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Best Schools for Exercise Science in Illinois
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest overall exercise science education in Illinois.
Top Schools in Exercise Science
Our analysis ranked University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign the best school in the country for a degree in exercise science. University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign is a very large public school located in the city of Champaign. University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign graduates 85% of students 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.
More information about a degree in exercise science from University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign
Loyola University Chicago is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in exercise science, landing the #2 spot this year. Loyola University Chicago is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Chicago. Loyola University Chicago graduates 75% of students within six years. Loyola University Chicago awarded about 36 exercise science degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, exercise science degree recipients from Loyola University Chicago generally make around $58,568. Typical student debt for the program is $23,521.
More information about a degree in exercise science from Loyola University Chicago
University Of Illinois At Chicago came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the best exercise science schools. Set in the city of Chicago, University Of Illinois At Chicago is a very large public institution. Roughly 62% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 150 exercise science degrees were awarded at University Of Illinois At Chicago in the most recent year. Graduates of the exercise science program make about $28,874 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $16,750 to complete this degree.
See the full exercise science program report for University Of Illinois At Chicago
Illinois State University is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in exercise science, ranking #4. This very large public university is located in the suburb of Normal. Illinois State University graduates 64% of students within six years. There were roughly 94 exercise science students who graduated with this degree at Illinois State University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the exercise science program make about $37,059 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $21,250.
More information about a degree in exercise science from Illinois State University
Students looking for a strong exercise science program will find one at Saint Xavier University, which ranked #5. Set in the city of Chicago, Saint Xavier University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 57%. There were roughly 37 exercise science students who graduated with this degree at Saint Xavier University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the exercise science program make about $51,753 in their early career. Saint Xavier University graduates carry a median of $25,735 in student loans.
More information about a degree in exercise science from Saint Xavier University
Depaul University placed #6 among the best exercise science schools. Set in the city of Chicago, Depaul University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. About 68% of students finish within six years. About 10 exercise science degrees were awarded at Depaul University in the most recent year. Graduates of the exercise science program make about $55,226 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $25,310 to complete this degree.
See the full exercise science program report for Depaul University
Aurora University landed the #7 spot for exercise science this year. Aurora University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Aurora. Roughly 60% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 50 exercise science degrees were awarded at Aurora University in the most recent year. Exercise Science graduates of Aurora University earn a median of $37,256 early in their careers. Aurora University graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans.
See the full exercise science program report for Aurora University
University Of Illinois At Springfield earned the #8 position for exercise science this year. This moderately-sized public university is located in the city of Springfield. About 52% of students finish within six years. University Of Illinois At Springfield awarded about 20 exercise science degrees in the most recent data year. Exercise Science graduates of University Of Illinois At Springfield earn a median of $53,344 early in their careers. University Of Illinois At Springfield graduates carry a median of $25,000 in student loans.
See the full exercise science program report for University Of Illinois At Springfield
Lewis University placed #9 among the best exercise science schools. Set in the suburb of Romeoville, Lewis University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. About 67% of students finish within six years. Lewis University awarded about 17 exercise science degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, exercise science degree recipients from Lewis University generally make around $28,856. Lewis University graduates carry a median of $26,000 in student loans.
Read more about the exercise science program at Lewis University
Elmhurst College earned the #10 position for exercise science this year. Elmhurst College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Elmhurst. The six-year graduation rate is 70%. About 21 exercise science degrees were awarded at Elmhurst College in the most recent year. Graduates of the exercise science program make about $31,538 in their early career. Elmhurst College graduates carry a median of $23,375 in student loans.
More information about a degree in exercise science from Elmhurst College
Rockford College placed #11 among the best exercise science schools. Located in the city of Rockford, Rockford College is a small private not-for-profit university. Roughly 47% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 26 exercise science students who graduated with this degree at Rockford College in the most recent data year. Students who receive their exercise science degree from Rockford College earn around $56,020 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $28,094 to complete this degree.
Get the full exercise science details for Rockford College
Eastern Illinois University placed #12 among the best exercise science schools. This large public university is located in the town of Charleston. Eastern Illinois University graduates 47% of students within six years. Eastern Illinois University awarded about 75 exercise science degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, exercise science degree recipients from Eastern Illinois University generally make around $36,776. Students borrow a median of $25,000 to complete this degree.
