ADBLOCK #102
College Factual  by our College Data Analytics Team
       Unbiased Factual Guarantee

2026 Best Exercise Science Schools in Michigan

14 Colleges in the United States
1,127 Exercise Science Degrees Awarded
$37,957 Avg Early-Career Salary

Exercise Science is a field worth a close look when choosing where to study. A focused field like this rewards careful comparison of the schools that offer it.

To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 30 schools to find the best for exercise science students.

What’s on this page:

ADBLOCK #159
DEBUG: Raw major_slug = ""
DEBUG: Initial offers_url = "https://www.collegefactual.com/majors/parks-recreation-fitness/health-and-physical-education/exercise-science/offers.json", major_slug = ""
DEBUG: After cleaning major_slug = ""
DEBUG: Before URL cleaning = "https://www.collegefactual.com/majors/parks-recreation-fitness/health-and-physical-education/exercise-science/offers.json"
DEBUG: After TrimSuffix = "https://www.collegefactual.com/majors/parks-recreation-fitness/health-and-physical-education/exercise-science/offers.json"
DEBUG: After HTTPS placeholder = "HTTPS_TEMP_PLACEHOLDERwww.collegefactual.com/majors/parks-recreation-fitness/health-and-physical-education/exercise-science/offers.json"
DEBUG: After slash cleaning = "HTTPS_TEMP_PLACEHOLDERwww.collegefactual.com/majors/parks-recreation-fitness/health-and-physical-education/exercise-science/offers.json"
DEBUG: After URL cleaning = "https://www.collegefactual.com/majors/parks-recreation-fitness/health-and-physical-education/exercise-science/offers.json"
DEBUG: offers_url = https://www.collegefactual.com/majors/parks-recreation-fitness/health-and-physical-education/exercise-science/offers.json
DEBUG: major_slug = ""
DEBUG: offers_url is valid, proceeding to fetch data
DEBUG: offers_data.offers found, count = 2
DEBUG: Specific major detected (cip4 = 31.05), keeping min_relevance at 0.8
DEBUG: Starting relevance filtering - min_relevance = 0.8, max_relevance = 1
DEBUG: Checking offer "Exercise Science (I Have a Bachelors)" with relevance 1
DEBUG: ✓ Offer "Exercise Science (I Have a Bachelors)" ACCEPTED (relevance 1)
DEBUG: Checking offer "Exercise & Sports Science (I Have a HS Diploma or Associate Degree)" with relevance 0.9
DEBUG: ✓ Offer "Exercise & Sports Science (I Have a HS Diploma or Associate Degree)" ACCEPTED (relevance 0.9)
DEBUG: relevant_offers count = 2
DEBUG: relevant_offers > 0, checking for ESYOH offers
DEBUG: ESYOH filtering - found 2 ESYOH offers with relevance >= 0.8
DEBUG: esyoh_offers count = 2
DEBUG: ESYOH offers found, rendering ESYOH widget
DEBUG: most_relevant_only = true, filtering for most relevant
DEBUG: Found 1 offers with relevance >= 1.0

Best Schools for Exercise Science in Michigan

If you are not interested in a particular degree level and want to know which schools are the overall best at delivering an education for the exercise science degrees they offer, see the list below.

Top Schools in Exercise Science

1

Leading the list is University Of Michigan Ann Arbor, our #1 school for exercise science. Located in the city of Ann Arbor, University Of Michigan Ann Arbor is a very large public university. Roughly 93% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 151 exercise science students who graduated with this degree at University Of Michigan Ann Arbor in the most recent data year. Exercise Science graduates of University Of Michigan Ann Arbor earn a median of $42,490 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $19,135. Read more about the exercise science program at University Of Michigan Ann Arbor

2
Oakland University crest
Oakland University
Rochester Hills, MI

Students looking for a strong exercise science program will find one at Oakland University, which ranked #2. This large public university is located in the suburb of Rochester Hills. About 58% of students finish within six years. Oakland University awarded about 43 exercise science degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the exercise science program make about $54,785 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $25,972. Get the full exercise science details for Oakland University

3
Michigan State University crest
Michigan State University
East Lansing, MI

Michigan State University is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in exercise science, landing the #3 spot this year. Michigan State University is a very large public school located in the city of East Lansing. About 81% of students finish within six years. About 308 exercise science degrees were awarded at Michigan State University in the most recent year. Exercise Science graduates of Michigan State University earn a median of $37,279 early in their careers. Michigan State University graduates carry a median of $26,000 in student loans. More information about a degree in exercise science from Michigan State University

4

Michigan Technological University is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in exercise science, landing the #4 spot this year. Set in the town of Houghton, Michigan Technological University is a moderately-sized public institution. Michigan Technological University graduates 68% of students within six years. There were roughly 23 exercise science students who graduated with this degree at Michigan Technological University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their exercise science degree from Michigan Technological University earn around $64,652 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $20,091 to complete this degree. See the full exercise science program report for Michigan Technological University

5

Grand Valley State University is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in exercise science, ranking #5. Located in the town of Allendale, Grand Valley State University is a very large public university. The six-year graduation rate is 67%. There were roughly 173 exercise science students who graduated with this degree at Grand Valley State University in the most recent data year. Exercise Science graduates of Grand Valley State University earn a median of $29,913 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $26,300. Read more about the exercise science program at Grand Valley State University

