Best Online Master’s in Sports Medicine
Are you ready to discover your college program?
Sports medicine is all about preventing injuries and helping athletes improve their performance.
Sports medicine professionals also diagnose and treat exercise-related injuries and design rehabilitation plans to help patients recover after an injury.
A master’s in sports medicine prepares graduates for in-demand jobs like exercise physiologist and athletic trainer. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), these are growing fields that should add tens of thousands of jobs by 2028. Having a master’s in sports medicine can help you stand out when applying for sports medicine jobs.
Our list ranks the best sports medicine colleges to help prospective graduate students find the right program to help them reach their professional goals. This page also provides information about sports medicine salary rates and career prospects, the benefits of an online sports medicine degree, and how to choose the best sports medicine program.
Best Online Master’s in Sports Medicine Programs
The University of Wyoming
Laramie, WY- 4 year
- Campus + Online
- In-State$3,336
- Out-of-state$13,392
- In-State$4,878
- Out-of-state$14,598
- Retention Rate76%
- Acceptance Rate96%
- Students Enrolled12,249
- Institution TypePublic
- Percent Online Enrollment41%
- AccreditationYes
The University of Texas at El Paso
- El Paso, TX
- 4 year
- Campus + Online
- In-State$7,193
- Out-of-state$22,556
- In-State$5,497
- Out-of-state$14,766
- Retention Rate75%
- Acceptance Rate100%
- Students Enrolled25,177
- Institution TypePublic
- Percent Online Enrollment40%
- AccreditationYes
Sam Houston State University
- Huntsville, TX
- 4 year
- Campus + Online
- In-State$5,856
- Out-of-state$15,984
- In-State$5,765
- Out-of-state$13,361
- Retention Rate75%
- Acceptance Rate83%
- Students Enrolled21,558
- Institution TypePublic
- Percent Online Enrollment53%
- AccreditationYes
Concordia University, St. Paul
- Saint Paul, MN
- 4 year
- Campus + Online
- In-State$22,800
- Out-of-state$22,800
- In-State$8,550
- Out-of-state$8,550
- Retention Rate64%
- Acceptance Rate98%
- Students Enrolled5,137
- Institution TypePrivate
- Percent Online Enrollment59%
- AccreditationYes
The University of Northern Colorado
- Greeley, CO
- 4 year
- Campus + Online
- In-State$7,596
- Out-of-state$19,854
- In-State$10,867
- Out-of-state$19,620
- Retention Rate72%
- Acceptance Rate91%
- Students Enrolled12,930
- Institution TypePublic
- Percent Online Enrollment32%
- AccreditationYes
Texas Woman's University
- Denton, TX
- 4 year
- Campus + Online
- In-State$5,430
- Out-of-state$15,559
- In-State$4,973
- Out-of-state$12,569
- Retention Rate73%
- Acceptance Rate93%
- Students Enrolled15,886
- Institution TypePublic
- Percent Online Enrollment60%
- AccreditationYes
Florida Atlantic University
- Boca Raton, FL
- 4 year
- Campus + Online
- In-State$2,522
- Out-of-state$14,374
- In-State$5,467
- Out-of-state$16,695
- Retention Rate81%
- Acceptance Rate63%
- Students Enrolled30,061
- Institution TypePublic
- Percent Online Enrollment49%
- AccreditationYes
California Baptist University
- Riverside, CA
- 4 year
- Campus + Online
- In-State$32,942
- Out-of-state$32,942
- In-State$12,830
- Out-of-state$12,830
- Retention Rate78%
- Acceptance Rate78%
- Students Enrolled11,045
- Institution TypePrivate
- Percent Online Enrollment55%
- AccreditationYes
The University of Central Missouri
- Warrensburg, MO
- 4 year
- Campus + Online
- In-State$7,128
- Out-of-state$14,256
- In-State$7,524
- Out-of-state$15,048
- Retention Rate74%
- Acceptance Rate65%
- Students Enrolled11,229
- Institution TypePublic
- Percent Online Enrollment39%
- AccreditationYes
Liberty University
- Lynchburg, VA
- 4 year
- Campus + Online
- In-State$15,417
- Out-of-state$15,417
- In-State$7,980
- Out-of-state$7,980
- Retention Rate81%
- Acceptance Rate51%
- Students Enrolled85,586
- Institution TypePrivate
- Percent Online Enrollment92%
- AccreditationYes
Southern Utah University
- Cedar City, UT
- 4 year
- Campus + Online
- In-State$6,006
- Out-of-state$19,822
- In-State$7,574
- Out-of-state$23,784
- Retention Rate74%
- Acceptance Rate78%
- Students Enrolled11,224
- Institution TypePublic
- Percent Online Enrollment35%
- AccreditationYes
Georgia Southern University
- Statesboro, GA
- 4 year
- Campus + Online
- In-State$4,371
- Out-of-state$15,425
- In-State$4,977
- Out-of-state$19,890
- Retention Rate78%
- Acceptance Rate54%
