What Are the Top Schools for Kinesiology & Exercise Science Studies?

<h2 id="section---HowToSelectATopSchoolForKinesiology">How to Select a Top School for Kinesiology</h2> <p>If you want to study kinesiology and exercise science, you might look for a program that's highly ranked by the National Academy of Kinesiology (NAK), which issues a report on the top doctoral programs in kinesiology every five years. You also might seek schools that offer programs and research institutes that address sports or movement issues throughout the life cycle. </p> <h2 id="section---WhatAreThreeTopSchoolsForKinesiologyAndExerciseScience">What Are Three Top Schools for Kinesiology and Exercise Science?</h2> <h3 id="section---UniversityOfConnecticutUConnInStorrs">University of Connecticut (UConn) in Storrs</h3> <p>Located in the Neag School of Education, UConn's Department of Kinesiology hosted NAK's third-ranked doctoral program in 2020 (<i>www.nationalacademyof kinesiology</i>). There are many facilities available to kinesiology students, including laboratories for athletic training and the Korey Stringer Institute, which works to eliminate sports-related deaths. The 7,800-square-foot Human Performance Laboratory facilitates research in environmental and muscle physiology, weight loss and strength training, nutrition, and cardiovascular physiology. </p> <p>UConn's kinesiology program offers an undergraduate concentration in strength and conditioning, which admits a maximum of 15 students each year and can prepare you for National Strength and Conditioning Association certification. The graduate program is laboratory-based, and you'll help run research projects. UConn reports a nearly 100% placement rate for its master's and doctoral graduates. UConn ranked 67th in <i>US News &amp; World Report's</i> ranking of national universities for 2022-2023. You could earn these degrees: </p> <ul><li>B.S. in Athletic Training </li><li>B.S. in Strength and Conditioning </li><li>B.S. in Exercise Science </li><li>M.A. in Exercise Science </li><li>Ph.D. in Exercise Science </li></ul><h3 id="section---UniversityOfFloridaUFInGainesville">University of Florida (UF) in Gainesville</h3> <p>UF was ranked 29th for best national universities by <i>U.S. News &amp; World Report's</i> in 2022-2023. UF's College of Health and Human Performance was home to NAK's 19th-ranked doctoral program in 2020. The 13 laboratories of the Center for Exercise Science foster study of physical activity and neuromuscular adaptations, as well as pharmacology and nutrition treatment. Additionally, the outdoor Florida Pool offers one of the largest U.S. academic diving programs and conditioning classes. </p> <p>At UF, you could major in athletic training or applied physiology and kinesiology. In the kinesiology major, you can specialize in fitness and wellness if you want to work as an exercise technician or exercise physiology if you want to prepare for a health profession or graduate study. In either program, you'll complete a 600-hour internship and Academic Learning Compact requirements. Graduate programs focus on work in progress at the Center for Exercise Science. You might benefit from the program's relationship with other UF schools and programs, like the colleges of medicine, engineering, and veterinary science and the Center for Gerontological Science. UF offers these degrees: </p> <ul><li>B.S. in Applied Physiology and Kinesiology </li><li>B.S. in Athletic Training </li><li>M.S. in Applied Physiology and Kinesiology </li><li>Ph.D. in Applied Physiology and Kinesiology </li></ul><h3 id="section---UniversityOfIllinoisAtUrbanaChampaign">University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign</h3> <p><i>U.S. News &amp; World Reports</i> ranked UI the nation's 41st best university in 2022-2023. The Department of Kinesiology and Community Health (KCH) in UI's College of Applied Health Sciences hosts NAK's 2015 third-ranked doctoral program. KCH's Center on Health, Aging and Disability offers quality of life research and outreach programs, like the International Disability Sports Outreach Program. Research groups explore women's health, disabilities, and therapeutic recreation for older people. Motor control and neurocognitive kinesiology are studied in two of 11 research labs. </p> <p>As an undergraduate kinesiology student, you might specialize in biobehavioral studies of physical activity and sport, community health and rehabilitation, cultural kinesiology, or exercise physiology and athletic training. You also can participate in research activities. They have these degrees: </p> <ul><li>B.S. in Kinesiology </li><li>M.S. in Kinesiology </li><li>Ph.D. in Kinesiology </li></ul><h2 id="section---10MoreSchoolsForKinesiologyExerciseScience">10 More Schools for Kinesiology &amp; Exercise Science</h2> <p /> <table border="1"><tr><th>College/University </th><th>Institution Type </th><th>Location </th><th>Estimated Graduate In-State Tuition</th></tr> <tr><td>Rice University </td><td>4-year, Private </td><td>Houston, TX </td><td>$51,600</td></tr> <tr><td>Columbia University </td><td>4-year, Private </td><td>New York, NY </td><td>$52,000</td></tr> <tr><td>University of Virginia </td><td>4-year, Public </td><td>Charlottesville, VA </td><td>$18,300</td></tr> <tr><td>University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill </td><td>4-year, Public </td><td>Chapel Hill, NC </td><td>$10,500</td></tr> <tr><td>University of Michigan </td><td>4-year, Public </td><td>Ann Arbor, MI </td><td>$25,800</td></tr> <tr><td>University of Maryland </td><td>4-year, Public </td><td>College Park, MD </td><td>$16,200</td></tr> <tr><td>University of Southern California </td><td>4-year, Private </td><td>Los Angeles, CA </td><td>$63,400</td></tr> <tr><td>Purdue Global </td><td>4-year, Public </td><td>West Lafayette, IN </td><td>$9,700</td></tr> <tr><td>University of Wisconsin-Madison </td><td>4-year, Public </td><td>Madison, WI </td><td>$10,700</td></tr> <tr><td>Florida State University </td><td>4-year, Public </td><td>Tallahassee, FL </td><td>$9,600</td></tr> </table><p>'*Source: NCES, U.S. Department of Education<i /></p>