Sports MBA Recognized as Top Program

“I'm thrilled to see SDSU Sports MBA recognized as one of the world's best sports business programs alongside programs that have been around for decades.”

San Diego State University’s Sports Master of Business Administration (SMBA) program was recently recognized as one of the best programs in the world. SportBusiness International, the leading ranking system for postgraduate sports management courses, named the SMBA program No. 4 on its list of graduate-level sports programs.

The company surveyed alumni and course leaders from more than 70 programs around the world. The post-graduate programs were assessed based on several factors, including the quality of course content, the number and standing of guest speakers, the provision and quality of work placements and internships, as well as alumni support.

Each institution’s overall academic reputation, number and experience of staff, and research capability also factored into the results.

This is the first time the 12-year-old program has been ranked in this listing, which makes the achievement particularly meaningful to Scott Minto (SMBA ‘06), who has been working as the program’s director since its infancy.

“I'm thrilled to see SDSU Sports MBA recognized as one of the world's best sports business programs alongside programs that have been around for decades,” said Minto. “Top students are drawn to SDSU because we offer the right type of degree for today's sports industry, an analytics-heavy MBA that is focused on building business skills.”

The SMBA also prides itself on the diversity of its students. It is one of a few programs in the nation that frequently enrolls more women than men.

“The sports industry is one of the most difficult to break into, so the focus on hands-on experience during the program was important.” said Sarah Winfield (’15, ’17) an e-marketing specialist at Fanatics. “Since I graduated, it has also become increasingly important to me to that the sports post-graduate program I represent gives equal opportunity to all applicants, regardless of gender, in a male-dominated industry.”

The SMBA program enrolls an average of 30 students a year. The small class size allows Minto to offer a week-long trip to the Dominican Republic each year, where the entire class is immersed in the communities from which Major League Baseball (MLB) recruits many prospects.

Students research player development and learn how MLB and its teams operate in a developing country. The mandatory international component not only allows students to see the what impact international player recruitment has on the impoverished Dominican Republic, but also adds the benefit of networking with representatives from MLB teams.

"SDSU Sports MBA alumni are currently working in key roles for the most prestigious teams and brands across the globe, and these same alumni consistently look to donate their time and expertise in making the program best in class,” said Jack Tipton (’06), who now works as director of partnership sales for the Pittsburgh Penguins. “I wouldn’t have two Stanley Cup rings as a career achievement without the help of the people and curriculum of this outstanding program.”