2026 Best Exercise Science Schools in Tennessee
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.
College Factual analyzed 19 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best exercise science schools.
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Best Schools for Exercise Science in Tennessee
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest overall exercise science education in Tennessee.
Top Schools in Exercise Science
Leading the list is The University Of Tennessee, our #1 school for exercise science. The University Of Tennessee is a very large public school located in the city of Knoxville. The University Of Tennessee graduates 74% of students within six years. The University Of Tennessee awarded about 273 exercise science degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, exercise science degree recipients from The University Of Tennessee generally make around $35,175. Typical student debt for the program is $21,500.
Get the full exercise science details for The University Of Tennessee
A rank of #2 makes Lipscomb University one of the top schools for exercise science. This moderately-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Nashville. Lipscomb University graduates 72% of students within six years. About 20 exercise science degrees were awarded at Lipscomb University in the most recent year. Students who receive their exercise science degree from Lipscomb University earn around $48,949 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $24,975.
Read more about the exercise science program at Lipscomb University
A rank of #3 makes Cumberland University one of the top schools for exercise science. Located in the town of Lebanon, Cumberland University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. About 42% of students finish within six years. Cumberland University awarded about 22 exercise science degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the exercise science program make about $47,696 in their early career. Cumberland University graduates carry a median of $21,902 in student loans.
Read more about the exercise science program at Cumberland University
Belmont University is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in exercise science, landing the #4 spot this year. Belmont University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Nashville. About 70% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 33 exercise science students who graduated with this degree at Belmont University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, exercise science degree recipients from Belmont University generally make around $37,139. Belmont University graduates carry a median of $20,000 in student loans.
See the full exercise science program report for Belmont University
The University Of Tennessee At Chattanooga is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in exercise science, landing the #5 spot this year. Located in the city of Chattanooga, The University Of Tennessee At Chattanooga is a large public university. The University Of Tennessee At Chattanooga graduates 50% of students within six years. There were roughly 196 exercise science students who graduated with this degree at The University Of Tennessee At Chattanooga in the most recent data year. Exercise Science graduates of The University Of Tennessee At Chattanooga earn a median of $29,772 early in their careers. The University Of Tennessee At Chattanooga graduates carry a median of $22,500 in student loans.
Get the full exercise science details for The University Of Tennessee At Chattanooga
King College placed #6 among the best exercise science schools. King College is a small private not-for-profit school located in the city of Bristol. King College graduates 49% of students within six years. There were roughly 15 exercise science students who graduated with this degree at King College in the most recent data year. Graduates of the exercise science program make about $49,297 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $25,579 to complete this degree.
Get the full exercise science details for King College
Middle Tennessee State University landed the #7 spot for exercise science this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Murfreesboro. Roughly 54% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 143 exercise science degrees were awarded at Middle Tennessee State University in the most recent year. Graduates of the exercise science program make about $36,462 in their early career. Middle Tennessee State University graduates carry a median of $23,500 in student loans.
See the full exercise science program report for Middle Tennessee State University
East Tennessee State University placed #8 among the best exercise science schools. This large public university is located in the city of Johnson City. East Tennessee State University graduates 53% of students within six years. About 10 exercise science degrees were awarded at East Tennessee State University in the most recent year. Students who receive their exercise science degree from East Tennessee State University earn around $34,043 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $22,036 to complete this degree.
Get the full exercise science details for East Tennessee State University
Union University came in at #9 for exercise science this year. Set in the city of Jackson, Union University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 66% of students complete a degree within six years here. Union University awarded about 11 exercise science degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the exercise science program make about $68,508 in their early career. Union University graduates carry a median of $28,605 in student loans.
See the full exercise science program report for Union University
Southern Adventist University placed #10 among the best exercise science schools. Set in the suburb of Collegedale, Southern Adventist University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Southern Adventist University graduates 55% of students within six years. There were roughly 26 exercise science students who graduated with this degree at Southern Adventist University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the exercise science program make about $61,366 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $25,975 to complete this degree.
Get the full exercise science details for Southern Adventist University
University Of Memphis landed the #11 spot for exercise science this year. Set in the city of Memphis, University Of Memphis is a very large public institution. University Of Memphis graduates 51% of students within six years. There were roughly 402 exercise science students who graduated with this degree at University Of Memphis in the most recent data year. Students who receive their exercise science degree from University Of Memphis earn around $35,610 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $27,500 to complete this degree.
See the full exercise science program report for University Of Memphis
Lincoln Memorial University earned the #12 position for exercise science this year. Located in the town of Harrogate, Lincoln Memorial University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. Roughly 47% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 27 exercise science degrees were awarded at Lincoln Memorial University in the most recent year. Graduates of the exercise science program make about $26,830 in their early career. Lincoln Memorial University graduates carry a median of $19,187 in student loans.
More information about a degree in exercise science from Lincoln Memorial University
Austin Peay State University earned the #13 position for exercise science this year. Austin Peay State University is a large public school located in the city of Clarksville. Austin Peay State University graduates 39% of students within six years. About 41 exercise science degrees were awarded at Austin Peay State University in the most recent year. Students who receive their exercise science degree from Austin Peay State University earn around $37,636 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $25,000.
Read more about the exercise science program at Austin Peay State University
Carson Newman College earned the #14 position for exercise science this year. Set in the suburb of Jefferson City, Carson Newman College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Carson Newman College graduates 52% of students within six years. About 25 exercise science degrees were awarded at Carson Newman College in the most recent year. Graduates of the exercise science program make about $25,972 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $25,625.
Get the full exercise science details for Carson Newman College
Lee University ranked #15 on our 2026 list of the best exercise science schools. Located in the city of Cleveland, Lee University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. The six-year graduation rate is 63%. Lee University awarded about 10 exercise science degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the exercise science program make about $22,135 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $24,750.
See the full exercise science program report for Lee University
Tusculum College landed the #16 spot for exercise science this year. Tusculum College is a small private not-for-profit school located in the town of Greeneville. Roughly 26% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 19 exercise science students who graduated with this degree at Tusculum College in the most recent data year. Graduates of the exercise science program make about $22,825 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $24,000 to complete this degree.
Read more about the exercise science program at Tusculum College
Bethel University Tennessee ranked #17 on our 2026 list of the best exercise science schools. Bethel University Tennessee is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the town of McKenzie. Bethel University Tennessee graduates 17% of students within six years. There were roughly 12 exercise science students who graduated with this degree at Bethel University Tennessee in the most recent data year. Graduates of the exercise science program make about $31,638 in their early career. Bethel University Tennessee graduates carry a median of $29,677 in student loans.
See the full exercise science program report for Bethel University Tennessee
More Exercise Science Rankings
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Notes and References
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. Schools are scored on a blend of student outcomes (graduation rate, post-graduation earnings), affordability, and program focus, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Top Ranked · 19 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.
