Exercise Science degree programs prepare students for a range of careers in the field. A focused field like this rewards careful comparison of the schools that offer it.
For its 2026 ranking, College Factual looked at 165 schools in the United States to determine which ones were the best for exercise science students pursuing a degree.
Best Schools for Exercise Science in the Far Western Region
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.
Pepperdine University is one of the finest schools in the country for getting a degree in exercise science. Set in the suburb of Malibu, Pepperdine University is a large private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 83%. Pepperdine University awarded about 49 exercise science degrees in the most recent data year. Exercise Science graduates of Pepperdine University earn a median of $34,388 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $23,336.
Read more about the exercise science program at Pepperdine University
University Of San Francisco is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in exercise science, landing the #2 spot this year. This large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of San Francisco. University Of San Francisco graduates 70% of students within six years. About 42 exercise science degrees were awarded at University Of San Francisco in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, exercise science degree recipients from University Of San Francisco generally make around $36,342. University Of San Francisco graduates carry a median of $24,905 in student loans.
Read more about the exercise science program at University Of San Francisco
Point Loma Nazarene University came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the best exercise science schools. This moderately-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the city of San Diego. Point Loma Nazarene University graduates 77% of students within six years. There were roughly 74 exercise science students who graduated with this degree at Point Loma Nazarene University in the most recent data year. Exercise Science graduates of Point Loma Nazarene University earn a median of $49,053 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $22,542 to complete this degree.
Read more about the exercise science program at Point Loma Nazarene University
A rank of #4 makes Central Washington University one of the top schools for exercise science. This very large public university is located in the town of Ellensburg. Roughly 54% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 49 exercise science students who graduated with this degree at Central Washington University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their exercise science degree from Central Washington University earn around $48,410 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $17,848 to complete this degree.
Read more about the exercise science program at Central Washington University
Saint Marys College Of California is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in exercise science, ranking #5. This mid-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the suburb of Moraga. Saint Marys College Of California graduates 70% of students within six years. Saint Marys College Of California awarded about 21 exercise science degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their exercise science degree from Saint Marys College Of California earn around $49,447 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $24,300 to complete this degree.
See the full exercise science program report for Saint Marys College Of California
Oregon State University earned the #6 position for exercise science this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Corvallis. The six-year graduation rate is 70%. About 182 exercise science degrees were awarded at Oregon State University in the most recent year. Graduates of the exercise science program make about $29,860 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $24,201.
More information about a degree in exercise science from Oregon State University
California Lutheran University earned the #7 position for exercise science this year. This mid-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Thousand Oaks. The six-year graduation rate is 70%. About 39 exercise science degrees were awarded at California Lutheran University in the most recent year. Exercise Science graduates of California Lutheran University earn a median of $33,818 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $25,000.
Read more about the exercise science program at California Lutheran University
Santa Rosa Junior College earned the #8 position for exercise science this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Santa Rosa. About 14 exercise science degrees were awarded at Santa Rosa Junior College in the most recent year. Graduates of the exercise science program make about $80,047 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $14,692 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in exercise science from Santa Rosa Junior College
Concordia University Irvine landed the #9 spot for exercise science this year. Set in the city of Irvine, Concordia University Irvine is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 58% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 40 exercise science degrees were awarded at Concordia University Irvine in the most recent year. Students who receive their exercise science degree from Concordia University Irvine earn around $43,152 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $27,000.
Read more about the exercise science program at Concordia University Irvine
California State University Los Angeles landed the #10 spot for exercise science this year. California State University Los Angeles is a very large public school located in the city of Los Angeles. Roughly 53% of students complete a degree within six years here. California State University Los Angeles awarded about 29 exercise science degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the exercise science program make about $28,687 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $13,750 to complete this degree.
Read more about the exercise science program at California State University Los Angeles
Cabrillo College came in at #11 for exercise science this year. Located in the suburb of Aptos, Cabrillo College is a large public university. There were roughly 37 exercise science students who graduated with this degree at Cabrillo College in the most recent data year. Students who receive their exercise science degree from Cabrillo College earn around $38,985 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $8,864.
More information about a degree in exercise science from Cabrillo College
California State University Chico ranked #12 on our 2026 list of the best exercise science schools. California State University Chico is a large public school located in the city of Chico. California State University Chico graduates 63% of students within six years. About 92 exercise science degrees were awarded at California State University Chico in the most recent year. Graduates of the exercise science program make about $28,236 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $21,315.
See the full exercise science program report for California State University Chico
Moorpark College ranked #13 on our 2026 list of the best exercise science schools. Moorpark College is a very large public school located in the suburb of Moorpark. Moorpark College awarded about 38 exercise science degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their exercise science degree from Moorpark College earn around $105,599 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $17,075.
