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College Factual  by our College Data Analytics Team
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2026 Best Exercise Science Schools in Missouri

12 Colleges in the United States
640 Exercise Science Degrees Awarded
$40,503 Avg Early-Career Salary

Exercise Science is a field worth a close look when choosing where to study. The schools below stand out for the quality of their exercise science programs.

For its 2026 ranking, College Factual looked at 20 schools in the United States to determine which ones were the best for exercise science students pursuing a degree.

What’s on this page:

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Best Schools for Exercise Science in Missouri

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

Saint Louis University Main Campus is one of the finest schools in the country for getting a degree in exercise science. Saint Louis University Main Campus is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Saint Louis. Roughly 80% of students complete a degree within six years here. Saint Louis University Main Campus awarded about 94 exercise science degrees in the most recent data year. Exercise Science graduates of Saint Louis University Main Campus earn a median of $65,599 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $26,316. See the full exercise science program report for Saint Louis University Main Campus

2
Truman State University crest
Truman State University
Kirksville, MO

Truman State University is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in exercise science, landing the #2 spot this year. Truman State University is a mid-sized public school located in the town of Kirksville. Truman State University graduates 68% of students within six years. About 55 exercise science degrees were awarded at Truman State University in the most recent year. Exercise Science graduates of Truman State University earn a median of $26,865 early in their careers. Truman State University graduates carry a median of $22,500 in student loans. Read more about the exercise science program at Truman State University

3

Maryville University Of Saint Louis is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in exercise science, landing the #3 spot this year. This large private not-for-profit university is located in the suburb of Saint Louis. About 66% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 22 exercise science students who graduated with this degree at Maryville University Of Saint Louis in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, exercise science degree recipients from Maryville University Of Saint Louis generally make around $32,480. Students borrow a median of $23,250 to complete this degree. Get the full exercise science details for Maryville University Of Saint Louis

4

Missouri State University Springfield is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in exercise science, landing the #4 spot this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Springfield. Roughly 58% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 85 exercise science students who graduated with this degree at Missouri State University Springfield in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, exercise science degree recipients from Missouri State University Springfield generally make around $29,761. Students borrow a median of $22,876 to complete this degree. Read more about the exercise science program at Missouri State University Springfield

5
Rockhurst University crest
Rockhurst University
Kansas City, MO

Rockhurst University is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in exercise science, ranking #5. Rockhurst University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Kansas City. Roughly 74% of students complete a degree within six years here. Rockhurst University awarded about 30 exercise science degrees in the most recent data year. Exercise Science graduates of Rockhurst University earn a median of $70,849 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete this degree. More information about a degree in exercise science from Rockhurst University

6

University Of Central Missouri came in at #6 for exercise science this year. This large public university is located in the town of Warrensburg. The six-year graduation rate is 54%. About 51 exercise science degrees were awarded at University Of Central Missouri in the most recent year. Students who receive their exercise science degree from University Of Central Missouri earn around $39,975 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 University Of Central Missouri

7

Westminster College Missouri placed #7 among the best exercise science schools. Located in the town of Fulton, Westminster College Missouri is a small private not-for-profit university. About 56% of students finish within six years. About 14 exercise science degrees were awarded at Westminster College Missouri in the most recent year. Exercise Science graduates of Westminster College Missouri earn a median of $37,667 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $26,170 to complete this degree. See the full exercise science program report for Westminster College Missouri

8
Logan University crest
Logan University
Chesterfield, MO

Logan University ranked #8 on our 2026 list of the best exercise science schools. Logan University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Chesterfield. About 22% of students finish within six years. Logan University awarded about 112 exercise science degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their exercise science degree from Logan University earn around $48,504 in the first couple years of their career. Logan University graduates carry a median of $14,000 in student loans. Get the full exercise science details for Logan University

9
Avila University crest
Avila University
Kansas City, MO

Avila University landed the #9 spot for exercise science this year. Avila University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Kansas City. The six-year graduation rate is 52%. Avila University awarded about 18 exercise science degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their exercise science degree from Avila University earn around $51,234 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $29,750. See the full exercise science program report for Avila University

10

Southwest Baptist University earned the #10 position for exercise science this year. Southwest Baptist University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the town of Bolivar. Southwest Baptist University graduates 53% of students within six years. Southwest Baptist University awarded about 33 exercise science degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, exercise science degree recipients from Southwest Baptist University generally make around $30,837. Typical student debt for the program is $19,550. Read more about the exercise science program at Southwest Baptist University

11
Lindenwood University crest
Lindenwood University
Saint Charles, MO

Lindenwood University earned the #11 position for exercise science this year. Set in the city of Saint Charles, Lindenwood University is a large private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 49% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 73 exercise science degrees were awarded at Lindenwood University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, exercise science degree recipients from Lindenwood University generally make around $35,314. Typical student debt for the program is $28,000. Get the full exercise science details for Lindenwood University

12

Missouri Baptist University landed the #12 spot for exercise science this year. Missouri Baptist University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Saint Louis. The six-year graduation rate is 46%. There were roughly 20 exercise science students who graduated with this degree at Missouri Baptist University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, exercise science degree recipients from Missouri Baptist University generally make around $39,737. Students borrow a median of $26,001 to complete this degree. See the full exercise science program report for Missouri Baptist University

13

William Woods University placed #13 among the best exercise science schools. William Woods University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the town of Fulton. Roughly 46% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 15 exercise science degrees were awarded at William Woods University in the most recent year. Exercise Science graduates of William Woods University earn a median of $24,329 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $25,545. More information about a degree in exercise science from William Woods University

14

Missouri Valley College came in at #14 for exercise science this year. This small private not-for-profit university is located in the town of Marshall. Roughly 22% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 18 exercise science degrees were awarded at Missouri Valley College in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, exercise science degree recipients from Missouri Valley College generally make around $33,892. Missouri Valley College graduates carry a median of $28,708 in student loans. Get the full exercise science details for Missouri Valley College

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Notes and References

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 · 20 schools evaluated.

More about our data sources and methodologies.

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