Intelligent.com, a widely recognized source for higher education rankings and research, has included Wilmington College in its annual assessment, awarding it 17th in the nation among the Best Sports Management Degree Programs for 2025.
This year’s top-20 ranking is the second highest for any school in Ohio and coincides with the 2024 issue of Sport Management Degree Guide, in which the College also holds the 17th position nationally.
These endorsements of Wilmington College’s popular sport management program complement previous accolades from recent years. Indeed, WC was listed in Knowledge Review’s Top 10 Best Institutions for Careers in Sports and Athletics, Schools.com’s Top 10 ranking of WC for Sport Management Degree Programs and as the number one Best Small College in the Sport Management Degree Guide.
Dr. Jimmy Mattern, associate professor of sport management and area coordinator for Sport Sciences, said the College is one of only 35 college and university sport management programs to earn national accreditation from the Commission on Sport Management Accreditation (COSMA).
“COSMA accreditation recognizes the excellence of instruction that students receive inside and outside of the classroom,” he said. “Also, our students have interned with prestigious sports organizations ranging from teams within Minor League Baseball to local high schools and youth sport organizations, to major teams in the highest levels of professional soccer, basketball, football and baseball in America.”
Indeed, WC graduates have worked or are currently working with such prominent professional franchises as the Columbus Blue Jackets, Cleveland Cavaliers, Columbus Crew, Pittsburgh Penguins, New York Jets, Atlanta Hawks, Cincinnati Bengals and FC Cincinnati.
Another faculty member, Steve Cukovecki, a WC alumnus and assistant professor of sport management, cited the hands-on learning experience WC students gain from regularly working events like the Super Bowl, NCAA D-I Final Four and College Football National Championship.
“These experiences go beyond classroom learning,” he said. “These real-world opportunities sharpen students’ technical skills, build strong resumes and prove their ability to apply classroom knowledge in high-pressure environments. In interviews, students can highlight these events to illustrate their problem-solving, teamwork, leadership and communication skills.”
Unlike conventional rankings, Intelligent.com employs a rigorous, data-driven methodology designed to provide students with the most accurate and meaningful evaluations. Each university is assessed on a proprietary scale of 0 to 100, with scores derived from four key factors: academic quality, graduation rates, cost and return on investment, and student resources. This distinctive approach ensures that institutions with strong academic rigor, affordable programs and exceptional student support rank higher, helping prospective students make the most informed decisions.
