- Working professionals who need to keep earning while they study
- Candidates committed to a career in entertainment management
- You want the in-person cohort and on-campus recruiting of a full-time program
- You want a generalist MBA and aren't set on entertainment management
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The best online MBA in Entertainment Management programs prepares students for exciting careers in the entertainment industry, including the sports and music business. Just think of summer music festivals (e.g., Bonnaroo and Coachella) and concerts, cultural events (e.g., Rose Parade and Burning Man), and personal events (e.g., weddings) that require the expert services of entertainment directors!
These Entertainment Management programs are relatively new concentrations in MBA programs but are welcome, nonetheless, because of the increasing demand for entertainment professionals with specialized skills.
Think about it: The US media and entertainment industry is worth $717 billion, with an 8.9% projected growth rate through 2030. With the international media and entertainment industry worth $2.2 trillion, there are huge opportunities for MBA graduates abroad, too.
What exactly is Entertainment Management? Professionals manage aspiring and established entertainers, musicians, and artists, as well as engage in facilities management for theaters and cinemas, museums, art galleries and other arts and culture organizations, theme parks, sports events, nightclubs and live entertainment facilities, and broadcast media companies. Their duties include fundraising and financial management, business development, and other activities related to business administration.
For this reason, Entertainment Management is closely related to Sports Entertainment Management, with the latter being more focused on the business administration of sports organizations and events as well as professional athletes.
With a master’s in entertainment management degree, you can take advantage of career advancement opportunities in both the entertainment and sports industries.
At a Glance
The best online MBA with a concentration in Entertainment Management programs is an excellent training ground for ambitious individuals whose professional goals include making it big in the entertainment business. Students must have a bachelor’s degree in business administration or in other fields to be considered for admission, as well as a passion for the management of live and broadcast entertainment and sports events, among others.
The typical coursework in these MBA in Entertainment Management degree online programs combines core business administration courses and concentration courses that prepare students for their future leadership roles.
Entertainment Management graduates have abundant career advancement opportunities in Hollywood, Nashville, and other centers of the entertainment and sports industries.
Best Online MBA in Entertainment Management
01University of North Texas
G. Brint Ryan College of Business
Online MBA in Sports Entertainment Management
- Estimated Total Tuition: $36,000
- Units Required: 36 credit hours
- Program Length: 2 years
- Financial Assistance Options: Federal financial aid and institutional aid
UNT’s MBA in Sport Entertainment Management degree program features a 36-credit curriculum with 12 courses. The coursework consists of core business and concentration courses that prepare students for both the traditional and innovative aspects of sports and entertainment management.
Created in partnership with the Dallas Cowboys, the master’s in entertainment management program features three in-person boot camps at the UNT campus and the Cowboys facilities. These boot camps consist of guest lectures and project-based learning opportunities in subjects like talent management, e-sports, and strategy.
Such is the success of the MBA in Entertainment Management online program, that 96.3% of its graduates are fully employed.
Courses:
- Branding
- Entrepreneurship
- Data and Analytics
02Wayne State University
Mike Ilitch School of Business
MBA in Sport and Entertainment Management
- Tuition per credit: $657.51 (in-state); $1,424.18 (out-of-state)
- Units Required: 45 credits
- Program Length: 2 years
- Financial Assistance Options: Federal financial aid, military benefits, and scholarships
Wayne’s MBA in Sport and Entertainment Management program promises to open doors of opportunities in career advancement that a bachelor’s degree can’t - and with an extensive network of successful alumni, students can tap into these opportunities, too.
This is an AACSB-accredited MBA program with a GMAT waiver for eligible applicants and a wide range of admission-to-graduation student support services including financial aid opportunities.
The Sport and Entertainment Management program emphasizes both theory and application of business administration principles in general and with specific uses in the industry. Graduates with the sports and entertainment management degree are qualified for leadership positions in the elite industry.
Courses:
- Marketing communications
- Event planning and management
- Managerial finance and economics.
03Drexel University
LeBow College of Business
MBA and Master of Science in Television and Media Management
- Tuition per credit: $1,121
- Units Required: 49 credits
- Program Length: 2 years (part-time)
- Financial Assistance Options: Federal financial aid, scholarships and professional membership discount
Many students in Drexel’s online MBA and Master of Science in Television and Media Management program are already in the entertainment world but want a leg up on the competition for leadership positions.
Students learn the hard and soft skills crucial in adapting to the ever-changing television and media industry, particularly its globalization. With a dual MBA and MS degree, graduates are qualified for management and technical positions, too.
Students can choose to enjoy a study-abroad experience and take advantage of a 20% tuition discount by being NATAS members.
