Exercise Science programs are offered at a focused set of schools across the country. A focused field like this rewards careful comparison of the schools that offer it.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 874 schools to find the best for exercise science students.
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Choosing a Great Exercise Science School
The school you choose for exercise science can shape your career. That is why we developed our collection of Best Schools for Exercise Science rankings. Our overall ranking combines our degree-level rankings, weighted by degrees awarded at each level.
In order to find the schools that are the best fit for you, you may want to filter to one of the degree levels below.
Since the program you select can have a significant impact on your future, we have developed a number of rankings, including this Best Exercise Science Schools list, to help you choose. More interested in schools in a specific area of the country? Filter this list by region or state.
To further help you make the college decision, we have developed a unique tool called College Combat that lets you compare schools on the factors that matter most to you.
University Of Michigan Ann Arbor is one of the finest schools in the country for getting a degree in exercise science. This very large public university is located in the city of Ann Arbor. About 93% of students finish within six years. About 151 exercise science degrees were awarded at University Of Michigan Ann Arbor in the most recent year. Exercise Science graduates of University Of Michigan Ann Arbor earn a median of $42,490 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $19,135 to complete this degree.
Read more about the exercise science program at University Of Michigan Ann Arbor
Students looking for a strong exercise science program will find one at Pennsylvania State University Main Campus, which ranked #2. Pennsylvania State University Main Campus is a very large public school located in the city of University Park. About 86% of students finish within six years. About 232 exercise science degrees were awarded at Pennsylvania State University Main Campus in the most recent year.
Read more about the exercise science program at Pennsylvania State University Main Campus
University Of St Thomas Minnesota is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in exercise science, ranking #3. University Of St Thomas Minnesota is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Saint Paul. About 77% of students finish within six years. About 46 exercise science degrees were awarded at University Of St Thomas Minnesota in the most recent year. Graduates of the exercise science program make about $65,183 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $23,923.
Get the full exercise science details for University Of St Thomas Minnesota
The College Of New Jersey came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the best exercise science schools. Located in the suburb of Ewing, The College Of New Jersey is a moderately-sized public university. The College Of New Jersey graduates 86% of students within six years. There were roughly 65 exercise science students who graduated with this degree at The College Of New Jersey in the most recent data year. Graduates of the exercise science program make about $56,617 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $24,429 to complete this degree.
Read more about the exercise science program at The College Of New Jersey
Texas A And M University College Station came in at #5 on our 2026 list of the best exercise science schools. Set in the city of College Station, Texas A And M University College Station is a very large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 84%. Texas A And M University College Station awarded about 377 exercise science degrees in the most recent data year. Exercise Science graduates of Texas A And M University College Station earn a median of $42,358 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $20,414.
Read more about the exercise science program at Texas A And M University College Station
University Of Maryland College Park landed the #6 spot for exercise science this year. Located in the suburb of College Park, University Of Maryland College Park is a very large public university. The six-year graduation rate is 89%. About 188 exercise science degrees were awarded at University Of Maryland College Park in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, exercise science degree recipients from University Of Maryland College Park generally make around $31,403. Students borrow a median of $23,138 to complete this degree.
See the full exercise science program report for University Of Maryland College Park
University Of Kansas came in at #7 for exercise science this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Lawrence. About 69% of students finish within six years. About 139 exercise science degrees were awarded at University Of Kansas in the most recent year. Students who receive their exercise science degree from University Of Kansas earn around $33,891 in the first couple years of their career. University Of Kansas graduates carry a median of $22,125 in student loans.
More information about a degree in exercise science from University Of Kansas
Indiana University Bloomington landed the #8 spot for exercise science this year. Indiana University Bloomington is a very large public school located in the city of Bloomington. Indiana University Bloomington graduates 80% of students within six years. Indiana University Bloomington awarded about 421 exercise science degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their exercise science degree from Indiana University Bloomington earn around $44,640 in the first couple years of their career. Indiana University Bloomington graduates carry a median of $19,657 in student loans.
Read more about the exercise science program at Indiana University Bloomington
The University Of Texas At Austin came in at #9 for exercise science this year. The University Of Texas At Austin is a very large public school located in the city of Austin. About 89% of students finish within six years. About 224 exercise science degrees were awarded at The University Of Texas At Austin in the most recent year. Students who receive their exercise science degree from The University Of Texas At Austin earn around $35,583 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $22,361 to complete this degree.
See the full exercise science program report for The University Of Texas At Austin
University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill came in at #10 for exercise science this year. University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill is a very large public school located in the city of Chapel Hill. Roughly 91% of students complete a degree within six years here. University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill awarded about 32 exercise science degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, exercise science degree recipients from University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill generally make around $39,401. University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill graduates carry a median of $16,575 in student loans.
Get the full exercise science details for University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill
The University Of Alabama earned the #11 position for exercise science this year. Set in the city of Tuscaloosa, The University Of Alabama is a very large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 73%. About 245 exercise science degrees were awarded at The University Of Alabama in the most recent year. Students who receive their exercise science degree from The University Of Alabama earn around $50,740 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $24,496.
Read more about the exercise science program at The University Of Alabama
University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign placed #12 among the best exercise science schools. Located in the city of Champaign, University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign is a very large public university. About 85% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 208 exercise science students who graduated with this degree at University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign in the most recent data year. Exercise Science graduates of University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign earn a median of $31,187 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $21,425 to complete this degree.
