TAMPA – When it comes to sports business courses, the University of South Florida is among the best in the world, climbing into the No. 2 spot in the 2025 SportBusiness Postgraduate Rankings.
The Vinik Sport & Entertainment Management program jumped two spots from last year, leapfrogging to secure its highest global ranking in the program’s history. The Vinik program is also ranked No. 2 in the nation and No. 1 in Florida.
The SportBusiness Postgraduate Rankings, one of the most influential measures of sport management programs worldwide, evaluate institutions based on graduate outcomes, faculty, international reach and industry partnerships.
“This is a big deal, and I’m super proud,” said Michelle Harrolle, director of the program since 2013. “This is a testament to our relationships with our partners and alumni, and how much we poured into our students that they felt appreciated. Our goal is for our students to obtain valuable and meaningful jobs after they graduated, and they did quite well.”
USF’s Vinik program, housed in the School of Hospitality and Sport Management within the Muma College of Business, is a two-year, dual-degree program where students earn both an MBA and an MS in Sport & Entertainment Management.
The program was founded in 2012 and named after former Tampa Bay Lightning owner Jeff Vinik in 2017. It has been among the top sport business programs since 2018, when it placed No. 4 in the world, according to SportBusiness.
"I'm grateful to be a part of this program," said Ainsleigh Wall, a second-year student. "This program has helped me tremendously by placing me in a fellowship, expanding my network, and giving me invaluable insight into the sport industry." Wall currently holds a development fellowship with the USF Bulls Club, the fundraising arm for USF athletics.
Harrolle said the ranking reflects not only the program’s academic excellence but also the strength of its community. “I am truly blessed to work with the best in sport business. In my heart, we are No. 1,” she said.
According to the publication’s methodology, the rankings are based on two surveys completed by academic leaders and alumni who graduated three years prior — meaning the 2025 results are based on survey responses from the class of 2022.
USF’s program performed well across both the alumni network and industry network categories and scored the highest among the schools in the professional mentorship category, stated SportBusiness.
Notably, USF’s return on investment score saw a significant improvement from last year, tying for the top ROI score among the 54 programs in the ranking.
When asked about what lies ahead for the program, Harrolle pointed to innovation and preparing students for the future of the industry. “The next stage is incorporating AI,” she said. “We want our students to be at the forefront of emerging jobs, and to continue leading the way in sport and entertainment management industry.”