About

The Sport Management & Leadership Academy at the University of Massachusetts Amherst is a two-week, residential pre-college program for rising high school sophomores through seniors who want an immersive introduction to the business side of sports. Hosted within the Mark H. McCormack Department of Sport Management—one of the oldest and highest-ranked sport management academic units globally—the academy combines faculty-led sessions and case discussions to explore key segments of the industry. Participants gain functional skills for sport business careers and leadership themes, benefiting from guest presentations by alumni with careers spanning collegiate athletics, media, and agency representation.

To be eligible, students must be rising high school sophomores, juniors, or seniors. For 2026, the in-person program runs from July 12 – 25, while the online session runs from July 13 – 24. Tuition for the 2026 cycle is $4,119 for residential students, $2,299 for commuters, and $1,985 for the online format. Notably, participants who successfully complete the academy earn 2 college credits. The McCormack Department offers specific scholarships to support access for students from underrepresented groups. The application deadline for the 2026 summer session is May 15, and admissions are conducted on a rolling basis.

Instruction integrates interactive lectures, case studies, and group projects that emphasize communication and analytical thinking. Faculty from the Isenberg School of Management guide topics such as sport marketing, analytics, economics, digital media, and sponsorship. Online attendees participate in live, synchronous sessions from 1:00 PM – 3:00 PM EST daily, supplemented by asynchronous work; consequently, online eligibility is restricted to students in time zones where these hours do not extend past midnight.

Participants finish with a deeper comprehension of sport industry structures and 2 transferable university credits. McCormack’s legacy as a sport management leader—including a vast global alumni network—situates this program as an authentic introduction to professional leadership.