Online Sports Management Degree in South Carolina: Salary, Schools & Outlook (2026)

Quick answer: South Carolina employs about 3,310 coaches and scouts (BLS OEWS, May 2025), and licensing runs through the athletic organizations you want to work for. Programs, the careers this degree opens, and what they pay are below.

Compare sports management programs enrolling now:

Licensing and Credentials in South Carolina

No license gates sports management. Coaching layers its own certifications by sport and level, and the programmatic accreditor is the Commission on Sport Management Accreditation (COSMA). What consistently hires is operational track record - events run, programs grown, seasons administered.

Requirements are set at state level and are amended periodically. Before you enroll in any program, confirm with the athletic organizations you want to work for that the specific program you are considering satisfies the education requirement, and ask what it accepts from any training you have already completed. Get the answer in writing.

Earning the Degree While You Work

Most people reading this already have a job in the field, and the practical question is whether the credential can be earned without leaving it. Programs designed for working adults deliver the academic portion online or in the evening, while any labs, clinical hours or supervised field experience happen in person and locally. Prior college credit, military training, apprenticeship coursework and industry certifications can all shorten the path, so request a written transfer credit evaluation before you commit to any school.

Schools Near You

Schools in our database near this area, ranked by BOC Score. The list favors schools with a related program on record, but program availability and delivery format change, so confirm directly with any school that it currently offers the program you want.

How we rank schools – graduation rate, graduate earnings, cost and retention. Advertising plays no part.

This page lists 10 schools within 84 miles, closest group first, then ordered by BOC Score with the highest at the top. 10 of them carry a score.

Location / proximity to this page
Defines the local group
Graduation rate how often students finish
30%
Median earnings, 10 years after entry whether it paid off
25%
Average net price what students actually pay after aid; lower ranks higher
20%
Retention rate how many come back for year two
15%
Fully online availability whether you can study while working
10%

Scores come from IPEDS (2024) and the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Earnings are for all graduates of a school, not one program, so treat them as a signal about the institution rather than about this subject. Sponsored listings are paid placements and are labelled as such; they are separate from this ranking and never change it. Read the full methodology.

#1

University of South Carolina-Columbia

Columbia, SC 2.4 miles away BOC Score 74.1
Tuition Contact school for pricing
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Key stats
  • Completion rate: 78.3% (College Scorecard)
  • Programs offered: 22
  • Annual completions: 1247
  • Median graduate earnings, 4 yrs after completing (all majors, not a single program): $67,741 (College Scorecard)
  • Online programs available

Source: ACCSC IPEDS College Scorecard

#2

Winthrop University

Rock Hill, SC 65.5 miles away BOC Score 53.8
Tuition Contact school for pricing
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Key stats
  • Programs offered: 7
  • Annual completions: 51
  • Median graduate earnings, 4 yrs after completing (all majors, not a single program): $48,693 (College Scorecard)
  • Online programs available

Source: ACCSC IPEDS College Scorecard

#3

Erskine College

Due West, SC 83.7 miles away BOC Score 46.5
Tuition Contact school for pricing
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Key stats
  • Completion rate: 46.9% (College Scorecard)
  • Programs offered: 1
  • Median graduate earnings, 4 yrs after completing (all majors, not a single program): $48,305 (College Scorecard)
  • Online programs available

Source: ACCSC IPEDS College Scorecard

#4

Columbia International University

Columbia, SC 7.6 miles away BOC Score 44.9
Tuition Contact school for pricing
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Key stats
  • Completion rate: 55.1% (College Scorecard)
  • Programs offered: 4
  • Annual completions: 3
  • Median graduate earnings, 4 yrs after completing (all majors, not a single program): $40,332 (College Scorecard)
  • Online programs available

Source: ACCSC IPEDS College Scorecard

#5

Claflin University

Orangeburg, SC 35.1 miles away BOC Score 44.6
Tuition Contact school for pricing
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Key stats
  • Completion rate: 50.4% (College Scorecard)
  • Programs offered: 12
  • Annual completions: 51
  • Median graduate earnings, 4 yrs after completing (all majors, not a single program): $43,925 (College Scorecard)
  • Online programs available

Source: ACCSC IPEDS College Scorecard

#6

Newberry College

Newberry, SC 41.5 miles away BOC Score 42.2
Tuition Contact school for pricing
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Key stats
  • Completion rate: 44.8% (College Scorecard)
  • Programs offered: 4
  • Annual completions: 37
  • Median graduate earnings, 4 yrs after completing (all majors, not a single program): $50,324 (College Scorecard)
  • Online programs available

Source: ACCSC IPEDS College Scorecard

#7

Coker University

Hartsville, SC 58.6 miles away BOC Score 36.3
Tuition Contact school for pricing
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Key stats
  • Completion rate: 37.5% (College Scorecard)
  • Programs offered: 10
  • Annual completions: 8
  • Median graduate earnings, 4 yrs after completing (all majors, not a single program): $47,935 (College Scorecard)
  • Online programs available

Source: ACCSC IPEDS College Scorecard

#8

Allen University

Columbia, SC 2.3 miles away BOC Score 32.6
Tuition Contact school for pricing
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Key stats
  • Completion rate: 13.3% (College Scorecard)
  • Programs offered: 2
  • Annual completions: 22
  • Median graduate earnings, 4 yrs after completing (all majors, not a single program): $36,436 (College Scorecard)
  • Online programs available

Source: ACCSC IPEDS College Scorecard

#10

Benedict College

Columbia, SC 2.4 miles away BOC Score 16.1
Tuition Contact school for pricing
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Key stats
  • Completion rate: 22.9% (College Scorecard)
  • Programs offered: 8
  • Annual completions: 58
  • Median graduate earnings, 4 yrs after completing (all majors, not a single program): $41,293 (College Scorecard)

Source: ACCSC IPEDS College Scorecard

What Coaches and Scouts Earn in South Carolina

Coaches and Scouts in South Carolina earn a median $42,950 per year, below the national median of $47,320 (BLS OEWS, May 2025).

