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Best Online Sports Management Programs in Merced, CA (2026)
Merced, California has 4 accredited schools offering sports management programs. Merced has a population of about 89,766. Median household income is $59,938 (Census ACS 2023, 5-year). About 18.0% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor’s degree or higher. In California, the top-earning sports management-related role is Entertainment and Recreation Manager at a median $79,550 annually (BLS, May 2025).
Closest Sports Management Schools to Merced
The accredited institutions listed below are the closest in our directory that offer sports management programs near Merced, ranked by BOC Score and straight-line distance from Merced city center. The list is rebuilt from federal IPEDS data on every site update.
No school data available.
Source: IPEDS / College Scorecard (2023 cohort). Browse all California schools on the California sports management page.
Sports Management Wages Near Merced
Merced is part of the Merced, CA metro area (BLS area code 32900). Where MSA-level wages are published, the table below shows MSA medians; otherwise it falls back to California statewide.
| Occupation | Median Wage | Source | COL-Adjusted (US=100) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Coach and Scout | $47,470 | Merced, CA | $48,291 |
| Entertainment and Recreation Manager | $79,550 | CA statewide | $80,926 |
| Meeting and Event Planner | $67,350 | Merced, CA | $68,515 |
| Exercise Trainer and Group Fitness Instructor | $45,890 | Merced, CA | $46,684 |
Source: BLS, May 2025 Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics publishes wage data at the metro (MSA) and state level – not by individual city.
Merced at a Glance
| Metric | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 89,766 | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B01003) |
| Median household income | $59,938 | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B19013) |
| Adults 25+ with bachelor’s+ | 18.0% | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B15003) |
| Regional Price Parity (US=100) | 98.3 (below U.S. average) | BEA RPP 2024 |
Other Merced-Area Cities With Sports Management Programs
- Atwater, CA – 7.4 mi away (29,270 pop)
- Turlock, CA – 25.0 mi away (106,100 pop)
- Los Banos, CA – 26.1 mi away (37,584 pop)
- Madera, CA – 32.2 mi away (82,278 pop)
- Ceres, CA – 33.3 mi away (48,278 pop)
Frequently Asked Questions
How many accredited sports management schools are near Merced, CA?
Our directory has 4 accredited schools offering sports management programs near Merced. The closest is Fresno Pacific University in Fresno, CA (57.3 miles), and the farthest of the schools shown is Diablo Valley College (98.4 miles). 3 of the highlighted schools are flagged as offering distance education.
What are the highest-paying sports management roles near Merced?
Based on BLS OEWS May 2025 wage data, the top-paying sports management-related roles near Merced are: Entertainment and Recreation Manager ($79,550), Meeting and Event Planner ($67,350), Coach and Scout ($47,470). These reflect MSA-level medians where published, with California statewide fallback for occupations not reported at the metro level.
Should I look at programs in Atwater instead of Merced?
Atwater, CA is 7.4 miles from Merced and has its own set of local sports management programs – see the city’s page. For online programs, distance matters less; for hybrid or in-person formats, comparing both can help.
Is Merced an affordable place to study sports management?
Merced’s median household income of $59,938 (Census ACS 2023) is one input. Online programs let students stay in Merced while attending lower-cost out-of-state schools, and California public universities often offer reduced in-state online tuition.
How do I verify a program is accredited?
Confirm institutional accreditation via the U.S. Department of Education database (U.S. Dept. of Education database), and check for any program-specific accreditation listed by the school.
Learn More About Sports Management Programs
- Is a Sports Management degree worth it?
- Main Sports Management degree guide
- Online Sports Management programs in California
- Sports Management programs by state
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Data verified: August 10, 2026. Salary, employment, and tuition figures on this page are sourced from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (OEWS May 2025; Employment Projections 2024–2034) and the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (2023 cohort). The source agency and data year are cited inline with every statistic.
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