by our College Data Analytics TeamExercise 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.
For its 2026 ranking, College Factual looked at 40 schools in the United States to determine which ones were the best for exercise science students pursuing a degree.
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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.
Pennsylvania State University Main Campus tops our 2026 ranking of the best exercise science schools. Located in the city of University Park, Pennsylvania State University Main Campus is a very large public university. Roughly 86% of students complete a degree within six years here. Pennsylvania State University Main Campus awarded about 232 exercise science degrees in the most recent data year. More information about a degree in exercise science from Pennsylvania State University Main Campus
Thomas Jefferson University is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in exercise science, ranking #2. Thomas Jefferson University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Philadelphia. The six-year graduation rate is 69%. Thomas Jefferson University awarded about 12 exercise science degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their exercise science degree from Thomas Jefferson University earn around $64,243 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $32,256 to complete this degree. See the full exercise science program report for Thomas Jefferson University
University Of Scranton is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in exercise science, ranking #3. Set in the city of Scranton, University Of Scranton is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 80% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 46 exercise science students who graduated with this degree at University Of Scranton in the most recent data year. Exercise Science graduates of University Of Scranton earn a median of $56,861 early in their careers. University Of Scranton graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. See the full exercise science program report for University Of Scranton
A rank of #4 makes Lebanon Valley College one of the top schools for exercise science. This mid-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the suburb of Annville. The six-year graduation rate is 65%. Lebanon Valley College awarded about 76 exercise science degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the exercise science program make about $39,243 in their early career. Lebanon Valley College graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Read more about the exercise science program at Lebanon Valley College
A rank of #5 makes Temple University one of the top schools for exercise science. This very large public university is located in the city of Philadelphia. The six-year graduation rate is 75%. There were roughly 71 exercise science students who graduated with this degree at Temple University in the most recent data year. Exercise Science graduates of Temple University earn a median of $37,260 early in their careers. Temple University graduates carry a median of $26,000 in student loans. Get the full exercise science details for Temple University
Pennsylvania Western University came in at #6 for exercise science this year. Pennsylvania Western University is a large public school located in the town of California. Roughly 52% of students complete a degree within six years here. Pennsylvania Western University awarded about 232 exercise science degrees in the most recent data year. Read more about the exercise science program at Pennsylvania Western University
Kings College earned the #7 position for exercise science this year. Set in the city of Wilkes-Barre, Kings College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 60% of students complete a degree within six years here. Kings College awarded about 23 exercise science degrees in the most recent data year. Exercise Science graduates of Kings College earn a median of $45,414 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $26,980. Read more about the exercise science program at Kings College
Pennsylvania State University Penn State Harrisburg placed #8 among the best exercise science schools. Located in the suburb of Middletown, Pennsylvania State University Penn State Harrisburg is a moderately-sized public university. About 26% of students finish within six years. About 22 exercise science degrees were awarded at Pennsylvania State University Penn State Harrisburg in the most recent year. See the full exercise science program report for Pennsylvania State University Penn State Harrisburg
University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus landed the #9 spot for exercise science this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Pittsburgh. About 86% of students finish within six years. University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus awarded about 35 exercise science degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their exercise science degree from University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus earn around $24,916 in the first couple years of their career. University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Read more about the exercise science program at University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus
Pennsylvania State University Penn State Berks landed the #10 spot for exercise science this year. Set in the suburb of Reading, Pennsylvania State University Penn State Berks is a mid-sized public institution. About 30% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 26 exercise science students who graduated with this degree at Pennsylvania State University Penn State Berks in the most recent data year. More information about a degree in exercise science from Pennsylvania State University Penn State Berks
Chatham University came in at #11 for exercise science this year. Set in the city of Pittsburgh, Chatham University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. About 63% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 28 exercise science students who graduated with this degree at Chatham University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their exercise science degree from Chatham University earn around $61,339 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $26,453. Get the full exercise science details for Chatham University
