Best Kinesiology and Exercise Science colleges in the U.S. 2024

The University of Michigan-Ann Arbor is home to its state-of-the-art School of Kinesiology, featuring 26 labs and centers where world-class faculty engage in high-impact research. Ranked by the National Academy of Kinesiology as having the “#1 Doctoral Program in the Country,” the school also offers three undergrad and five graduate programs.

Texas A&M’s Department of Kinesiology and Sport Management is BIG! As one of the largest departments on campus, KNSM is home to ~3,000 undergraduate students and ~316 grad students. There’s a wide array of academic options including a Bachelor’s in Kinesiology with concentrations in Applied Exercise Physiology or Basic Exercise Physiology. There’s also a dual BS/MS in Athletic Training Program option.

University of Maryland-College Park’s Department of Kinesiology has an esteemed faculty filled with National Academy of Kinesiology fellows and affiliate appointments with several interdisciplinary programs. The department receives research funding from the National Institutes of Health and the National Science Foundation and features several undergrad and graduate programs including online options.

Another exciting choice to consider in Texas is UT Austin’s Department of Kinesiology and Health Education. At UT, students have access to “modern research labs, vast historical archives, caring advisors, and field-leading, innovative faculty.” In addition to several specializations and minors, undergraduate majors include: 

• Applied Movement Science
• Exercise Science
• Health Promotion and Behavioral Science
• Physical Culture and Sports
• Sport Management

Ohio State’s College of Education and Human Ecology programs include undergrad options in exercise science plus graduate degrees related to kinesiology. Students benefit from the school’s state-of-the-art research facilities—the Center on Education and Training for Employment, Crane Center for Early Childhood Research, Schoenbaum Family Center, and Walter Dennis Learning Center. Major options include Health and Exercise Science, Sports Coaching, Physical Education, and Sports Management. 

Under the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign’s College of Applied Health Sciences, its Department of Kinesiology and Community Health offers a Bachelor’s in Kinesiology, MS in Kinesiology, and Kinesiology PhD. There’s also a Disability Studies minor, an interdisciplinary minor in Aging, and a Physical Education Teacher Licensure program. Interested students can join the active Pre-Occupational Therapy Club to learn, make friends, and access volunteer opportunities.

Located in Athens, the University of Georgia’s Department of Kinesiology is a member of the American Kinesiology Association. The school features a massive range of academic options such as:

• BSEd programs in Exercise and Sport Science, Health and Physical Education, or Sport Management
• MS in Kinesiology with concentrations in:
  • Adapted Physical Education
  • Biomechanics
  • Exercise Physiology
  • Motor Control and Learning
  • Sport Management and Policy
  • and more…
• MS in Athletic Training 
• Several PhD and dual degree options!

Located in scenic Bloomington, Indiana University is home to a kinesiology department within the School of Public Health. Its degree program offerings include majors in exercise science, sport marketing and management, and human behavior, all taught by distinguished faculty who include students in vital research projects such as intervention and community-based physical activity. There are also exciting internship opportunities to gain firsthand experience!

Salt Lake City’s University of Utah is a treasure trove of kinesiology degree programs. The Department of Health & Kinesiology features bachelor’s options with the following emphases:

• Kinesiology (with pre-allied health and fitness specialists tracks)
• Community Health Education (with community health and workplace wellness tracks) 
• Emergency Medical Services
• Nuclear Medicine Technology

MS degrees include Health Education Specialist and Wellness Coaching, Physical Activity & Well-Being, Cognitive & Motor Neuroscience, and Exercise & Disease. There are also PhD options and certificates available. 

Often ranked as one of the nation’s best college towns, Cedar Falls has the University of Northern Iowa to thank for that honor. UNI’s Department of Kinesiology prepares students to work with “young children, elite athletes, and mature adults,” with courses that put science into practice in classrooms, labs, clinics, and on the field. The undergrad program majors are Movement & Exercise Science or Physical Education Teaching, while the grad degree options are Kinesiology & Sport Performance or Physical Education Pedagogy.