Top 20 sports broadcasting schools
It’s been five years since we published our list of the top five sports broadcasting schools in the U.S. It’s been nine years since our initial Top 20 ranking in 2013.
It’s time to update the list.
The list of top sports broadcasting schools has remained largely the same over the past decade. There are some new additions, and some schools have risen or fallen slightly. Still, though, largely the same.
Excellence is rooted in consistency.
Traits of top sports broadcasting schools:
1. Quality instruction
The best instructors are those who are, or have been, sports broadcasters.
2. Campus radio and/or TV stations
Having a place to get reps is mandatory. A perk of Big 10, SEC and ACC schools is being in conferences whose TV networks provide professional-quality broadcast opportunities for students.
3. Alumni involvement
The best schools have alumni who return to campus to mentor, teach, and help graduates get jobs.
Read our 2017 ranking of the Top 5 sports broadcasting schools for more tips on what to look for when choosing a good one.
The Top 20 sports broadcasting schools:
- Syracuse
- Arizona State
- Ball State
- Notre Dame
- Virginia Tech
- Indiana
- Ohio U.
- Missouri
- Oklahoma State
- Maryland
- St. Cloud State
- Penn State
- Bradley
- Northwestern
- Kansas
- Miami
- Hofstra
- Florida
- Ohio State
- Fordham
Honorable Mention top sports broadcasting schools
Schools are listed in alphabetical order.
- Emerson
- Gonzaga
- Iowa
- Ithaca
- Michigan State
- NAU
- Oregon
- TCU
- Washington State
A special note about Big Ten, SEC and ACC schools
Schools in the Big Ten, SEC and ACC are worth an additional look, regardless of their placement on our lists. The reason, as mentioned at the top of this page, is because of the relationships they have with their respective conference broadcast networks. Each of the three conferences streams broadcasts produced entirely by students, including the on-air talent.
The games are in big-time settings and the production quality is high. Everyone steps their game up and it looks great on a demo reel.
Since the webcasts reflect the quality of each school’s sports broadcasting curriculum, these schools generally provide excellent classroom instruction.
Schools with a sports broadcasting, sports communications or sports media major
These schools take the education of sports broadcasters seriously enough that they’ve created majors, or at least sports media concentrations, that are more specialized than a general broadcasting major.
Schools are listed in alphabetical order.
- Arizona State
- Austin Peay
- Belhaven
- Clemson
- Evansville
- Indiana
- Ithaca
- Marist
- Marshall
- Morehouse
- Nebraska
- Newman
- Oklahoma State
- South Carolina
- South Dakota
- Southeastern Louisiana
- Syracuse
- TCU
- Texas
- Waynesburg
- Western Illinois
Two more factors to consider when choosing a sports broadcasting school
Geography
You can’t put a price on happiness. Choose to live someplace you are going to enjoy.
Cost
Not every school is going to be in everyone’s budget. Don’t sweat it, though. Read on . . .
You can launch a successful sports broadcasting career from anywhere. Though a ton of sportscasters have graduated from Syracuse, their number is far surpassed by sportscasters who went elsewhere.
Your success will depend upon the degree to which you take advantage of the opportunities provided to you. If you are at a school where the quality of instruction is less, seek outside mentors. If you aren’t getting the reps you want, create your own opportunities doing webcasts of local high school and small college games.
Success will depend most upon the opportunities you create for yourself beyond the school curriculum, having mentors to critique your work and what you do with the opportunities you are given.
The most successful sportscasters are the most invested — the most disciplined and hard working.
I’m glad to help
We’ve advised hundreds of students — and parents of students — about what colleges might be best for them.
Do you have questions or comments? Please leave them below. I enjoy helping!
Jon Chelesnik,
Owner, STAA
For the first time, an Arizona State University student is the winner of the Jim Nantz Award. Sundevils senior Scotty Gange takes the trophy, awarded annually to the nation’s most outstanding collegiate sports broadcaster by Sportscasters Talent Agency of America.
