Best Kinesiology Associate's Programs in Iowa

What Associate's in Kinesiology Programs in Iowa Cost and Who Gets In

All 6 Associate's in Kinesiology Programs in Iowa, Ranked (2026)

Each bar shows where the program’s national score falls between 50 and 100, ticked at 75 for the middle of the range.

1. 01

   Rank 1: Des Moines Area Community College

   Exercise Science & Kinesiology: Transfer Major, AA

   Ankeny, IA · Public · suburban campus

   Our score

   78.9

   1st of 6 in Iowa

   National rank 63 of 187

   DMACC's transfer major routes students into Iowa State, the University of Northern Iowa, or the University of Iowa, backed by institutional enrollment near the 93rd percentile among comparable programs.

   Des Moines Area Community College leads Iowa at 78.9, ahead of the other 5 programs ranked here. In-state tuition of $5,790 is above the state midpoint, where the published range runs $4,848 to $6,420. Its 39% graduation rate sits against a 39% to 51% spread across the 6 Iowa schools that report one.

   It confers 8 associate's degrees a year, 30% of the 27 awarded across Iowa at this level. Residency is worth $900 a year here, the gap between the in-state rate and the $6,690 out-of-state rate. Nationally it is 63rd of the 187 associate's programs scored at this level.

   • 64 credits required for the AA
   • $215 per credit tuition
   • Physics recommended before transfer
   • Diversity requirement built into core curriculum

   Graduation rate

   39%

   In-state tuition

   $5,790

   Out-of-state tuition

   $6,690

   Cost of attendance

   $18,304

   Undergrad enrollment

   23,697

   Degrees conferred

   8

   View Des Moines Area Community College's Exercise Science & Kinesiology: Transfer Major, AA www.dmacc.edu

2. 02

   Rank 2: Northeast Iowa Community College

   Exercise Science and Kinesiology Transfer Major, AA

   Calmar, IA · Public · rural campus

   Our score

   78.8

   2nd of 6 in Iowa

   National rank 66 of 187

   Studying at a campus of just over 4,800 students in rural Calmar trades program scale for one of the strongest completion rates at this level, 51% against a 36% median.

   Northeast Iowa Community College places 2nd of 6 in Iowa at 78.8, with 1 program scoring above it. In-state tuition of $6,030 is in the dearer quarter of the state, where the published range runs $4,848 to $6,420. Its 51% graduation rate sits against a 39% to 51% spread across the 6 Iowa schools that report one.

   It confers 2 associate's degrees a year, 7% of the 27 awarded across Iowa at this level. Residency is worth $990 a year here, the gap between the in-state rate and the $7,020 out-of-state rate.

   • 60-credit Associate of Arts
   • 24-month completion window
   • Transfer credit guaranteed at partner universities
   • ACCUPLACER and ALEKS placement testing required

   Graduation rate

   51%

   In-state tuition

   $6,030

   Out-of-state tuition

   $7,020

   Undergrad enrollment

   4,808

   Degrees conferred

   2

   View Northeast Iowa Community College's Exercise Science and Kinesiology Transfer Major, AA www.nicc.edu

3. 03

   Rank 3: Eastern Iowa Community College District

   Exercise Science and Kinesiology, AA

   Davenport, IA · Public · city campus · online option

   Our score

   78.3

   3rd of 6 in Iowa

   National rank 70 of 187

   EICC's transfer major runs a two-semester Anatomy and Physiology sequence that's part lecture, part lab, spread across three campuses: Clinton, Muscatine, and Scott Community College.

   Eastern Iowa Community College District places 3rd of 6 in Iowa at 78.3, with 2 programs scoring above it. In-state tuition of $4,848 is the lowest in the state, where the published range runs $4,848 to $6,420. Its 45% graduation rate sits against a 39% to 51% spread across the 6 Iowa schools that report one.

   It is also the only one here flagged in IPEDS as offering an online option. It confers 2 associate's degrees a year, 7% of the 27 awarded across Iowa at this level. Residency is worth $1,608 a year here, the gap between the in-state rate and the $6,456 out-of-state rate.

   • 62-credit Associate of Arts
   • Guaranteed transfer to three Iowa universities
   • 2.0 GPA required for ISU transfer
   • Phi Theta Kappa transfer scholarships available

   Graduation rate

   45%

   In-state tuition

   $4,848

   Out-of-state tuition

   $6,456

   Cost of attendance

   $23,120

   Undergrad enrollment

   7,426

   Degrees conferred

   2

   View Eastern Iowa Community College District's Exercise Science and Kinesiology, AA www.eicc.edu

4. 04

   Rank 4: Southeastern Community College

   Exercise Science and Kinesiology Transfer Major AA

   West Burlington, IA · Public · town campus

   Our score

   75.5

   4th of 6 in Iowa

   National rank 87 of 187

   Southeastern Community College built its Exercise Science transfer AA around a required Statistics course and a two-semester Anatomy and Physiology sequence, feeding majors like athletic training and exercise science at Iowa's Regents Universities.

   Southeastern Community College places 4th of 6 in Iowa at 75.5, with 3 programs scoring above it. In-state tuition of $6,210 is in the dearer quarter of the state, where the published range runs $4,848 to $6,420. Its 43% graduation rate sits against a 39% to 51% spread across the 6 Iowa schools that report one.

   It confers 8 associate's degrees a year, 30% of the 27 awarded across Iowa at this level. Residency is worth $150 a year here, the gap between the in-state rate and the $6,360 out-of-state rate.