Read more about the exercise science program at University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign
University Of Georgia earned the #13 position for exercise science this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Athens. The six-year graduation rate is 90%. About 182 exercise science degrees were awarded at University Of Georgia in the most recent year. Exercise Science graduates of University Of Georgia earn a median of $36,359 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $22,250 to complete this degree.
See the full exercise science program report for University Of Georgia
Saint Louis University Main Campus ranked #14 on our 2026 list of the best exercise science schools. Set in the city of Saint Louis, Saint Louis University Main Campus is a large private not-for-profit institution. About 80% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 94 exercise science students who graduated with this degree at Saint Louis University Main Campus in the most recent data year. Students who receive their exercise science degree from Saint Louis University Main Campus earn around $65,599 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $26,316.
Get the full exercise science details for Saint Louis University Main Campus
Suny College At Oneonta came in at #15 for exercise science this year. Located in the town of Oneonta, Suny College At Oneonta is a moderately-sized public university. Suny College At Oneonta graduates 69% of students within six years. About 43 exercise science degrees were awarded at Suny College At Oneonta in the most recent year. Exercise Science graduates of Suny College At Oneonta earn a median of $36,119 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $22,600 to complete this degree.
See the full exercise science program report for Suny College At Oneonta
University Of Tulsa earned the #16 position for exercise science this year. University Of Tulsa is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Tulsa. Roughly 72% of students complete a degree within six years here. University Of Tulsa awarded about 39 exercise science degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the exercise science program make about $66,166 in their early career. University Of Tulsa graduates carry a median of $23,638 in student loans.
Get the full exercise science details for University Of Tulsa
Ohio State University Main Campus ranked #17 on our 2026 list of the best exercise science schools. Set in the city of Columbus, Ohio State University Main Campus is a very large public institution. About 88% of students finish within six years. About 36 exercise science degrees were awarded at Ohio State University Main Campus in the most recent year. Exercise Science graduates of Ohio State University Main Campus earn a median of $42,137 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $23,000 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in exercise science from Ohio State University Main Campus
Furman University placed #18 among the best exercise science schools. This mid-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the suburb of Greenville. Furman University graduates 79% of students within six years. There were roughly 70 exercise science students who graduated with this degree at Furman University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the exercise science program make about $36,520 in their early career. Furman University graduates carry a median of $23,764 in student loans.
See the full exercise science program report for Furman University
Loyola University Chicago landed the #19 spot for exercise science this year. Loyola University Chicago is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Chicago. Roughly 75% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 36 exercise science students who graduated with this degree at Loyola University Chicago in the most recent data year. Exercise Science graduates of Loyola University Chicago earn a median of $58,568 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $23,521 to complete this degree.
Read more about the exercise science program at Loyola University Chicago
University Of Massachusetts Lowell placed #20 among the best exercise science schools. Located in the suburb of Lowell, University Of Massachusetts Lowell is a very large public university. Roughly 65% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 70 exercise science degrees were awarded at University Of Massachusetts Lowell in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, exercise science degree recipients from University Of Massachusetts Lowell generally make around $66,985. University Of Massachusetts Lowell graduates carry a median of $25,574 in student loans.
Get the full exercise science details for University Of Massachusetts Lowell
Wake Forest University landed the #21 spot for exercise science this year. Wake Forest University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Winston-Salem. Roughly 89% of students complete a degree within six years here. Wake Forest University awarded about 103 exercise science degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the exercise science program make about $21,192 in their early career. Wake Forest University graduates carry a median of $23,250 in student loans.
Read more about the exercise science program at Wake Forest University
University Of Rhode Island ranked #22 on our 2026 list of the best exercise science schools. Set in the suburb of Kingston, University Of Rhode Island is a very large public institution. About 72% of students finish within six years. About 124 exercise science degrees were awarded at University Of Rhode Island in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, exercise science degree recipients from University Of Rhode Island generally make around $52,821. Students borrow a median of $23,432 to complete this degree.
Read more about the exercise science program at University Of Rhode Island
University Of Wisconsin Madison ranked #23 on our 2026 list of the best exercise science schools. This very large public university is located in the city of Madison. The six-year graduation rate is 90%. University Of Wisconsin Madison awarded about 123 exercise science degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the exercise science program make about $29,866 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $26,000.
Get the full exercise science details for University Of Wisconsin Madison
University Of Central Florida ranked #24 on our 2026 list of the best exercise science schools. University Of Central Florida is a very large public school located in the suburb of Orlando. The six-year graduation rate is 78%. There were roughly 448 exercise science students who graduated with this degree at University Of Central Florida in the most recent data year. Exercise Science graduates of University Of Central Florida earn a median of $46,398 early in their careers. University Of Central Florida graduates carry a median of $21,620 in student loans.
Get the full exercise science details for University Of Central Florida
Merrimack College ranked #25 on our 2026 list of the best exercise science schools. Located in the suburb of North Andover, Merrimack College is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. About 70% of students finish within six years. Merrimack College awarded about 63 exercise science degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, exercise science degree recipients from Merrimack College generally make around $50,506. Students borrow a median of $26,913 to complete this degree.
Read more about the exercise science program at Merrimack College
Rest of the Top 50 Exercise Science Schools
These schools also placed among the best for exercise science this year:
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. Schools are scored on a blend of student outcomes (graduation rate, post-graduation earnings), affordability, and program focus, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Top Ranked · 874 schools evaluated.
The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a branch of the U.S. Department of Education (DOE), serves as the core of our data about colleges.
Some other college data, including much of the graduate earnings data, comes from the U.S. Department of Education’s (College Scorecard).
