New England College

New England College is also featured in our ranking Top 50 Master’s in Sports Management Degree Online Programs.

New England College Online Graduate Sports Management Degree

New England College offers specialty MBA degrees, and students can choose between 10 different concentrations including Sport and Recreation Management. The entire program consists of 40 credit hours including seven core business courses and three specialty classes. The core provides students with a solid foundation in traditional business topics including classes entitled Managerial Accounting, Strategic Marketing, and Organizational Leadership and Change. These are offered via on-campus and online delivery methods. Students in this concentration then take 12 hours of specialty education which can only be accessed online. This coursework includes Legal Issues in Sports, Management and Practice in Sports and Recreation, and Current Issues in Sports and Recreation. Using all of this content, students apply what they have learned to plan and implement a capstone project. Faculty help students choose projects that are related to their future career goals. Upon graduation, they can then refer to this research experience during job interviews. Dedicated students can complete the program in a year and a half, but it is designed with both full-time and part-time students in mind. Busy working professionals can easily work these classes into their schedule taking a few years to complete it if necessary. Students also have the option of extending their study by choosing an additional MBA concentration including Digital Marketing, Human Resource Management, Project Management, or Non-Profit Leadership.

About New England College

Located in the rural town of Henniker, New Hampshire, New England College is a private institution that began in 1946, primarily in answer to the growing number of military members going to college after World War II. The school has a long history of supporting and educating veterans and military members that extends to the present with a variety of discounts and programs for these students. Today, the student body is much more diverse, and enrollment totals almost 3000, about half of which is composed of online-only students. The school offers seven completely online graduate programs in the fields of business, education, counseling, and writing as well as about 50 degree tracks on campus. Faculty provide examples of real-world applications of theories and emphasize the social responsibility of professionals in all areas. In fact, there is such a focus on service work that New England College earned a designation on the President’s Higher Education Community Service Honor Roll in 2014.

The university has also received recognition by the U.S. News and World Report receiving a place on both their lists of Best Online Graduate Education Programs and Best Online MBA Programs. Plus, in 2015, Time Magazine identified New England College as one of the 25 colleges and universities whose student bodies have most diversified over the course of the 21st century.

New England College Accreditation Details

The Commission on Institutions of Higher Education (CIHE) branch of the New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC) is responsible for reviewing all schools in the six northeastern-most states of the United States. The organization evaluates nine different aspects of colleges and universities in categories including Institutional Resources, Organization and Governance, Transparency, and The Academic Program. If found satisfactory in all areas, the CIHE provides accreditation which is subject to a subsequent review every 10 years. NEC has maintained continuous accreditation since 1967 with its next appraisal scheduled for 2024. This certification process is important because it provides assurances to students that they are receiving a quality education and also tells future employers that graduates are well prepared for entry into the professional world. Accreditation also allows students to receive federal financial aid and loans and makes the process of transferring between universities easier.

New England College Application Requirements

Applicants interested in pursuing a sports management degree at New England College can submit an application through the school’s online portal to the MBA program. All graduate students use the same process to gain admission to the Graduate College, but different programs and concentrations have individual requirements that also must be met. For the sports and recreation management track of the MBA, supplemental materials include a professional resume listing both work and volunteer positions as well as complete official transcripts documenting completion of a bachelor’s degree. While some work experience in business is preferred, this is not a requirement. Interested applicants from all backgrounds are encouraged to apply.

Tuition and Financial Aid

At New England College, tuition rates vary based on specific program. For the 40-hour online MBA – Sport and Recreation Management degree, tuition is $595 per credit hour, or about $23,800 in total, with no additional fees. All students, regardless of financial situation, are encouraged to submit a FAFSA, and the staff at the Graduate Student Financial Services Office can help explain the different types of aid available. Graduate students usually are eligible for both Stafford Loans and Direct PLUS Loans through the federal government which offer more protections than private loans. In addition, NEC offers the reduced tuition rate of $250 per graduate credit hour for active-duty service members. Veterans and members of the Reserve or National Guard and their spouses also receive a 10% discount on tuition at both the graduate and undergraduate levels.

New England College does not offer any graduate scholarships, but students can apply for assistantship positions. Selected applicants complete about 20 hours of work per week in administrative or teaching roles in exchange for tuition reduction. Many students look toward private organizations for help with funding. Scholarships are available for students who have financial need, demonstrated excellence in their academic or professional lives, and/or impacted their communities through service work. Individual requirements of these awards vary greatly depending on the specific organization. Since a majority of online MBA students are concurrently employed, they may be able to enroll in tuition reimbursement programs through their individual employers. Companies often cover all or a portion of tuition for employees who choose to gain additional education in their industry.

As Forbes reports, an MBA offers graduates new opportunities in a variety of fields as well as an increase in salary. New England College prepares students with a solid foundation in advanced business concepts

like marketing, finance, and management as well as specialized education in niche areas with concentrations like Sport and Recreation Management.