Grove City College earned the #12 position for exercise science this year. This mid-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the town of Grove City. Roughly 83% of students complete a degree within six years here. Grove City College awarded about 26 exercise science degrees in the most recent data year. Read more about the exercise science program at Grove City College
Gannon University placed #13 among the best exercise science schools. Located in the city of Erie, Gannon University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. The six-year graduation rate is 67%. Gannon University awarded about 27 exercise science degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their exercise science degree from Gannon University earn around $73,658 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $26,390 to complete this degree. Read more about the exercise science program at Gannon University
Eastern University landed the #14 spot for exercise science this year. Eastern University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Saint Davids. About 60% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 13 exercise science students who graduated with this degree at Eastern University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the exercise science program make about $50,474 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $28,584. More information about a degree in exercise science from Eastern University
Desales University earned the #15 position for exercise science this year. Desales University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Center Valley. Roughly 72% of students complete a degree within six years here. Desales University awarded about 17 exercise science degrees in the most recent data year. Exercise Science graduates of Desales University earn a median of $26,729 early in their careers. Desales University graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Get the full exercise science details for Desales University
Shippensburg University Of Pennsylvania landed the #16 spot for exercise science this year. This moderately-sized public university is located in the town of Shippensburg. The six-year graduation rate is 56%. There were roughly 37 exercise science students who graduated with this degree at Shippensburg University Of Pennsylvania in the most recent data year. Exercise Science graduates of Shippensburg University Of Pennsylvania earn a median of $30,616 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $26,000 to complete this degree. Read more about the exercise science program at Shippensburg University Of Pennsylvania
East Stroudsburg University Of Pennsylvania ranked #17 on our 2026 list of the best exercise science schools. East Stroudsburg University Of Pennsylvania is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of East Stroudsburg. East Stroudsburg University Of Pennsylvania graduates 43% of students within six years. About 64 exercise science degrees were awarded at East Stroudsburg University Of Pennsylvania in the most recent year. Graduates of the exercise science program make about $33,463 in their early career. East Stroudsburg University Of Pennsylvania graduates carry a median of $26,303 in student loans. Read more about the exercise science program at East Stroudsburg University Of Pennsylvania
Thiel College landed the #18 spot for exercise science this year. Set in the town of Greenville, Thiel College is a small private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 48% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 11 exercise science students who graduated with this degree at Thiel College in the most recent data year. Exercise Science graduates of Thiel College earn a median of $36,966 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $27,000. See the full exercise science program report for Thiel College
Bucks County Community College came in at #19 for exercise science this year. This large public university is located in the rural area of Newtown. Bucks County Community College awarded about 14 exercise science degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the exercise science program make about $37,711 in their early career. Bucks County Community College graduates carry a median of $13,068 in student loans. See the full exercise science program report for Bucks County Community College
Seton Hill University ranked #20 on our 2026 list of the best exercise science schools. This moderately-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the suburb of Greensburg. Seton Hill University graduates 67% of students within six years. There were roughly 20 exercise science students who graduated with this degree at Seton Hill University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, exercise science degree recipients from Seton Hill University generally make around $32,975. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete this degree. See the full exercise science program report for Seton Hill University
Immaculata University came in at #21 for exercise science this year. Set in the suburb of Immaculata, Immaculata University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Immaculata University graduates 71% of students within six years. There were roughly 14 exercise science students who graduated with this degree at Immaculata University in the most recent data year. Exercise Science graduates of Immaculata University earn a median of $26,236 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete this degree. Read more about the exercise science program at Immaculata University
University Of Pittsburgh Bradford ranked #22 on our 2026 list of the best exercise science schools. This mid-sized public university is located in the town of Bradford. Roughly 50% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 13 exercise science students who graduated with this degree at University Of Pittsburgh Bradford in the most recent data year. Exercise Science graduates of University Of Pittsburgh Bradford earn a median of $24,916 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete this degree. Read more about the exercise science program at University Of Pittsburgh Bradford
This list is compiled 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 · 40 schools evaluated.
More about our data sources and methodologies.