Three categories of COSMA membership are available.
- Institutional Membership: Any four-year, post-secondary educational institution that grants sport management degrees at the baccalaureate or graduate level, may apply for institutional membership. Institutional members will designate a primary representative to the COSMA; this person normally will be the head or acting head of the department/unit that administers the sport management program at that institution. The primary representative is also designated as the person eligible to vote for the institution on COSMA matters. Each member institution in this category of membership has one vote.
- Individual Membership: This membership category is designed for faculty and administrators in colleges and universities not holding institutional membership with COSMA who are supportive of the mission and goals of COSMA. Individual members have a vote at the Annual Member Meeting.
- Corporate Membership: Membership may be granted to corporations that are supportive of the mission and goals of the COSMA. Corporate members have no vote.