are within the business school and just use sports as the model for a core business degree. There are several components, regardless of which degree track you choose, that stand up and set UC Denver apart. Studying abroad, while an option at many universities, is more like a partnership at UC Denver.

The school has an established program, named London Calling, that offers students an inside look into the some of the UK’s top sports organizations like Chelsea FC, Wembley, Wimbledon, and the BBC. A second, uniquely UC Denver, component is a non-business core selection of four required courses that set students up for the most well-rounded of business educations in sports. The non-business core is comprised of Microeconomics, Professional Speaking, Business Writing, and Experiential Learning. Lastly, a requirement not found in almost any other sports business or management degree, UC Denver requires graduating seniors to have completed an internship specifically in the areas of Risk Management or Insurance.

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List of Sports Degrees in Colorado

Click for 100% online sports programs that are taking applications.

Colorado State University – Online M.A. in Sport Management

Typically, Sport Management is a concentration or specialization within a broader degree program. At Colorado State, there are still further specialized options. In fact, when enrolled in the online Master’s at CSU, students are required to choose one of four Sport Management tracks: Generalist, Business Foundations, Marketing, or Sport Media and Communications. At $750 per credit hour, it’s not the least expensive option out there, particularly for an online degree. 93% of alumni were polled as agreeing they would choose CSU if given the option! With emphasis on integrity, selfless leadership, and globalization of the athletics industry as a whole, CSU is committed to a holistic, liberal arts, and well-rounded education.

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Careers and Sport Organizations in Colorado

Colorado is home to some of the most active populations in the country. Whether you’re a fan of swimming, biking, off-roading, skiing, boating, golfing, hiking, or kayaking, you name it, you can find it in Colorado. While every state offers indoor and outdoor sports and facility management careers, Colorado arguably has the widest selection, especially outdoors. Park rangers, ski instructors, hiking guides, it’s a place full of potential to stay active and advance your career.

Particularly in the greater Denver metro area, there are 10 YMCA locations, 12 mountain ski resorts, 80+ golf courses, and it’s home to 6 professional sports teams in football (Broncos), basketball (Nuggets), baseball (Rockies), hockey (Avalanche), soccer (Rapids), and even lacrosse (Mammoth). Colorado is a sport management alumnus heaven; there truly is something for everyone.

Sports Degrees by Level

• Bachelors degrees in sports
• Online Bachelors in Sports Management
• Online Masters in Sports Management
• Doctorate degrees in sports

Sport Program Areas

• Athletic Administration Degrees
• Exercise Science Degrees
• Kinesiology Degrees
• Coaching Degrees
• Health and Wellness Degrees
• Sports Industry Management
• Sports Analytics Degrees
• Sports Marketing Degrees
• Sports Psychology Degrees
• Recreation Management Degrees