   • Basic Athletic Training course (PET-105)
   • Care and Prevention of Athletic Injuries requirement (PET-230)
   • Human Anatomy and Physiology I and II (BIO-168, BIO-173)
   • Statistics requirement (MAT-156)
   • 8 degrees conferred per year

   Graduation rate

   43%

   In-state tuition

   $6,210

   Out-of-state tuition

   $6,360

   Cost of attendance

   $26,970

   Undergrad enrollment

   3,028

   Degrees conferred

   8

   View Southeastern Community College's Exercise Science and Kinesiology Transfer Major AA www.scciowa.edu

5. 05

   Rank 5: Iowa Western Community College

   Exercise Science Transfer Major, A.S.

   Council Bluffs, IA · Public · suburban campus

   Our score

   73

   5th of 6 in Iowa

   National rank 106 of 187

   Iowa Western's 61-semester-hour Exercise Science Transfer A.S. suits a student who has already picked a pre-physical therapy, athletic training or pre-physician assistant program to transfer into, not one still choosing a major.

   Iowa Western Community College places 5th of 6 in Iowa at 73, with 4 programs scoring above it. In-state tuition of $6,420 is the highest in the state, where the published range runs $4,848 to $6,420. Its 40% graduation rate sits against a 39% to 51% spread across the 6 Iowa schools that report one.

   It confers 6 associate's degrees a year, 22% of the 27 awarded across Iowa at this level. Residency is worth $150 a year here, the gap between the in-state rate and the $6,570 out-of-state rate.

   • Care and Prevention of Athletic Injuries course
   • Personal Trainer certification course
   • Four-semester Human Anatomy and Physiology sequence
   • 40% graduation rate
   • $6,420 in-district tuition

   Graduation rate

   40%

   In-state tuition

   $6,420

   Out-of-state tuition

   $6,570

   Cost of attendance

   $22,323

   Undergrad enrollment

   5,540

   Degrees conferred

   6

   View Iowa Western Community College's Exercise Science Transfer Major, A.S. www.iwcc.edu

6. 06

   Rank 6: Marshalltown Community College

   Exercise Science and Kinesiology, Transfer Major AS

   Marshalltown, IA · Public · town campus

   Our score

   71.5

   6th of 6 in Iowa

   National rank 115 of 187

   Marshalltown trades a small, thinly enrolled program, just one exercise-science degree conferred a year, for a graduation rate at the 71st percentile of comparable programs, well above the group median.

   Marshalltown Community College places 6th of 6 in Iowa at 71.5, with 5 programs scoring above it. In-state tuition of $4,872 is in the cheaper quarter of the state, where the published range runs $4,848 to $6,420. Its 42% graduation rate sits against a 39% to 51% spread across the 6 Iowa schools that report one.

   It confers 1 associate's degrees a year, 4% of the 27 awarded across Iowa at this level. Residency is worth $1,008 a year here, the gap between the in-state rate and the $5,880 out-of-state rate.

   • ETKIN and MTKIN dual-campus program codes
   • Human Anatomy and Physiology I and II sequence
   • College Physics I prerequisite pathway
   • 42% graduation rate
   • Advising note on elective sequencing

   Graduation rate

   42%

   In-state tuition

   $4,872

   Out-of-state tuition

   $5,880

   Cost of attendance

   $20,866

   Undergrad enrollment

   1,857

   Degrees conferred

   1

   View Marshalltown Community College's Exercise Science and Kinesiology, Transfer Major AS mcc.iavalley.edu

Every Associate's in Kinesiology Program in Iowa Compared

The same scores in one readout. Tuition is the published in-state rate before aid.

A blank cell means the institution did not file that figure with IPEDS.

What Kinesiology Careers Pay in Iowa

Occupational medians for everyone in the job, not starting pay and not outcomes for any one program.

Exercise Physiologists in Iowa

Iowa median

$56,640

vs national

−$2,820

Employed in IA

50

10th to 90th

$45,190 – $75,530

Every Iowa Occupation This Field Feeds, by Median Wage

BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025.

Other Kinesiology Degree Levels in Iowa

This page ranks associate's programs only. Iowa reports programs at other levels too, and each level is compared only with programs at that same level.

• Bachelor's Bachelor's in Kinesiology in Iowa 12 programs ranked
• Master's Master's in Kinesiology in Iowa 2 programs ranked

What Careers Can You Get With an Associate's in Kinesiology?

These 2 occupations list this credential, or less, as their typical entry requirement. The other 6 need further study, and each page says what. Figures are Iowa’s own BLS medians where published.

• Physical Therapist$97,560 median in Iowa · needs doctoral degree
• Occupational Therapist$89,910 median in Iowa · needs master's degree
• Physical Therapist Assistant$61,030 median in Iowa · reachable at this level
• Exercise Physiologist$56,640 median in Iowa · needs bachelor's degree
• Recreational Therapist$56,140 median in Iowa · needs bachelor's degree
• Athletic Trainer$55,430 median in Iowa · needs master's degree
• Coach or Scout$49,350 median in Iowa · needs bachelor's degree
• Fitness Trainer or Group Instructor$36,160 median in Iowa · reachable at this level

Entry requirements are O*NET’s typical-entry field; wages are BLS OEWS. Neither is a guarantee about any individual program’s graduates.

Rank 1 here is highest scoring in Iowa, not nationally; each card carries its national rank as well. Every program on this site is ranked the same way — see how we compare them.

Sources for this page

• U.S. Dept. of Education (IPEDS)
• BLS OOH: Exercise Physiologists
• BLS OEWS May 2025 (SOC 29-1128)
• CAAHEP / CoAES accredited exercise science programs

Associate's in Kinesiology Programs Near Iowa

The same ranking, filtered to one state at a time. The number is how many programs that state ranks.

• Illinois 1
• Indiana 1
• Michigan 4
• Minnesota 7
• Nebraska 2
• Ohio 1