Sports Management Pay and Employment in South Carolina at a Glance

MetricSouth CarolinaNationalSource
Median annual wage$42,950$47,320BLS OEWS, May 2025
10th percentile$17,880$28,790BLS OEWS, May 2025
25th percentile$20,800$35,330BLS OEWS, May 2025
75th percentile$63,780$64,710BLS OEWS, May 2025
90th percentile$103,010$98,860BLS OEWS, May 2025
Employment3,310248,950BLS OEWS, May 2025
Location quotient0.91.00BLS OEWS, May 2025
Projected change (2024-34)not published by state6.4%BLS Employment Projections, 2024-34

How South Carolina Pay Compares to the Rest of the Country

The South Carolina median of $42,950 sits below the national median of $47,320 (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Percentiles matter more than the midpoint when you are deciding whether a degree pays for itself: the 10th percentile is roughly where people start, and the 90th is what the top of the local market looks like after years of experience.

A location quotient of 0.9 puts South Carolina slightly below the national average, so the occupation is a little less common here than in the typical state (BLS OEWS, May 2025). The measure compares how concentrated the occupation is here against the national average of 1.00.

Where the Jobs Are in South Carolina

Metro areaMedian annual wageEmployment
Greenville$58,360670
Myrtle Beach$50,320270
Charleston$47,320670
Columbia$47,050350
Spartanburg$44,230160
Hilton Head Island$38,26090
Sumter$34,51030

Figures: BLS OEWS, May 2025. Sport employment maps onto institutions - districts, colleges, municipalities and gym chains - with the concentrated tiers clustering around major programs and franchises.

Coaches and Scouts Wages by Metro Area in South Carolina

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics ( OES data), coaches and scouts wages in South Carolina vary by metro area.

Metro AreaEmploymentMedian Annual WageAvg. Annual WageEntry Level
(10th pctile)
Experienced
(90th pctile)
Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia2,290$46,440$60,530$27,050$100,360
Charleston-North Charleston670$47,320$63,390$18,400$130,580
Greenville-Anderson-Greer670$58,360$73,790$18,500$156,900
Columbia350$47,050$67,530$18,110$166,060
Myrtle Beach-Conway-North Myrtle Beach270$50,320$53,810$22,390$101,570
Augusta-Richmond County230$34,170$39,320$19,330$63,740
Spartanburg160$44,230$56,830$19,860$83,260
Florence130N/AN/AN/AN/A
Hilton Head Island-Bluffton-Port Royal90$38,260$41,900$19,080$65,880
Sumter30$34,510$36,500$17,270$69,240

Wages reflect survey data and vary based on experience, credentials, employer, and local market conditions. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May .

All South Carolina Metro Areas With Published Data

Charleston * Columbia * Greenville * Myrtle Beach * Spartanburg


Wage and employment figures describe the occupation as measured by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, not the graduates of any particular program, and individual outcomes may vary. Licensing rules change; confirm current requirements with the responsible state board before enrolling.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much do coaches and scouts make in South Carolina?

The median annual wage for coaches and scouts in South Carolina is $42,950, below the national median of $47,320 (BLS OEWS, May 2025). The middle of the range runs from $20,800 at the 25th percentile to $63,780 at the 75th.

How many coaches and scouts work in South Carolina?

South Carolina holds about 3,310 sports administrator jobs (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Nationally the occupation employs 248,950, and BLS projects about 41,800 openings per year through 2034 (BLS Employment Projections, 2024-34).

Do I need a license to work as a sports administrator in South Carolina?

No license gates sports management. Coaching layers its own certifications by sport and level, and the programmatic accreditor is the Commission on Sport Management Accreditation (COSMA). What consistently hires is operational track record - events run, programs grown, seasons administered. Requirements are set at the state level and change periodically, so confirm the current rules with the athletic organizations you want to work for before you enroll in any program.

Can I earn a sports management bachelor's or master's online while working in South Carolina?

Often yes. Programs built for working adults deliver coursework online or in the evenings, though any required labs, clinical hours or supervised field experience are completed in person. Confirm that the program's accreditation satisfies the athletic organizations you want to work for.

What is the highest-paying area of South Carolina for coaches and scouts?

Among South Carolina metro areas with published data, Greenville reports the highest median at $58,360 (BLS OEWS, May 2025).

Is South Carolina a good state for coaches and scouts?

On pay, the state median of $42,950 sits below the national $47,320 (BLS OEWS, May 2025). A location quotient of 0.9 means the occupation is less concentrated here than in the average state. Weigh that against cost of living and how concentrated the work is near where you actually want to live.

Sources

  • U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 - Coaches and Scouts (SOC 27-2022), national, state and metropolitan estimates
  • U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections, 2024-34
  • U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook - education and licensing requirements

About this guide: Researched and written by the TradeCareerPath Editorial Team. Our editorial team researches and sources every trade school and career guide using federal labor and education data, including BLS OEWS and Employment Projections, DOL apprenticeship records, IPEDS, College Scorecard, and state licensing boards. We follow the editorial standards documented at /editorial-policy/.