Courses:
- Audience analytics
- Programming
- Media technology
04Florida Atlantic University
College of Business
MBA in Sport Management
- Tuition per credit: $900
- Units Required: 40-43 credits
- Program Length: 23 months
- Financial Assistance Options: Federal financial aid and tuition reimbursement
FAU’s AACSB-accredited MBA in Sport Management program is among the best online master’s degree programs for professionals already in the sport and entertainment business, thanks to its industry-specific curriculum. The online program welcomes students from across the U.S. and the world, too, with its graduates becoming leaders in the sports and entertainment industry in their locales.
Applicants can choose between the fall and spring semesters to start their studies in the sport and live entertainment management program. Students must participate in in-person learning experiences in local and regional facilities and organizations, as well as be employed in the sports industry during their stay in the program.
Courses:
- Managing the Sport Enterprise
- Financial Aspects of Sport Management
- Sport Business Analytics
05Florida International University
College of Business
Professional MBA in Sports Management
- Total Tuition: $42,000
- Units Required: 42 credits/14 courses
- Program Length: 17 months
- Financial Assistance Options: Federal financial aid, scholarships and assistantships
The FIU Chapman Graduate School of Business - Professional MBA in Sports Management program is a partnership with the Real Madrid Graduate School — Universidad Europea. Students benefit from the diversity of the student body - many are international students - and from the top-notch faculty members and guest speakers from renowned sports organizations.
Students may choose an international Madrid-based residency, too. This is in addition to the 14 courses in the 17-month accelerated program. Courses include business law, competitive strategy and business analysis, as well as sports management models including their theory and practice.
Courses:
- Sports Facility Operation
- Entrepreneurship and Sports for Development
06Troy University
Sorrell College of Business
MBA in Music Industry
- Tuition per credit: $475 per credit hour (in-state); $950 (out-of-state)
- Units Required: 30-36 credits
- Program Length: 2 years
- Financial Assistance Options: Federal financial aid, scholarships and grants, and loans
Troy’s MBA in Music Industry program enables students to establish a robust foundation in modern business principles and practices, as well as music industry-specific concepts. Students in the online master’s degree program learn the specific practices of the music business like music marketing, finances and strategies.
The music marketing strategies cover the entire cycle of an artist’s or musician’s career, too, from pre-launch to tours, and these are complemented by the knowledge of the ethical and legal aspects of the industry.
This is the only AACSB-accredited MBA program with a specialization in the music industry, too.
Courses:
- Music Publishing
- Advanced Music Technologies
- Legal Aspects of the Music Industry
07Southern New Hampshire University
Graduate School of Business
MBA in Music Business
- Tuition per credit: $627
- Units Required: 36 credits
- Program Length: 12 months
- Financial Assistance Options: Federal financial aid and employer benefits
Offered as a partnership between SNHU and Berklee College of Music, the MBA in Music Business program encourages students to become creative, innovative and forward-thinking professionals in the music industry.
Graduates don’t just develop the eyes for business but the ears for the music business, too.
Students take four courses from the Berklee College of Music along with SNHU’s business courses. Graduates become leaders in the music industry, higher education, and in the entertainment sector.
Courses:
- Music Business Structures and Strategies
- Music Marketing Strategies
- Music Business Finance
08Metropolitan College of New York
School for Business
MBA in Media Management
- Tuition per credit: $976
- Units Required: 45 credits
- Program Length: 12 months
- Financial Assistance Options: Federal financial aid, scholarships and grants
Students in MCNY’s MBA in Media Management online program must complete 45 credits in three semesters or 12 months. But those with non-business bachelor’s degrees must complete six additional credits (i.e., foundation courses). The online master’s program allows students to choose between full-time and part-time enrolment, as well as attend in-person and online courses (i.e., hybrid format).
Courses:
- Integrated media strategies
- Media leadership strategies
- Entrepreneurial ventures.
09Lynn University
College of Business and Management
MBA in Media Management
- Tuition per credit: $750
- Units Required: 31-37 credits
- Program Length: 10-24 months
- Financial Assistance Options: Federal financial aid, scholarships and loans
Students in Lynn University’s MBA in Media Management online program learn the skills to become above-par communicators, media experts, and strategists. Graduates are qualified for leadership roles in public relations, sales and marketing, and corporate communications, even in management consultancy and higher education.
The asynchronous delivery and small class sizes allow working professionals to pursue their studies and maintain full-time employment. Students can choose between the standard (1-2 years) and accelerated (10 months) online MBA, too.
Courses:
- Digital media writing
- Communication and media technologies
- Media culture
10Tiffin University
School of Business
MBA in Sports Management
- Tuition per credit: $700
- Units Required: 32-36 credits
- Program Length: 14 months
- Financial Assistance Options: Federal financial aid, scholarships and grants, and loans
The accelerated MBA in Sports Management program at Tiffin University requires students to complete 32-36 credits. Students have access to many sports professionals which enables them to gain real-world insights into the sports industry.
There are also 200-hour mentorships that students will benefit from, aside from the expert guidance of credentialed professors.