6

Siena Heights University landed the #6 spot for exercise science this year. This mid-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the town of Adrian. About 39% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 11 exercise science students who graduated with this degree at Siena Heights University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their exercise science degree from Siena Heights University earn around $52,293 in the first couple years of their career. Siena Heights University graduates carry a median of $25,790 in student loans. See the full exercise science program report for Siena Heights University

7
Central Michigan University crest
Central Michigan University
Mount Pleasant, MI

Central Michigan University landed the #7 spot for exercise science this year. Located in the town of Mount Pleasant, Central Michigan University is a large public university. Roughly 59% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 80 exercise science degrees were awarded at Central Michigan University in the most recent year. Graduates of the exercise science program make about $36,910 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete this degree. See the full exercise science program report for Central Michigan University

8

Western Michigan University landed the #8 spot for exercise science this year. Located in the city of Kalamazoo, Western Michigan University is a large public university. About 58% of students finish within six years. Western Michigan University awarded about 45 exercise science degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the exercise science program make about $35,152 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $26,000. See the full exercise science program report for Western Michigan University

9

Wayne State University placed #9 among the best exercise science schools. Set in the city of Detroit, Wayne State University is a very large public institution. Roughly 58% of students complete a degree within six years here. Wayne State University awarded about 96 exercise science degrees in the most recent data year. Exercise Science graduates of Wayne State University earn a median of $45,568 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $26,689. See the full exercise science program report for Wayne State University

10
Lake Superior State University crest
Lake Superior State University
Sault Ste Marie, MI

Lake Superior State University placed #10 among the best exercise science schools. This small public university is located in the town of Sault Ste Marie. Lake Superior State University graduates 50% of students within six years. There were roughly 10 exercise science students who graduated with this degree at Lake Superior State University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their exercise science degree from Lake Superior State University earn around $47,910 in the first couple years of their career. Lake Superior State University graduates carry a median of $22,429 in student loans. Get the full exercise science details for Lake Superior State University

11
Hope College crest
Hope College
Holland, MI

Hope College came in at #11 for exercise science this year. Located in the city of Holland, Hope College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Roughly 80% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 23 exercise science degrees were awarded at Hope College in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, exercise science degree recipients from Hope College generally make around $25,862. Hope College graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Read more about the exercise science program at Hope College

12
Adrian College crest
Adrian College
Adrian, MI

Adrian College earned the #12 position for exercise science this year. This small private not-for-profit university is located in the town of Adrian. Adrian College graduates 45% of students within six years. There were roughly 32 exercise science students who graduated with this degree at Adrian College in the most recent data year. Exercise Science graduates of Adrian College earn a median of $36,808 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $27,000. See the full exercise science program report for Adrian College

13
Albion College crest
Albion College
Albion, MI

Albion College earned the #13 position for exercise science this year. Albion College is a small private not-for-profit school located in the town of Albion. Roughly 62% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 32 exercise science degrees were awarded at Albion College in the most recent year. Students who receive their exercise science degree from Albion College earn around $30,314 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete this degree. See the full exercise science program report for Albion College

14
Cornerstone University crest
Cornerstone University
Grand Rapids, MI

Cornerstone University earned the #14 position for exercise science this year. Cornerstone University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Grand Rapids. Cornerstone University graduates 63% of students within six years. There were roughly 15 exercise science students who graduated with this degree at Cornerstone University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their exercise science degree from Cornerstone University earn around $27,327 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete this degree. Read more about the exercise science program at Cornerstone University

15
Saginaw Valley State University crest
Saginaw Valley State University
University Center, MI

Saginaw Valley State University placed #15 among the best exercise science schools. This moderately-sized public university is located in the suburb of University Center. Saginaw Valley State University graduates 48% of students within six years. Saginaw Valley State University awarded about 36 exercise science degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their exercise science degree from Saginaw Valley State University earn around $31,021 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $30,000 to complete this degree. Read more about the exercise science program at Saginaw Valley State University

16

Northern Michigan University ranked #16 on our 2026 list of the best exercise science schools. Located in the town of Marquette, Northern Michigan University is a moderately-sized public university. About 53% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 35 exercise science students who graduated with this degree at Northern Michigan University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, exercise science degree recipients from Northern Michigan University generally make around $22,113. Students borrow a median of $24,625 to complete this degree. Read more about the exercise science program at Northern Michigan University

17
Olivet College crest
Olivet College
Olivet, MI

Olivet College landed the #17 spot for exercise science this year. Olivet College is a small private not-for-profit school located in the rural area of Olivet. Roughly 35% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 14 exercise science degrees were awarded at Olivet College in the most recent year. Students who receive their exercise science degree from Olivet College earn around $24,879 in the first couple years of their career. Olivet College graduates carry a median of $29,578 in student loans. See the full exercise science program report for Olivet College

ADBLOCK #173
View All Exercise Science Rankings >

ADBLOCK #115

Notes and References

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 · 30 schools evaluated.

More about our data sources and methodologies.

ADBLOCK #116

Popular Reports

College Rankings
Best by Location
Degree Guides by Major
Graduate Programs
ADBLOCK #613

Compare Your School Options