2027 Best Exercise Science Schools in Illinois
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.
To produce this 2027 ranking, College Factual evaluated 25 schools to find the best for exercise science students.
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Best Schools for Exercise Science in Illinois
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
Leading the list is University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign, our #1 school for exercise science. Set in the city of Champaign, University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign is a very large public institution. Roughly 85% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 222 exercise science students who graduated with this degree at University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign in the most recent data year. Exercise Science graduates of University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign earn a median of $31,187 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $21,425 to complete this degree.
See the full exercise science program report for University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign
A rank of #2 makes Loyola University Chicago one of the top schools for exercise science. Set in the city of Chicago, Loyola University Chicago is a large private not-for-profit institution. Loyola University Chicago graduates 75% of students within six years. About 30 exercise science degrees were awarded at Loyola University Chicago in the most recent year. Graduates of the exercise science program make about $58,568 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $23,521 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in exercise science from Loyola University Chicago
A rank of #3 makes Illinois State University one of the top schools for exercise science. Illinois State University is a very large public school located in the suburb of Normal. About 64% of students finish within six years. About 83 exercise science degrees were awarded at Illinois State University in the most recent year. Exercise Science graduates of Illinois State University earn a median of $37,059 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $21,250 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in exercise science from Illinois State University
University Of Illinois At Chicago came in at #4 on our 2027 list of the best exercise science schools. Set in the city of Chicago, University Of Illinois At Chicago is a very large public institution. University Of Illinois At Chicago graduates 62% of students within six years. About 118 exercise science degrees were awarded at University Of Illinois At Chicago in the most recent year. Students who receive their exercise science degree from University Of Illinois At Chicago earn around $28,874 in the first couple years of their career. University Of Illinois At Chicago graduates carry a median of $16,750 in student loans.
More information about a degree in exercise science from University Of Illinois At Chicago
Students looking for a strong exercise science program will find one at Saint Xavier University, which ranked #5. Set in the city of Chicago, Saint Xavier University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 57%. Saint Xavier University awarded about 38 exercise science degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their exercise science degree from Saint Xavier University earn around $51,753 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $25,735.
Read more about the exercise science program at Saint Xavier University
Elmhurst College ranked #6 on our 2027 list of the best exercise science schools. This mid-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the suburb of Elmhurst. Roughly 70% of students complete a degree within six years here. Elmhurst College awarded about 33 exercise science degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the exercise science program make about $31,538 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $23,375.
Read more about the exercise science program at Elmhurst College
Lewis University landed the #7 spot for exercise science this year. This moderately-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the suburb of Romeoville. About 67% of students finish within six years. Lewis University awarded about 17 exercise science degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the exercise science program make about $28,856 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $26,000 to complete this degree.
Read more about the exercise science program at Lewis University
University Of Illinois At Springfield placed #8 among the best exercise science schools. University Of Illinois At Springfield is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Springfield. The six-year graduation rate is 52%. There were roughly 17 exercise science students who graduated with this degree at University Of Illinois At Springfield in the most recent data year. Students who receive their exercise science degree from University Of Illinois At Springfield earn around $53,344 in the first couple years of their career. University Of Illinois At Springfield graduates carry a median of $25,000 in student loans.
Get the full exercise science details for University Of Illinois At Springfield
North Central College ranked #9 on our 2027 list of the best exercise science schools. This mid-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Naperville. About 64% of students finish within six years. North Central College awarded about 38 exercise science degrees in the most recent data year. Exercise Science graduates of North Central College earn a median of $34,609 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $27,000.
Get the full exercise science details for North Central College
Benedictine University placed #10 among the best exercise science schools. Located in the suburb of Lisle, Benedictine University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Benedictine University graduates 50% of students within six years. There were roughly 19 exercise science students who graduated with this degree at Benedictine University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, exercise science degree recipients from Benedictine University generally make around $44,714. Benedictine University graduates carry a median of $26,000 in student loans.
See the full exercise science program report for Benedictine University
Northeastern Illinois University placed #11 among the best exercise science schools. Northeastern Illinois University is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Chicago. About 22% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 18 exercise science students who graduated with this degree at Northeastern Illinois University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the exercise science program make about $49,254 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $17,600 to complete this degree.
Read more about the exercise science program at Northeastern Illinois University
Rockford College landed the #12 spot for exercise science this year. Rockford College is a small private not-for-profit school located in the city of Rockford. About 47% of students finish within six years. About 29 exercise science degrees were awarded at Rockford College in the most recent year. Students who receive their exercise science degree from Rockford College earn around $56,020 in the first couple years of their career. Rockford College graduates carry a median of $28,094 in student loans.