Tiffin’s program also features an Olympic-based program where students have practical exposure to sports event management at Olympic Games sites. Students may earn a Graduate Certificate in Martial Arts Management, as well as learn about team management, business practices, and leadership skills.
Courses:
- Communication and Fund Raising in Sports
- Business Strategies in Sports
- Sport Mentorship
What You Need to Know About MBA in Entertainment Management Programs
The beauty of MBA in Entertainment Management programs lies in their diversity - their curriculum, learning outcomes, and delivery methods are different - and their similarity in their primary goal (i.e., to train the next generation of entertainment, sports and media management professionals).
Here are a few of the crucial things you must know before considering one of these programs.
Admission Requirements
Every master’s degree in Entertainment Management program requires prospective students to possess a bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited college or university. The bachelor’s degree can be in business administration or in non-business fields but applicants with non-business bachelor’s degrees will likely be required to complete prerequisite courses.
While work experience in the sports, media and entertainment industries isn’t usually required, it may be an advantage (i.e., direct application of classroom learning to workplaces).
Other typical application requirements include:
- Official transcripts with minimum GPA
- Professional resume
- Letters of recommendation
- Personal statement
Curriculum and Courses
Master’s degree in entertainment management programs features curriculums with at least 30 credit hours and coursework divided into core, concentration and elective courses. Common concentration courses in entertainment, media and sports management include:
- Introduction to entertainment, media and sports management and the entertainment industry
- Business strategies
- Human resources management
- Marketing communications in the entertainment industries
- Event planning and management
- Managerial finance
- Sports and entertainment economics
Capstone and/or Dissertation Aspects
Not every MBA in Entertainment Management program requires students to complete a dissertation, or a master’s degree thesis. But most programs have a capstone course and/or capstone project (i.e., final project) requirement.
Typical Time-to-completion
The typical online MBA in Entertainment Management program has a two-year completion period for full-time students but it can be as long as five years for part-time students.
Online Learning Experiences
Students in online Master’s in Entertainment Management degree programs use a learning management system to participate in and avail of the following:
- Synchronous learning where students and professors log in at the same time for interactive classes
- Asynchronous learning where students have 24/7 access to their learning materials and other resources
- Student support services like admissions support, academic advising, technical support, financial aid advising, and library services
- Career counseling and alumni services
Residency Requirements
Many online Master’s in Entertainment Management programs require students to participate in in-person, on-campus activities like orientation weekends and colloquiums. There may be an internship or practicum requirement, too, where students gain work experience in the entertainment sector.
Tuition and Financial Aid
Students in online Master’s in Entertainment Management programs are eligible for federal financial aid, too, just like their on-campus counterparts. With the average cost of a full-time online MBA program at $28,500 per year, federal financial aid is welcome.
Be sure to ask the admissions counselor of whatever online master’s in entertainment management programs you’re interested in about institutional scholarships and grants, too.
Popular Career Paths
MBA in Entertainment Management graduates will find plenty of career advancement opportunities in the sports, media and entertainment industries. The Bureau of Labor Statistics has forecasted a growth rate of 13% (2021-2031) in entertainment and sports occupations.
We can then assume that whichever of the Entertainment Management careers you will pursue, whether, in the sports or entertainment, or music business, your career will be successful. You can be an entertainment manager or a marketing manager, or engaged in facilities management, or one of many business managers in your company.
Sports Agents
Professional athletes need sports agents as their representatives in nearly everything from negotiating contracts to arranging their financial and legal affairs, among other aspects of live entertainment management. Sports agents are excellent at this job.
Sports and Entertainment Managers
Live entertainment management professionals like sport and entertainment managers work with professional athletes, musicians and artists in the effective management of their careers.
Advertising, Promotions, and Marketing Managers
These professionals are crucial in Sport Entertainment Management, too, because public and corporate awareness are essential in the success of athletes, artists and musicians.
Management Analysts
Arts and Entertainment Management is also the domain of management analysts with an MBA degree. Management analysts use their knowledge and skills toward operational and organizational efficiency, among other goals.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the crucial traits necessary to succeed in entertainment and sports occupations?
Professionals in the sports and entertainment business should be adaptive, forward-thinking, and organized individuals with above-par communication, collaboration and critical thinking skills.
What’s the main difference between an MBA in Entertainment Management degree program and a master’s degree program?
The MBA programs have a more macro approach in business administration and with more emphasis on general business administration principles and practices. The online Master of Arts or Science degree programs have a more micro approach, meaning more emphasis on sports, media, and entertainment management.
Both, however, share similar courses like in Entertainment Business Finance.
What can you do to promote your career in the entertainment business?
- Join exclusive job boards for management positions.
- Adopt an attitude of lifelong learning as an arts and entertainment management professional.
- Join a professional organization or two for networking and learning purposes.
- Engage in continuous professional development through training.
Indeed, the power to make your online degree in Entertainment Management worth it lies in your hands!
