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2026 Best Exercise Science Schools in Minnesota

9 Colleges in the United States
483 Exercise Science Degrees Awarded
$38,985 Avg Early-Career Salary

Exercise Science is a field worth a close look when choosing where to study. A focused field like this rewards careful comparison of the schools that offer it.

For its 2026 ranking, College Factual looked at 28 schools in the United States to determine which ones were the best for exercise science students pursuing a degree.

What’s on this page:

Best Schools for Exercise Science in Minnesota

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

1

University Of St Thomas Minnesota is one of the finest schools in the country for getting a degree in exercise science. This large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Saint Paul. Roughly 77% of students complete a degree within six years here. University Of St Thomas Minnesota awarded about 46 exercise science degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, exercise science degree recipients from University Of St Thomas Minnesota generally make around $65,183. Typical student debt for the program is $23,923. See the full exercise science program report for University Of St Thomas Minnesota

2

University Of Minnesota Duluth is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in exercise science, ranking #2. Set in the city of Duluth, University Of Minnesota Duluth is a large public institution. University Of Minnesota Duluth graduates 65% of students within six years. About 64 exercise science degrees were awarded at University Of Minnesota Duluth in the most recent year. Graduates of the exercise science program make about $33,055 in their early career. University Of Minnesota Duluth graduates carry a median of $23,629 in student loans. Get the full exercise science details for University Of Minnesota Duluth

3

Winona State University came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the best exercise science schools. Located in the town of Winona, Winona State University is a moderately-sized public university. About 56% of students finish within six years. Winona State University awarded about 69 exercise science degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their exercise science degree from Winona State University earn around $41,742 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $25,550 to complete this degree. More information about a degree in exercise science from Winona State University

4
Hamline University crest
Hamline University
Saint Paul, MN

Hamline University is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in exercise science, landing the #4 spot this year. Set in the city of Saint Paul, Hamline University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 60% of students complete a degree within six years here. Hamline University awarded about 14 exercise science degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, exercise science degree recipients from Hamline University generally make around $48,679. Hamline University graduates carry a median of $25,530 in student loans. See the full exercise science program report for Hamline University

5

A rank of #5 makes Bethel University Minnesota one of the top schools for exercise science. This mid-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the suburb of Saint Paul. Bethel University Minnesota graduates 71% of students within six years. Bethel University Minnesota awarded about 25 exercise science degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the exercise science program make about $31,919 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $24,500. Get the full exercise science details for Bethel University Minnesota

6
St Olaf College crest
St Olaf College
Northfield, MN

St Olaf College earned the #6 position for exercise science this year. Located in the town of Northfield, St Olaf College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. The six-year graduation rate is 84%. About 32 exercise science degrees were awarded at St Olaf College in the most recent year. Students who receive their exercise science degree from St Olaf College earn around $33,577 in the first couple years of their career. St Olaf College graduates carry a median of $25,000 in student loans. Get the full exercise science details for St Olaf College

7

Minnesota State University Moorhead ranked #7 on our 2026 list of the best exercise science schools. Located in the suburb of Moorhead, Minnesota State University Moorhead is a moderately-sized public university. About 57% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 26 exercise science students who graduated with this degree at Minnesota State University Moorhead in the most recent data year. Students who receive their exercise science degree from Minnesota State University Moorhead earn around $38,088 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $22,500. More information about a degree in exercise science from Minnesota State University Moorhead

8
Augsburg College crest
Augsburg College
Minneapolis, MN

Augsburg College ranked #8 on our 2026 list of the best exercise science schools. Augsburg College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Minneapolis. Roughly 52% of students complete a degree within six years here. Augsburg College awarded about 22 exercise science degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their exercise science degree from Augsburg College earn around $37,473 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $27,000. See the full exercise science program report for Augsburg College

9

Northwestern College Minnesota placed #9 among the best exercise science schools. Northwestern College Minnesota is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Saint Paul. About 68% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 13 exercise science students who graduated with this degree at Northwestern College Minnesota in the most recent data year. Graduates of the exercise science program make about $30,176 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $23,562. Read more about the exercise science program at Northwestern College Minnesota

10

Bemidji State University earned the #10 position for exercise science this year. This mid-sized public university is located in the town of Bemidji. Bemidji State University graduates 46% of students within six years. About 30 exercise science degrees were awarded at Bemidji State University in the most recent year. Exercise Science graduates of Bemidji State University earn a median of $32,388 early in their careers. Bemidji State University graduates carry a median of $24,898 in student loans. See the full exercise science program report for Bemidji State University

11
Crown College crest
Crown College
Saint Bonifacius, MN

Crown College earned the #11 position for exercise science this year. Located in the rural area of Saint Bonifacius, Crown College is a small private not-for-profit university. The six-year graduation rate is 44%. Crown College awarded about 11 exercise science degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their exercise science degree from Crown College earn around $42,695 in the first couple years of their career. Crown College graduates carry a median of $29,537 in student loans. Get the full exercise science details for Crown College

12

Southwest Minnesota State University landed the #12 spot for exercise science this year. This moderately-sized public university is located in the town of Marshall. About 44% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 30 exercise science students who graduated with this degree at Southwest Minnesota State University in the most recent data year. Exercise Science graduates of Southwest Minnesota State University earn a median of $32,802 early in their careers. Southwest Minnesota State University graduates carry a median of $26,000 in student loans. Read more about the exercise science program at Southwest Minnesota State University

13

Concordia University Saint Paul placed #13 among the best exercise science schools. This moderately-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Saint Paul. About 45% of students finish within six years. Concordia University Saint Paul awarded about 101 exercise science degrees in the most recent data year. Exercise Science graduates of Concordia University Saint Paul earn a median of $39,033 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $29,156. Read more about the exercise science program at Concordia University Saint Paul

View All Exercise Science Rankings >

Notes and References

This list is compiled 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 · 28 schools evaluated.

More about our data sources and methodologies.

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