Major League Baseball
Developing Professional Baseball Players On and Off the Field
Major League Baseball players’ careers don’t need to end when their final season does.
In June 2017, Major League Baseball (MLB) named Northeastern its preferred education provider. Through the partnership, players gain access to educational opportunities during and after their baseball career that equip them with the competitive advantage they need to succeed on and off the field.
“MLB’s agreement with Northeastern University will provide players with a variety of world-class options to continue their personal and professional development.”
— Paul Mifsud, MLB’s vice president and deputy general counsel for
labor relations and player programs
Players can work toward their bachelor’s degree through online and in-person instruction in growing fields, such as information technology, health sciences, business, and finance. Throughout their learning journey, they work one-on-one with a career and academic coach who helps players register for classes and create academic, degree, and career plans tailored to their personal and professional goals.
If that goal is to work in an MLB front office or as an on-field staff member, the university will also help prepare players for those roles, regardless of their social and cultural backgrounds or prior levels of academic experience, while also supporting the objectives of MLB’s Front Office and Field Staff Diversity Pipeline Program.
Are you a current or former MLB player?
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MLB Partnership By the Numbers
- Over 120 players enrolled since launch of MLB/Northeastern partnership
- More than 35 players have graduated with a degree
- 3 most popular majors: BS Interdisciplinary Studies, BS Management, BS Finance and Accounting Management
Available 100% Online
- 10 Bachelor’s Completion Programs
- 25 Graduate Programs
Player Success Stories
“There is no place I’d rather complete my degree than Northeastern, and I encourage any other current or former player to strongly consider Northeastern.” —Carlos Peña, former Major League All-Star and MLB Network Analyst, Northeastern Athletics HoF—2023, Bachelor of Science in Liberal Studies ’20
Ryan Westmoreland, whose baseball dream was struck down by brain tumors, inspires as a student at Northeastern: “I decided I was going to turn over a new chapter and focus on what I could do. And what I can do is help change other people’s lives and make an impact. And that’s kind of what I set out to do every day.”
“I am extremely proud to be a @northeastern graduate. Special thanks to the team at Northeastern for helping me every step of the way. The @mlb partnership with @northeastern is the real deal.”—Reid Birlingmair, BS in Liberal Studies (Interdisciplinary Studies), 2019
Testimonials
“After getting drafted following my junior year in college, I wasn’t sure how I was going to be able to finish my degree…. Luckily, the Northeastern partnership gave me the option to transfer my credits to their university and complete my final year completely online, making it possible with my schedule.”
— Alex Roth, BS in Liberal Studies (Interdisciplinary Studies), 2022
“Out of high school I had a scholarship to play Division 1 Baseball at a prestigious university. Instead, at 18 years old I decided to bypass college and sign a professional baseball contract after being taken in the Major League Baseball Draft. After five unsuccessful years in the minor leagues I was released for the final time. After that I decided to begin taking classes at Northeastern University. Today, I officially received my diploma! While life doesn’t always go as planned, it doesn’t mean that you give up. I am incredibly excited for the future and proud to be a Northeastern University Alum!”
— Dylan Manwaring, BS in Leadership, 2020