- Students Enrolled26,054
- Institution TypePublic
- Percent Online Enrollment41%
- AccreditationYes
The University of Texas Permian Basin
- Odessa, TX
- 4 year
- Campus + Online
- In-State$4,867
- Out-of-state$5,767
- In-State$4,594
- Out-of-state$5,220
- Retention Rate63%
- Acceptance Rate88%
- Students Enrolled5,283
- Institution TypePublic
- Percent Online Enrollment70%
- AccreditationYes
Texas A&M University-Kingsville
- Kingsville, TX
- 4 year
- Campus + Online
- In-State$4,801
- Out-of-state$18,191
- In-State$3,228
- Out-of-state$10,824
- Retention Rate65%
- Acceptance Rate77%
- Students Enrolled7,479
- Institution TypePublic
- Percent Online Enrollment29%
- AccreditationYes
Concordia University Chicago
- River Forest, IL
- 4 year
- Campus + Online
- In-State$31,926
- Out-of-state$31,926
- In-State$8,910
- Out-of-state$8,910
- Retention Rate62%
- Acceptance Rate75%
- Students Enrolled6,205
- Institution TypePrivate
- Percent Online Enrollment68%
- AccreditationYes
Lenoir-Rhyne University
- Hickory, NC
- 4 year
- Campus + Online
- In-State$37,400
- Out-of-state$37,400
- In-State$10,980
- Out-of-state$10,980
- Retention Rate72%
- Acceptance Rate78%
- Students Enrolled2,742
- Institution TypePrivate
- Percent Online Enrollment33%
- AccreditationYes
Auburn University at Montgomery
- Montgomery, AL
- 4 year
- Campus + Online
- In-State$7,752
- Out-of-state$17,424
- In-State$7,362
- Out-of-state$16,542
- Retention Rate66%
- Acceptance Rate90%
- Students Enrolled5,188
- Institution TypePublic
- Percent Online Enrollment47%
- AccreditationYes
The University of Louisiana Monroe
- Monroe, LA
- 4 year
- Campus + Online
- In-State$5,788
- Out-of-state$17,888
- In-State$6,490
- Out-of-state$18,590
- Retention Rate73%
- Acceptance Rate80%
- Students Enrolled8,673
- Institution TypePublic
- Percent Online Enrollment43%
- AccreditationYes
McNeese State University
- Lake Charles, LA
- 4 year
- Campus + Online
- In-State$5,147
- Out-of-state$13,185
- In-State$5,703
- Out-of-state$13,740
- Retention Rate70%
- Acceptance Rate81%
- Students Enrolled7,295
- Institution TypePublic
- Percent Online Enrollment56%
- AccreditationYes
Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi
- Corpus Christi, TX
- 4 year
- Campus + Online
- In-State$4,719
- Out-of-state$14,695
- In-State$3,568
- Out-of-state$11,661
- Retention Rate60%
- Acceptance Rate80%
- Students Enrolled11,452
- Institution TypePublic
- Percent Online Enrollment33%
- AccreditationYes
Best Online Masters
Sports Medicine
2022
Online Master’s in Sports Medicine Ranking Guidelines
We selected the following schools based on the quality of their programs and the types of courses provided. We also considered school awards, rankings, and reputations.
Frequently Asked Questions
What Is Sports Medicine?
Sports medicine treats injuries and illnesses related to athletics, occupations, and exercise. Sports medicine professionals serve children who sustain minor injuries like sprained ankles, elite adult athletes at the peak of their performance, and professionals who suffer repetitive stress injuries. Specialists in sports medicine can help athletes prevent injury during training for specific sports. They can also diagnose and treat injuries related to exercise.
Sports medicine draws on several other disciplines, including physiology, anatomy, nutrition, and medicine. Sports medicine professionals require specialized education and training in these disciplines. Enrolling in an online master’s in sports medicine program builds the knowledge and skills necessary for sports medicine careers.
Within the field of sports medicine, professionals can specialize in many areas. Athletic trainers provide the first line of defense against sports-related injuries on the field. Sports medicine doctors diagnose and treat injuries in a medical setting. Sports nutritionists focus on food as fuel for exercise, while exercise physiologists design rehabilitative exercise programs.
Sports medicine professionals may work in hospitals, rehabilitation centers, doctor’s offices, or on athletic fields.
What Is a Master’s in Sports Medicine Degree?
A master’s degree in sports medicine provides advanced, focused training for professionals considering sports medicine careers like athletic trainer or sports medicine doctor. During a sports medicine program, learners study exercise physiology, sports nutrition, and sport psychology to better understand how to treat athletes and patients recovering from injuries and illnesses.
