Exercise Science programs are offered at a focused set of schools across the country. While the number of schools offering the program varies, there are still top-quality ones to be found.
For its 2026 ranking, College Factual looked at 874 schools in the United States to determine which ones were the best for exercise science students pursuing a degree.
No school ranked higher than University Of Michigan Ann Arbor this year 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. About 18 exercise science degrees were awarded at University Of Michigan Ann Arbor in the most recent year. Graduates of the exercise science program make about $41,473 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $19,135 to complete this degree.
See the full exercise science program report for University Of Michigan Ann Arbor
A rank of #2 makes University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign one of the top schools for exercise science. This very large public university is located in the city of Champaign. About 85% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 13 exercise science students who graduated with this degree at University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign in the most recent data year. Students who receive their exercise science degree from University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign earn around $31,187 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $21,425 to complete this degree.
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Students looking for a strong exercise science program will find one at Texas A And M University College Station, which ranked #3. Located in the city of College Station, Texas A And M University College Station is a very large public university. Roughly 84% of students complete a degree within six years here. Texas A And M University College Station awarded about 19 exercise science degrees in the most recent data year. Exercise Science graduates of Texas A And M University College Station earn a median of $47,672 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $20,414 to complete this degree.
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Loyola University Chicago is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in exercise science, ranking #4. Loyola University Chicago is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Chicago. The six-year graduation rate is 75%. Loyola University Chicago awarded about 15 exercise science degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the exercise science program make about $58,568 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $23,521.
See the full exercise science program report for Loyola University Chicago
Students looking for a strong exercise science program will find one at University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill, which ranked #5. University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill is a very large public school located in the city of Chapel Hill. The six-year graduation rate is 91%. University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill awarded about 32 exercise science degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the exercise science program make about $47,637 in their early career. University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill graduates carry a median of $16,575 in student loans.
More information about a degree in exercise science from University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill
University Of Virginia Main Campus placed #6 among the best exercise science schools. University Of Virginia Main Campus is a very large public school located in the suburb of Charlottesville. University Of Virginia Main Campus graduates 96% of students within six years. University Of Virginia Main Campus awarded about 16 exercise science degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their exercise science degree from University Of Virginia Main Campus earn around $54,185 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $23,250 to complete this degree.
Read more about the exercise science program at University Of Virginia Main Campus
Ohio State University Main Campus landed the #7 spot for exercise science this year. Ohio State University Main Campus is a very large public school located in the city of Columbus. The six-year graduation rate is 88%. Ohio State University Main Campus awarded about 36 exercise science degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their exercise science degree from Ohio State University Main Campus earn around $47,682 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $23,000.
Read more about the exercise science program at Ohio State University Main Campus
Tulane University Of Louisiana came in at #8 for exercise science this year. Located in the city of New Orleans, Tulane University Of Louisiana is a large private not-for-profit university. Roughly 86% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 13 exercise science students who graduated with this degree at Tulane University Of Louisiana in the most recent data year. Graduates of the exercise science program make about $54,082 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $22,077 to complete this degree.
See the full exercise science program report for Tulane University Of Louisiana
The University Of Alabama placed #9 among the best exercise science schools. Located in the city of Tuscaloosa, The University Of Alabama is a very large public university. Roughly 73% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 14 exercise science students who graduated with this degree at The University Of Alabama in the most recent data year. Exercise Science graduates of The University Of Alabama earn a median of $50,740 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $24,496 to complete this degree.
See the full exercise science program report for The University Of Alabama
University Of San Francisco placed #10 among the best exercise science schools. Located in the city of San Francisco, University Of San Francisco is a large private not-for-profit university. The six-year graduation rate is 70%. There were roughly 42 exercise science students who graduated with this degree at University Of San Francisco in the most recent data year. Exercise Science graduates of University Of San Francisco earn a median of $46,187 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $24,905 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in exercise science from University Of San Francisco
University Of Central Florida landed the #11 spot for exercise science this year. University Of Central Florida is a very large public school located in the suburb of Orlando. The six-year graduation rate is 78%. University Of Central Florida awarded about 29 exercise science degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the exercise science program make about $46,398 in their early career. University Of Central Florida graduates carry a median of $21,620 in student loans.
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Merrimack College placed #12 among the best exercise science schools. This moderately-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the suburb of North Andover. Roughly 70% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 35 exercise science degrees were awarded at Merrimack College in the most recent year. Students who receive their exercise science degree from Merrimack College earn around $50,506 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $26,913 to complete this degree.
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University Of Connecticut came in at #13 for exercise science this year. University Of Connecticut is a very large public school located in the town of Storrs. University Of Connecticut graduates 83% of students within six years. There were roughly 21 exercise science students who graduated with this degree at University Of Connecticut in the most recent data year. Students who receive their exercise science degree from University Of Connecticut earn around $48,822 in the first couple years of their career. University Of Connecticut graduates carry a median of $23,125 in student loans.
