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Prospective Students

Beyond the Classroom: The Indy Advantage

At IU Indianapolis, Indy is your classroom! IU Indianapolis sports management students learn by doing in partnership with Indy-based sport and event experts.

At IU Indianapolis, you differentiate yourself against the competition

You learn from industry experts and Ph.D.-prepared faculty who care about you

Our faculty care about your professional development and future success. You’ll get real professors in the classroom (not graduate teaching assistants) with years of teaching and industry experience, or adjunct professors with specific expertise who work with Indy sports organizations. 

The people you will learn from are leaders in the field, writing textbooks that set the industry standard, leading big-name sports organizations, and working behind the scenes to stage large-scale events.

As a student, you will benefit by engaging in the sports community outside the classroom, conducting research or working game days for Indy-based amateur and professional teams.

Our results in career placement are a testament to our faculty's dedication to your future. Between 2013 and 2018, our program has more than tripled the percentage of students landing jobs in the industry post graduation. 

Headshot of Mr. Karnuta

Students who attend IU Indianapolis learn from—and network with—high-profile business leaders as part of their undergrad coursework. This uniquely positions them to build relationships which support future job-placement and career success.

Mike Karnuta, Sr. VP, Indiana Sports Corp
Read Mike's perspective on the value of studying sports in Indy

You get ahead of the competition with the Indy advantage

Indy is the place to be to get the experience you need to launch your sport-industry career.

Unparalled opportunities in sports: right here, right now

Between 2019 and 2024, Indianapolis hosted the entire 2021 NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Championship, the 2022 College Football Playoff National Championship game, the 2024 NBA All-Star Game, Indianapolis 500, Big Ten football and basketball championships, LPGA Indy Women in Tech Championship, NCAA Swimming and Diving championships, USA Swimming 2024 Olympic Team Trials, the largest Mini-Marathon, and the 15th largest marathon in the country.

There's never been a better time for you to come to Indiana University Indianapolis!

Hit the ground running

You’ll start volunteering for events from the moment you step on campus. Our curriculum is designed to help you grow into more impactful volunteer roles as you progress academically. Combined, our students log 1,000-plus hours in the community each year, and you will be a part of that.

More than 50 percent of freshmen live on campus. Because IU Indianapolis is so close to downtown, you can walk from your dorm room to class, volunteer at a world-class event or work with a top-level sports organization, and then go back to class--all in the same day.

The Sports Management Club and other scholarship opportunities help you pay for costs associated with attending job fairs, conferences, networking events, and national case study competitions. The department also hosts an annual career fair that features more than 40 employers from the local market. 

Game-changing research & connections via the Sports Innovation Institute

When you study sports management at IU Indianapolis, you also obtain next-level research experiences by working with the Sports Innovation Institute (SII). You also learn directly from top-industry pros who visit your classrooms regularly and do guest lectures, mock interviews, and career panels. And, SII ensures you graduate with problem-solving skills honed from real-world experiences with industry partners. 

Jump-start your sports industry career

Learn about classroom experiences
See what students say in their words
Ask Liz Wanless questions