Florida State University, the Sunshine State’s oldest college, was first devised in 1819 when the Adams-Onís Treaty transferred the land from Spain to America. First called the West Florida Seminary, it transformed into a public, coeducational space-grant RU/VH institution with annual economic impact of $10 billion. Attracting 41,867 Seminoles, including sport management majors, from 50 states, FSU nurtures “Strength, Skill, Character” upon its 1,391-acre campus in Forbes’ 120th best city for careers. The U.S. News & World Report crowned Florida State as America’s 33th best public university and 52nd top education school. Washington Monthly recognized FSU for the 44th highest graduation rate. Linked to 203,718 LinkedIn alumni, Florida State University has produced sports greats like Deion Sanders, Charlie Ward, Tony La Russa, and Karen Stupples.
Related Resource: Top 24 Best Sports Management Degree Programs
Florida State University Accreditation Details
In 2014, Florida State University renewed its Level VI regional accreditation without public sanctions from the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) under president John E. Thrasher. This means Florida State’s 107 bachelor’s, 126 master’s, and 80 doctoral programs have Federal Title IV eligibility from the U.S. Department of Education. The College of Education and its sport management majors are accredited by the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP). FSU also aligns curriculum to the North American Society for Sport Management (NASSM) standards.
Florida State University Application Requirements
Hitting a homerun into the Sport Management B.S. program at Florida State University means passing the “more selective” admission process that had 58 percent acceptance in 2016. This upper-division major only admits juniors and transfers who’ve finished 60+ college credits at accredited institutions. Liberal studies prerequisites include quantitative thinking, English composition, social science, and oral communication. Completing an associate degree at any Florida public college would also qualify. Undergrads must achieve a cumulative 2.75 GPA or better. Although optional, FSU students hold a mean SAT score of 1290 and ACT score of 27.
Starting the Sport Management M.S. requires FSU Seminoles have culminated bachelor’s study at regionally accredited colleges. Foreign three- or four-year equivalents are considered if language proficiency scores are above 80 on the TOEFL or 6.5 on the IELTS. Doctoral students must have graduated with a relevant Master of Science or Master of Business Administration. At minimum, Florida State mandates 3.0 GPAs in the last 60 undergrad credits. Successful post-grads will score above the 42nd percentile on the GRE verbal and 36th percentile on the GRE quantitative tests. GMAT scores of 550 or greater would be acceptable too.
Undergraduate admission to Florida State University ends November 1st for spring and June 1st for fall starts. The College of Education considers M.S. applicants until June 17th, October 18th, and February 11th annually. Doctoral candidates only have fall admission with a March 15th deadline. Prospective students complete the FSU Application or Coalition Application online while sending paper materials to the admissions office. Sport management programs request the following:
- $30 non-refundable processing fee
- High school and university transcripts
- Official standardized test scores
- Residency declaration form if eligible
- Typed admission essay of 500-550 words
- One to three reference letters
- Résumé or vitae of athletic employment
Tuition and Financial Aid
Full-time sports management bachelor’s students from Florida pay $6,516 per year. Non-resident undergrads taking 12+ credits are billed $21,683 annually. Living on the Tallahassee campus adds $6,620 for housing and $3,998 for meals atop $1,000 for textbooks each year. Total annual bachelor’s cost of attendance is $18,134 in-state and $33,301 out-of-state. The Graduate School charges Floridians $479 per credit for the master’s or doctoral degree in Sport Management. Non-resident graduates pay $1,110 per credit taken. Yearly tuition averages $9,684 in-state and $24,116 out-of-state for master’s or doctoral students.
The NCES reports that 89 percent of beginning, full-time FSU Seminoles share $26.61 million in annual financial aid for a mean individual rate of $5,310. Institutional awards include the Presidential Scholars Program, Benacquisto Scholarship, National Merit Scholarship, Out-of-State Tuition Waiver, Henderson Family Fellowship, Legacy Fellowship, and Freshman Scholarship. The McNair Scholars Fellows Program gifts up to $20,000 for Ph.D. candidates. Graduate assistantships are available for at least $17.94/hour. Post-9/11 GI Bill benefits combine with the C.W. Bill Young Veteran Tuition Waiver for former military. Sunshine State locals could claim the Florida Student Assistance Grant or Bright Futures Scholarship. Financially needy bachelor’s students often earn the Federal Pell Grant and FSEOG Grant. If needed, loans from the Perkins, Direct Subsidized, Direct Unsubsidized, or PLUS programs are borrowed.
Student Experience
Florida State University is a research-intensive, civic-engaged NCAA Division I giant with four sports-related degree types. Chaired by Dr. Marcy Driscoll, the College of Education has a 24:1 student-faculty ratio for the B.S. in Sport Management. Lasting two years full-time, the 60-credit, upper-division major sharpens athletic managerial skills in courses from event promotion to sport ethics. The M.S. in Sport Management has thesis and non-thesis tracks of 36 credits with an optional Coaching Certificate. The ABA-accredited College of Law confers the 106-credit Joint M.S./J.D. in Sport Management for aspiring attorneys. Lastly, the 80-credit, post-master’s Sport Management Ph.D. opens faculty jobs with specializations like Sport Marketing and Sport Culture Studies.
Ranked #1 by College Choice, the FSU sport management programs produce job-ready leaders with practical experiences. Its North Florida location is ideal for snagging internships with the Jacksonville Jaguars, Orlando Magic, Tallahassee Thunder, Florida Launch, Atlanta Braves, Walt Disney World Speedway, PGA Honda Classic, and more. On campus, SPM majors access state-of-the-art facilities, including the Albert J. Dunlap Athletic Training Center, Tucker Center, and Morcom Aquatics Center. For example, the 79,560-seat Doak Campbell Stadium is college football’s 19th largest arena. Florida State offers international programs at 70+ destinations from Germany to Guatemala. Thesis research is also conducted in the Institute of Sports Sciences and Medicine (ISSM).
Even though only 18 percent of FSU Seminoles live on-site in 18 residence halls, campus life is active with 700+ clubs listed on Noles Central. Majors can join the Sport Management Student Association, Bowling Club, Women’s Rugby Club, Applied Sport Psychology Club, Who We Play For, Men’s Water Polo, Student-Athlete Advisory Council, and others. In November 2018, Tully Gym will host the university’s 20th Annual Sport Management Conference with speakers like Keanah Smith and Hunter Harvin. Boasting $121.3 million in annual revenue, the Athletics Department has 20 varsity teams in the Atlantic Coast Conference. Florida State University recently won the 2013 men’s football and 2014 women’s soccer national championships.
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