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.
College Factual analyzed 174 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best exercise science schools.
University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill is one of the finest schools in the country for getting a degree in exercise science. Located in the city of Chapel Hill, University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill is a very large public university. About 91% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 32 exercise science students who graduated with this degree at University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill in the most recent data year. Exercise Science graduates of University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill earn a median of $39,401 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $16,575 to complete this degree.
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The University Of Alabama is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in exercise science, landing the #2 spot this year. Set in the city of Tuscaloosa, The University Of Alabama is a very large public institution. About 73% of students finish within six years. About 245 exercise science degrees were awarded at The University Of Alabama in the most recent 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.
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University Of Georgia came in at #3 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 182 exercise science degrees were awarded at University Of Georgia in the most recent year. Graduates of the exercise science program make about $36,359 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $22,250.
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Furman University is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in exercise science, landing the #4 spot this year. Furman University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Greenville. The six-year graduation rate is 79%. Furman University awarded about 70 exercise science degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, exercise science degree recipients from Furman University generally make around $36,520. Typical student debt for the program is $23,764.
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Students looking for a strong exercise science program will find one at Wake Forest University, which ranked #5. Set in the city of Winston-Salem, Wake Forest University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 89% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 103 exercise science students who graduated with this degree at Wake Forest University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the exercise science program make about $21,192 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $23,250 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in exercise science from Wake Forest University
University Of Central Florida placed #6 among the best exercise science schools. Set in the suburb of Orlando, University Of Central Florida is a very large public institution. University Of Central Florida graduates 78% of students within six years. There were roughly 448 exercise science students who graduated with this degree at University Of Central Florida in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, exercise science degree recipients from University Of Central Florida generally make around $46,398. University Of Central Florida graduates carry a median of $21,620 in student loans.
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University Of Virginia Main Campus earned the #7 position for exercise science this year. This very large public university is located in the suburb of Charlottesville. University Of Virginia Main Campus graduates 96% of students within six years. There were roughly 102 exercise science students who graduated with this degree at University Of Virginia Main Campus in the most recent data year. Exercise Science graduates of University Of Virginia Main Campus earn a median of $40,998 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $23,250 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in exercise science from University Of Virginia Main Campus
High Point University ranked #8 on our 2026 list of the best exercise science schools. Set in the city of High Point, High Point University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. About 72% of students finish within six years. About 59 exercise science degrees were awarded at High Point University in the most recent year. Graduates of the exercise science program make about $113,352 in their early career. High Point University graduates carry a median of $23,785 in student loans.
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The University Of Tennessee came in at #9 for exercise science this year. Located in the city of Knoxville, The University Of Tennessee is a very large public university. About 74% of students finish within six years. About 273 exercise science degrees were awarded at The University Of Tennessee in the most recent year. Exercise Science graduates of The University Of Tennessee earn a median of $35,175 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $21,500.
See the full exercise science program report for The University Of Tennessee
Tulane University Of Louisiana ranked #10 on our 2026 list of the best exercise science schools. Located in the city of New Orleans, Tulane University Of Louisiana is a large private not-for-profit university. The six-year graduation rate is 86%. Tulane University Of Louisiana awarded about 13 exercise science degrees 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.
More information about a degree in exercise science from Tulane University Of Louisiana
Elon University came in at #11 for exercise science this year. Elon University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Elon. The six-year graduation rate is 84%. Elon University awarded about 50 exercise science degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the exercise science program make about $21,440 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $23,250.
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Lipscomb University landed the #12 spot for exercise science this year. Located in the city of Nashville, Lipscomb University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. Lipscomb University graduates 72% of students within six years. Lipscomb University awarded about 20 exercise science degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the exercise science program make about $48,949 in their early career. Lipscomb University graduates carry a median of $24,975 in student loans.
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Mercer University landed the #13 spot for exercise science this year. Set in the city of Macon, Mercer University is a large private not-for-profit institution. About 70% of students finish within six years. Mercer University awarded about 25 exercise science degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the exercise science program make about $56,699 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $32,463.
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University Of South Florida Main Campus placed #14 among the best exercise science schools. Located in the city of Tampa, University Of South Florida Main Campus is a very large public university. About 77% of students finish within six years. University Of South Florida Main Campus awarded about 23 exercise science degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the exercise science program make about $34,249 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $21,829 to complete this degree.