Get the full exercise science details for Eastern Illinois University
Benedictine University earned the #13 position for exercise science this year. Located in the suburb of Lisle, Benedictine University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. The six-year graduation rate is 50%. About 12 exercise science degrees were awarded at Benedictine University in the most recent year. Students who receive their exercise science degree from Benedictine University earn around $44,714 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $26,000.
Read more about the exercise science program at Benedictine University
North Central College earned the #14 position for exercise science this year. North Central College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Naperville. North Central College graduates 64% of students within six years. About 25 exercise science degrees were awarded at North Central College in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, exercise science degree recipients from North Central College generally make around $34,609. North Central College graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans.
See the full exercise science program report for North Central College
Northeastern Illinois University landed the #15 spot for exercise science this year. Northeastern Illinois University is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Chicago. Roughly 22% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 11 exercise science students who graduated with this degree at Northeastern Illinois University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the exercise science program make about $49,254 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $17,600.
More information about a degree in exercise science from Northeastern Illinois University
Southern Illinois University Edwardsville came in at #16 for exercise science this year. Southern Illinois University Edwardsville is a large public school located in the suburb of Edwardsville. Roughly 55% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 56 exercise science degrees were awarded at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville in the most recent year. Graduates of the exercise science program make about $34,811 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $23,237 to complete this degree.
See the full exercise science program report for Southern Illinois University Edwardsville
Concordia University Chicago came in at #17 for exercise science this year. Concordia University Chicago is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of River Forest. Concordia University Chicago graduates 36% of students within six years. About 280 exercise science degrees were awarded at Concordia University Chicago in the most recent year. Students who receive their exercise science degree from Concordia University Chicago earn around $40,158 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $26,166.
Read more about the exercise science program at Concordia University Chicago
Southern Illinois University Carbondale came in at #18 for exercise science this year. Located in the town of Carbondale, Southern Illinois University Carbondale is a large public university. The six-year graduation rate is 60%. About 39 exercise science degrees were awarded at Southern Illinois University Carbondale in the most recent year. Students who receive their exercise science degree from Southern Illinois University Carbondale earn around $34,705 in the first couple years of their career. Southern Illinois University Carbondale graduates carry a median of $22,750 in student loans.
See the full exercise science program report for Southern Illinois University Carbondale
Mckendree University placed #19 among the best exercise science schools. Set in the suburb of Lebanon, Mckendree University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 53%. There were roughly 22 exercise science students who graduated with this degree at Mckendree University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the exercise science program make about $31,259 in their early career. Mckendree University graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans.
More information about a degree in exercise science from Mckendree University
Olivet Nazarene University placed #20 among the best exercise science schools. Located in the suburb of Bourbonnais, Olivet Nazarene University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Olivet Nazarene University graduates 61% of students within six years. There were roughly 19 exercise science students who graduated with this degree at Olivet Nazarene University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, exercise science degree recipients from Olivet Nazarene University generally make around $28,990. Olivet Nazarene University graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans.
More information about a degree in exercise science from Olivet Nazarene University
Western Illinois University ranked #21 on our 2026 list of the best exercise science schools. Located in the town of Macomb, Western Illinois University is a moderately-sized public university. The six-year graduation rate is 45%. There were roughly 15 exercise science students who graduated with this degree at Western Illinois University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, exercise science degree recipients from Western Illinois University generally make around $33,473. Typical student debt for the program is $31,000.
Get the full exercise science details for Western Illinois University
Monmouth College came in at #22 for exercise science this year. This small private not-for-profit university is located in the town of Monmouth. The six-year graduation rate is 65%. Monmouth College awarded about 23 exercise science degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, exercise science degree recipients from Monmouth College generally make around $29,027. Typical student debt for the program is $25,757.
Read more about the exercise science program at Monmouth College
Greenville College placed #23 among the best exercise science schools. This small private not-for-profit university is located in the town of Greenville. Roughly 40% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 14 exercise science students who graduated with this degree at Greenville College in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, exercise science degree recipients from Greenville College generally make around $36,911. Greenville College graduates carry a median of $27,445 in student loans.
Read more about the exercise science program at Greenville College