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Point Loma Nazarene University ranked #14 on our 2026 list of the best exercise science schools. Located in the city of San Diego, Point Loma Nazarene University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. Point Loma Nazarene University graduates 77% of students within six years. There were roughly 47 exercise science students who graduated with this degree at Point Loma Nazarene University in the most recent data year. Exercise Science graduates of Point Loma Nazarene University earn a median of $49,053 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $22,542 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in exercise science from Point Loma Nazarene University
University Of Illinois At Chicago placed #15 among the best exercise science schools. Located in the city of Chicago, University Of Illinois At Chicago is a very large public university. The six-year graduation rate is 62%. About 13 exercise science degrees were awarded at University Of Illinois At Chicago in the most recent year. Exercise Science graduates of University Of Illinois At Chicago earn a median of $28,874 early in their careers. University Of Illinois At Chicago graduates carry a median of $16,750 in student loans.
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Illinois State University ranked #16 on our 2026 list of the best exercise science schools. Located in the suburb of Normal, Illinois State University is a very large public university. The six-year graduation rate is 64%. Illinois State University awarded about 94 exercise science degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their exercise science degree from Illinois State University earn around $44,066 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $21,250 to complete this degree.
See the full exercise science program report for Illinois State University
University Of Cincinnati Main Campus placed #17 among the best exercise science schools. This very large public university is located in the city of Cincinnati. The six-year graduation rate is 74%. There were roughly 43 exercise science students who graduated with this degree at University Of Cincinnati Main Campus in the most recent data year. Exercise Science graduates of University Of Cincinnati Main Campus earn a median of $46,869 early in their careers. University Of Cincinnati Main Campus graduates carry a median of $17,625 in student loans.
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University Of South Dakota came in at #18 for exercise science this year. Located in the town of Vermillion, University Of South Dakota is a large public university. About 60% of students finish within six years. About 29 exercise science degrees were awarded at University Of South Dakota in the most recent year. Students who receive their exercise science degree from University Of South Dakota earn around $51,566 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $26,322.
More information about a degree in exercise science from University Of South Dakota
University Of Hawaii At Manoa ranked #19 on our 2026 list of the best exercise science schools. Set in the city of Honolulu, University Of Hawaii At Manoa is a very large public institution. University Of Hawaii At Manoa graduates 64% of students within six years. There were roughly 29 exercise science students who graduated with this degree at University Of Hawaii At Manoa in the most recent data year. Exercise Science graduates of University Of Hawaii At Manoa earn a median of $27,626 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $22,492.
See the full exercise science program report for University Of Hawaii At Manoa
University Of Rhode Island ranked #20 on our 2026 list of the best exercise science schools. This very large public university is located in the suburb of Kingston. Roughly 72% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 11 exercise science students who graduated with this degree at University Of Rhode Island in the most recent data year. Students who receive their exercise science degree from University Of Rhode Island earn around $52,821 in the first couple years of their career. University Of Rhode Island graduates carry a median of $23,432 in student loans.
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The University Of Tennessee landed the #21 spot for exercise science this year. Located in the city of Knoxville, The University Of Tennessee is a very large public university. The University Of Tennessee graduates 74% of students within six years. About 15 exercise science degrees were awarded at The University Of Tennessee in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, exercise science degree recipients from The University Of Tennessee generally make around $42,975. Typical student debt for the program is $21,500.
See the full exercise science program report for The University Of Tennessee
University Of Georgia ranked #22 on our 2026 list of the best exercise science schools. Set in the city of Athens, University Of Georgia is a very large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 90%. About 52 exercise science degrees were awarded at University Of Georgia in the most recent year. Graduates of the exercise science program make about $39,610 in their early career. University Of Georgia graduates carry a median of $22,250 in student loans.
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University Of South Florida Main Campus ranked #23 on our 2026 list of the best exercise science schools. Set in the city of Tampa, University Of South Florida Main Campus is a very large public institution. University Of South Florida Main Campus graduates 77% of students within six years. About 23 exercise science degrees were awarded at University Of South Florida Main Campus in the most recent year. Exercise Science graduates of University Of South Florida Main Campus earn a median of $34,249 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $21,829 to complete this degree.
Get the full exercise science details for University Of South Florida Main Campus
Endicott College landed the #24 spot for exercise science this year. This moderately-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the suburb of Beverly. Roughly 75% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 58 exercise science students who graduated with this degree at Endicott College in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, exercise science degree recipients from Endicott College generally make around $30,338. Endicott College graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans.
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Pennsylvania Western University ranked #25 on our 2026 list of the best exercise science schools. This large public university is located in the town of California. The six-year graduation rate is 52%. There were roughly 151 exercise science students who graduated with this degree at Pennsylvania Western University in the most recent data year.
See the full exercise science program report for Pennsylvania Western University
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. The methodology weighs graduation rate, post-graduation earnings, cost, and program quality, 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).