See the full exercise science program report for Rockford College
Aurora University placed #13 among the best exercise science schools. Set in the suburb of Aurora, Aurora University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. About 60% of students finish within six years. About 48 exercise science degrees were awarded at Aurora University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, exercise science degree recipients from Aurora University generally make around $37,256. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in exercise science from Aurora University
Trinity Christian College came in at #14 for exercise science this year. This small private not-for-profit university is located in the suburb of Palos Heights. About 58% of students finish within six years. Trinity Christian College awarded about 15 exercise science degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, exercise science degree recipients from Trinity Christian College generally make around $48,400. Trinity Christian College graduates carry a median of $28,722 in student loans.
Get the full exercise science details for Trinity Christian College
Eastern Illinois University earned the #15 position for exercise science this year. Set in the town of Charleston, Eastern Illinois University is a large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 47%. There were roughly 60 exercise science students who graduated with this degree at Eastern Illinois University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the exercise science program make about $36,776 in their early career. Eastern Illinois University graduates carry a median of $25,000 in student loans.
See the full exercise science program report for Eastern Illinois University
Concordia University Chicago placed #16 among the best exercise science schools. This moderately-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the suburb of River Forest. Roughly 36% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 308 exercise science students who graduated with this degree at Concordia University Chicago in the most recent data year. Exercise Science graduates of Concordia University Chicago earn a median of $40,158 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $26,166.
See the full exercise science program report for Concordia University Chicago
Southern Illinois University Edwardsville earned the #17 position for exercise science this year. This large public university is located in the suburb of Edwardsville. Roughly 55% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 56 exercise science degrees were awarded at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville in the most recent year. Exercise Science graduates of Southern Illinois University Edwardsville earn a median of $34,811 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $23,237 to complete this degree.
Read more about the exercise science program at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville
Southern Illinois University Carbondale came in at #18 for exercise science this year. Set in the town of Carbondale, Southern Illinois University Carbondale is a large public institution. Roughly 60% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 51 exercise science degrees were awarded at Southern Illinois University Carbondale in the most recent year. Students who receive their exercise science degree from Southern Illinois University Carbondale earn around $34,705 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $22,750.
More information about a degree in exercise science from Southern Illinois University Carbondale
Triton College placed #19 among the best exercise science schools. This large public university is located in the suburb of River Grove. There were roughly 11 exercise science students who graduated with this degree at Triton College in the most recent data year. Graduates of the exercise science program make about $43,278 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $12,994.
See the full exercise science program report for Triton College
Mckendree University ranked #20 on our 2027 list of the best exercise science schools. Set in the suburb of Lebanon, Mckendree University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 53% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 33 exercise science students who graduated with this degree at Mckendree University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the exercise science program make about $31,259 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete this degree.
Read more about the exercise science program at Mckendree University
Olivet Nazarene University came in at #21 for exercise science this year. This mid-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the suburb of Bourbonnais. Roughly 61% of students complete a degree within six years here. Olivet Nazarene University awarded about 25 exercise science degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the exercise science program make about $28,990 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $27,000.
Get the full exercise science details for Olivet Nazarene University
Western Illinois University ranked #22 on our 2027 list of the best exercise science schools. Western Illinois University is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Macomb. About 45% of students finish within six years. About 18 exercise science degrees were awarded at Western Illinois University in the most recent year. Exercise Science graduates of Western Illinois University earn a median of $33,473 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $31,000.
More information about a degree in exercise science from Western Illinois University
Millikin University came in at #23 for exercise science this year. Located in the city of Decatur, Millikin University is a small private not-for-profit university. Roughly 55% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 12 exercise science students who graduated with this degree at Millikin University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, exercise science degree recipients from Millikin University generally make around $26,065. Millikin University graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans.
Read more about the exercise science program at Millikin University
Monmouth College landed the #24 spot for exercise science this year. Located in the town of Monmouth, Monmouth College is a small private not-for-profit university. About 65% of students finish within six years. About 19 exercise science degrees were awarded at Monmouth College in the most recent year. Graduates of the exercise science program make about $29,027 in their early career. Monmouth College graduates carry a median of $25,757 in student loans.
More information about a degree in exercise science from Monmouth College
Greenville College placed #25 among the best exercise science schools. This small private not-for-profit university is located in the town of Greenville. Greenville College graduates 40% of students within six years. There were roughly 16 exercise science students who graduated with this degree at Greenville College in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, exercise science degree recipients from Greenville College generally make around $36,911. Greenville College graduates carry a median of $27,445 in student loans.
See the full exercise science program report for Greenville College
More Exercise Science Rankings
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Notes and References
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 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 · 25 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).
More about our data sources and methodologies.