ABSTRACT
The ranking of academic programs has become common around the world. While U. S. News & World Report began by using only subjective assessments, it uses a combination of subjective factors, such as peer assessment and employer assessment, and objective factors, such as student test scores, student–faculty ratios, admissions acceptance rates, grant dollars, and faculty awards. This chapter explores the touted advantages and disadvantages associated with rankings in general and to evaluate how these factors would impact a proposed ranking process in the sport management discipline. To the extent the field of sport management opts to embrace program rankings, it discusses the elements and criteria that should be included in any sport management program ranking plan. The benefits of ranking academic programs must be balanced against the limitations, flaws, and inherent dangers associated with program rankings. A sport management program ranking requires stakeholders to exercise great caution.