Get the full exercise science details for Moorpark College
De Anza College placed #14 among the best exercise science schools. De Anza College is a very large public school located in the city of Cupertino. De Anza College awarded about 37 exercise science degrees in the most recent data year. De Anza College graduates carry a median of $7,271 in student loans.
More information about a degree in exercise science from De Anza College
California State University Stanislaus placed #15 among the best exercise science schools. This large public university is located in the suburb of Turlock. About 53% of students finish within six years. About 51 exercise science degrees were awarded at California State University Stanislaus in the most recent year. Students who receive their exercise science degree from California State University Stanislaus earn around $25,414 in the first couple years of their career. California State University Stanislaus graduates carry a median of $17,085 in student loans.
Read more about the exercise science program at California State University Stanislaus
Occidental College earned the #16 position for exercise science this year. Located in the city of Los Angeles, Occidental College is a small private not-for-profit university. The six-year graduation rate is 81%. About 10 exercise science degrees were awarded at Occidental College in the most recent year. Students who receive their exercise science degree from Occidental College earn around $41,514 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $22,967.
See the full exercise science program report for Occidental College
Western Washington University ranked #17 on our 2026 list of the best exercise science schools. Located in the city of Bellingham, Western Washington University is a large public university. Roughly 65% of students complete a degree within six years here. Western Washington University awarded about 48 exercise science degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their exercise science degree from Western Washington University earn around $29,268 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $19,487.
Get the full exercise science details for Western Washington University
Pasadena City College ranked #18 on our 2026 list of the best exercise science schools. Pasadena City College is a very large public school located in the city of Pasadena. About 91 exercise science degrees were awarded at Pasadena City College in the most recent year. Graduates of the exercise science program make about $38,841 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $9,191 to complete this degree.
See the full exercise science program report for Pasadena City College
Diablo Valley College landed the #19 spot for exercise science this year. This very large public university is located in the suburb of Pleasant Hill. There were roughly 17 exercise science students who graduated with this degree at Diablo Valley College in the most recent data year. Students who receive their exercise science degree from Diablo Valley College earn around $27,813 in the first couple years of their career. Diablo Valley College graduates carry a median of $9,205 in student loans.
See the full exercise science program report for Diablo Valley College
Foothill College landed the #20 spot for exercise science this year. Foothill College is a very large public school located in the suburb of Los Altos Hills. There were roughly 24 exercise science students who graduated with this degree at Foothill College in the most recent data year. Exercise Science graduates of Foothill College earn a median of $94,152 early in their careers. Foothill College graduates carry a median of $11,595 in student loans.
See the full exercise science program report for Foothill College
Saint Martins University landed the #21 spot for exercise science this year. Located in the city of Lacey, Saint Martins University is a small private not-for-profit university. The six-year graduation rate is 52%. About 12 exercise science degrees were awarded at Saint Martins University in the most recent year. Students who receive their exercise science degree from Saint Martins University earn around $60,864 in the first couple years of their career. Saint Martins University graduates carry a median of $22,818 in student loans.
Get the full exercise science details for Saint Martins University
Walla Walla University landed the #22 spot for exercise science this year. Walla Walla University is a small private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of College Place. Roughly 58% of students complete a degree within six years here. Walla Walla University awarded about 12 exercise science degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their exercise science degree from Walla Walla University earn around $56,616 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $27,635 to complete this degree.
See the full exercise science program report for Walla Walla University
Orange Coast College earned the #23 position for exercise science this year. Orange Coast College is a very large public school located in the city of Costa Mesa. About 28 exercise science degrees were awarded at Orange Coast College in the most recent year. Exercise Science graduates of Orange Coast College earn a median of $46,306 early in their careers. Orange Coast College graduates carry a median of $8,978 in student loans.
Read more about the exercise science program at Orange Coast College
Citrus College placed #24 among the best exercise science schools. Citrus College is a large public school located in the suburb of Glendora. There were roughly 66 exercise science students who graduated with this degree at Citrus College in the most recent data year.
Get the full exercise science details for Citrus College
University Of Hawaii At Manoa landed the #25 spot for exercise science this year. University Of Hawaii At Manoa is a very large public school located in the city of Honolulu. Roughly 64% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 137 exercise science students who graduated with this degree at University Of Hawaii At Manoa in the most recent data year. Students who receive their exercise science degree from University Of Hawaii At Manoa earn around $27,626 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $22,492.
More information about a degree in exercise science from University Of Hawaii At Manoa
Rest of the Top 50 Exercise Science Schools
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s exercise science ranking:
The ranking above is published 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 · 165 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).