See the full exercise science program report for University Of South Florida Main Campus
University Of Kentucky ranked #15 on our 2026 list of the best exercise science schools. University Of Kentucky is a very large public school located in the city of Lexington. University Of Kentucky graduates 71% of students within six years. University Of Kentucky awarded about 41 exercise science degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the exercise science program make about $43,994 in their early career. University Of Kentucky graduates carry a median of $24,094 in student loans.
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Appalachian State University placed #16 among the best exercise science schools. Located in the town of Boone, Appalachian State University is a very large public university. The six-year graduation rate is 74%. Appalachian State University awarded about 67 exercise science degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, exercise science degree recipients from Appalachian State University generally make around $31,567. Appalachian State University graduates carry a median of $21,000 in student loans.
See the full exercise science program report for Appalachian State University
Cumberland University placed #17 among the best exercise science schools. Set in the town of Lebanon, Cumberland University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Cumberland University graduates 42% of students within six years. About 22 exercise science degrees were awarded at Cumberland University in the most recent year. Graduates of the exercise science program make about $47,696 in their early career. Cumberland University graduates carry a median of $21,902 in student loans.
More information about a degree in exercise science from Cumberland University
Florida Gulf Coast University landed the #18 spot for exercise science this year. Located in the suburb of Fort Myers, Florida Gulf Coast University is a large public university. The six-year graduation rate is 57%. There were roughly 55 exercise science students who graduated with this degree at Florida Gulf Coast University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the exercise science program make about $36,002 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $15,000 to complete this degree.
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University Of North Carolina At Wilmington placed #19 among the best exercise science schools. This very large public university is located in the city of Wilmington. The six-year graduation rate is 71%. University Of North Carolina At Wilmington awarded about 173 exercise science degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their exercise science degree from University Of North Carolina At Wilmington earn around $46,164 in the first couple years of their career. University Of North Carolina At Wilmington graduates carry a median of $23,013 in student loans.
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John Brown University ranked #20 on our 2026 list of the best exercise science schools. Set in the town of Siloam Springs, John Brown University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 72% of students complete a degree within six years here. John Brown University awarded about 16 exercise science degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, exercise science degree recipients from John Brown University generally make around $50,420. Students borrow a median of $25,216 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in exercise science from John Brown University
University Of Mississippi Main Campus ranked #21 on our 2026 list of the best exercise science schools. University Of Mississippi Main Campus is a very large public school located in the town of University. Roughly 72% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 110 exercise science degrees were awarded at University Of Mississippi Main Campus in the most recent year. Graduates of the exercise science program make about $22,239 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $23,034.
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Florida International University came in at #22 for exercise science this year. Set in the suburb of Miami, Florida International University is a very large public institution. About 74% of students finish within six years. Florida International University awarded about 12 exercise science degrees in the most recent data year. Exercise Science graduates of Florida International University earn a median of $52,517 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $19,349 to complete this degree.
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West Virginia University ranked #23 on our 2026 list of the best exercise science schools. West Virginia University is a very large public school located in the city of Morgantown. Roughly 64% of students complete a degree within six years here. West Virginia University awarded about 17 exercise science degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, exercise science degree recipients from West Virginia University generally make around $30,145. Typical student debt for the program is $25,000.
More information about a degree in exercise science from West Virginia University
Mississippi State University came in at #24 for exercise science this year. Located in the town of Mississippi State, Mississippi State University is a very large public university. Mississippi State University graduates 67% of students within six years. Mississippi State University awarded about 260 exercise science degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the exercise science program make about $34,181 in their early career. Mississippi State University graduates carry a median of $25,000 in student loans.
Read more about the exercise science program at Mississippi State University
Belmont University came in at #25 for exercise science this year. Located in the city of Nashville, Belmont University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. About 70% of students finish within six years. About 33 exercise science degrees were awarded at Belmont University in the most recent year. Graduates of the exercise science program make about $37,139 in their early career. Belmont University graduates carry a median of $20,000 in student loans.
More information about a degree in exercise science from Belmont University
Rest of the Top 50 Exercise Science Schools
These schools also placed among the best for exercise science this year:
This list is compiled 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 · 174 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).