The degree emphasizes both classroom knowledge and experiential learning. Sports medicine colleges include clinical requirements to build the practical skills necessary for careers in the field. Graduate students also gain graduate-level training in physiology, nutrition, and biomechanics.
Incoming sports medicine students with clinical backgrounds can enroll in the degree to gain specialized training in sports medicine. Other students enter the program without prior sports medicine experience. Either way, the degree meets the qualifications for many sports medicine jobs.
Choosing an Online Master’s in Sports Medicine Program
The cost, program length, and clinical requirements of sports medicine degrees can vary, so prospective sports medicine students must consider these factors when choosing the best sports medicine college to meet their professional goals. The following section explores factors that prospective students should consider before choosing a program.
The total cost of a degree includes tuition, fees, and related expenses. While in-state public schools generally charge the lowest tuition rates, out-of-state schools may offer tuition discounts for online students.
Sports medicine colleges that accept transfer credits can save students time and money on their degrees. Many programs offer a free transcript evaluation to determine transfer credits.
Some students prefer smaller class sizes with more individual attention from instructors. Others benefit from the peer support of a larger cohort of students and a wider alumni network.
While a sports medicine master’s degree generally takes two years to complete, the total number of required credits and the number of required clinical hours can affect program length.
Some online sports medicine programs include on-campus requirements, such as an orientation or on-campus labs, while others do not require any campus visits. Ensure that you can meet any in-person requirements before committing to a program.
Most sports medicine programs do not require a thesis, but they may incorporate an internship, practicum, or capstone project. Prospective students should research clinical requirements for online students before enrolling in a program.
Online Master’s in Sports Medicine Curriculum
During an online master’s program in sports medicine, students take courses in sports nutrition, exercise physiology, and sport psychology. They also learn how to evaluate, prevent, manage, and treat sports injuries.
In addition to coursework, sports medicine programs also incorporate clinical hours. By completing labs and practicums, graduate students build the practical skills needed for sports medicine careers.
This section covers common courses in sports medicine programs, popular formats for online programs, and how long it takes to earn a sports medicine degree.
- Exercise Physiology: Exercise physiology courses examine human physiology and the body’s changes during exercise. Graduate students learn about the body’s response to acute and chronic exercise, including circulatory and respiratory responses. The course also covers environmental factors in athletic performance. The course prepares students to apply exercise physiology in their sports medicine jobs after graduation.
- Sports Nutrition: Sports nutrition courses explore the effects of nutrient selection and metabolism on physical performance. Graduate students learn about evidence-based strategies to improve performance with nutrition. Coursework may also incorporate case studies to provide experiential learning. The course prepares graduates for many certification exams in exercise science.
- Applied Anatomy: In applied anatomy courses, students explore the structure and physiology of the human body. In a sports medicine degree, the course emphasizes skeletal and muscular systems often linked to injuries. Students also learn about the relationship between different structures and their role in human movement and exercise.
- Injury Evaluation and Management: During this course, students focus on treating common sports injuries. The class trains students in advanced injury assessment techniques like soft tissue stretching. Learners also study the referral and re-entry process for sports injuries.
- Sports Psychology: Sports psychology courses examine how athletes behave and explore how psychological intervention methods can enhance athletic performance. Learners also study human behavior patterns in a sports setting, focusing on the psychological difference between sports and exercise.
How Long Does It Take to Complete an Online Master’s in Sports Medicine Program?
Many of the best sports medicine colleges offer online master’s degrees. Several factors shape how long a master’s in sports medicine will take, including the program’s total credit requirements, clinical hours, and enrollment options.
Earning a sports medicine degree online generally takes two years for full-time students. Some programs offer accelerated enrollment options that can speed up this timeline. Students with prior graduate school experience can also apply transfer credits toward the degree.
During a master’s in sports medicine program, graduate students complete coursework requirements while also gaining practical skills through field experience. Many programs place online sports medicine students with local sports teams, athletes, or rehabilitation clinics to complete lab and practicum requirements. Sports medicine students with prior clinical experience may be able to waive some clinical requirements.
Online sports medicine colleges offer courses in asynchronous or synchronous formats. An asynchronous format requires no set class times, which is ideal for busy students balancing school with personal or professional responsibilities. Synchronous programs require that online learners meet with instructors and fellow students for live course sessions, which can create a better support network.
Sports Medicine Careers
A master’s in sports medicine meets the requirements for many exciting sports medicine jobs, including athletic trainer and exercise physiologist. In these roles, professionals evaluate injuries on the field, design treatment plans in coordination with physicians, and help athletes recover from injuries. A sports medicine degree also provides a solid foundation for in-demand jobs in nutrition and dietetics.
Some sports medicine careers require additional study. For example, a sports medicine doctor or sports medicine physician must hold a medical degree. After earning a sports medicine master’s degree, graduates can pursue additional study.
