- Programs ranked
- 6
- In-state tuition
- $5,880 to $42,274
- Avg graduation rate
- 54%
- Median wage (BLS)
- $59,460
What Bachelor's in Kinesiology Programs in Nebraska Cost and Who Gets In
We scored all 568 bachelor's programs in exercise science and kinesiology (CIP 31.0505) on the same weighted model, then pulled the 6 highest scoring in Nebraska. College of Saint Mary leads the state with a score of 80.8, which is national rank 133 out of 568. None of the 6 crack the national top 25, so read the scores below rather than assuming a national reputation.
In-state tuition runs from $5,880 to $42,274 across the 6 programs with a published rate. The 6 schools with a published graduation rate average 54%. Average admit rate across the 5 schools publishing one is 74%. Together they conferred 136 bachelor's degrees in the field in the latest IPEDS completions year.
2 of the 6 are public institutions and 4 are private. None carry an online flag in IPEDS, so plan on attending in person.
All 6 Bachelor's in Kinesiology Programs in Nebraska, 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.
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Rank 1: College of Saint Mary
Kinesiology & Exercise Science
Omaha, NE · Private nonprofit · city campus
Our score
1st of 6 in Nebraska
National rank 133 of 568
College of Saint Mary's Kinesiology & Exercise Science program admits 45% of applicants against an 80% median for the level, the selectivity edge that keeps it ahead of Nebraska Wesleyan University's 76.3 in the state.
College of Saint Mary leads Nebraska at 80.8, ahead of the other 5 programs ranked here. In-state tuition of $24,510 is above the state midpoint, where the published range runs $5,880 to $42,274. Its 61% graduation rate sits against a 38% to 66% spread across the 6 Nebraska schools that report one.
It admits 45% of applicants, against 45% to 87% across Nebraska. It confers 12 bachelor's degrees a year, 9% of the 136 awarded across Nebraska at this level. Nationally it is 133rd of the 568 bachelor's programs scored at this level.
- Mercy Core general education curriculum
- Guaranteed merit scholarship for full-time admits
- Sisters of Mercy mission emphasis
- 3.0 high school GPA admission threshold
- Graduation rate
- 61%
- Admit rate
- 45%
- In-state tuition
- $24,510
- Out-of-state tuition
- $24,510
- Cost of attendance
- $39,042
- Undergrad enrollment
- 552
- Degrees conferred
- 12
View College of Saint Mary's Kinesiology & Exercise Science www.csm.edu
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Rank 2: Nebraska Wesleyan University
Bachelor of Science in Exercise Science (Pre-AT)
Lincoln, NE · Private nonprofit · city campus
Our score
2nd of 6 in Nebraska
National rank 214 of 568
A 66% graduation rate, better than three-quarters of peer exercise science programs, is what keeps Nebraska Wesleyan's 3+2 pre-athletic-training track ahead of its median for the level.
Nebraska Wesleyan University places 2nd of 6 in Nebraska at 76.3, with 1 program scoring above it. In-state tuition of $42,274 is the highest in the state, where the published range runs $5,880 to $42,274. Its 66% graduation rate sits against a 38% to 66% spread across the 6 Nebraska schools that report one.
It admits 80% of applicants, against 45% to 87% across Nebraska. It confers 19 bachelor's degrees a year, 14% of the 136 awarded across Nebraska at this level.
- Accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Athletic Training Education
- Dedicated AT research course and clinical experiences
- January 15 admission deadline for the Pre-AT track
- Goal of an 80% first-time BOC exam pass rate
- Graduation rate
- 66%
- Admit rate
- 80%
- In-state tuition
- $42,274
- Out-of-state tuition
- $42,274
- Cost of attendance
- $59,987
- Undergrad enrollment
- 1,463
- Degrees conferred
- 19
View Nebraska Wesleyan University's Bachelor of Science in Exercise Science (Pre-AT) www.nebrwesleyan.edu
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Rank 3: Concordia University-Nebraska
Exercise Science, B.S.
Seward, NE · Private nonprofit · town campus
Our score
3rd of 6 in Nebraska
National rank 285 of 568
Only 9 students a year finish Concordia Nebraska's exercise science major, but those who do get a 14:1 student-to-faculty ratio and hands-on time in the human performance lab within a Christ-centered curriculum.
Concordia University-Nebraska places 3rd of 6 in Nebraska at 73.3, with 2 programs scoring above it. In-state tuition of $39,800 is in the dearer quarter of the state, where the published range runs $5,880 to $42,274. Its 65% graduation rate sits against a 38% to 66% spread across the 6 Nebraska schools that report one.
It admits 86% of applicants, against 45% to 87% across Nebraska. It confers 9 bachelor's degrees a year, 7% of the 136 awarded across Nebraska at this level.
- 97% reported career outcome rate
- Minors in Sport Psychology and Sport Ministry
- Internships with Division I strength and conditioning programs
- 15-student average class size
- Graduation rate
- 65%
- Admit rate
- 86%
- In-state tuition
- $39,800
- Out-of-state tuition
- $39,800
- Cost of attendance
- $55,425
- Undergrad enrollment
- 3,000
- Degrees conferred
- 9
View Concordia University-Nebraska's Exercise Science, B.S. www.cune.edu
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Rank 4: University of Nebraska at Omaha
Bachelor of Science in Kinesiology
Omaha, NE · Public · city campus
Our score
4th of 6 in Nebraska
National rank 312 of 568
UNO layers four optional minors, from sports medicine to worksite wellness, onto its kinesiology degree, along with fieldwork placements built into every student's schedule.
University of Nebraska at Omaha places 4th of 6 in Nebraska at 72.2, with 3 programs scoring above it. In-state tuition of $6,758 is in the cheaper quarter of the state, where the published range runs $5,880 to $42,274. Its 47% graduation rate sits against a 38% to 66% spread across the 6 Nebraska schools that report one.
It admits 87% of applicants, against 45% to 87% across Nebraska. It confers 69 bachelor's degrees a year, 51% of the 136 awarded across Nebraska at this level. Residency is worth $14,488 a year here, the gap between the in-state rate and the $21,246 out-of-state rate.
- PK-12 physical education teaching endorsement
- Coaching endorsement for grades 7-12
- Human Performance and Public Health minors
- $6,758 in-state tuition
- Graduation rate
- 47%
- Admit rate
- 87%
- In-state tuition
- $6,758
- Out-of-state tuition
- $21,246
- Cost of attendance
- $26,106
- Undergrad enrollment
- 11,756
- Degrees conferred
- 69
View University of Nebraska at Omaha's Bachelor of Science in Kinesiology www.unomaha.edu
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Rank 5: Hastings College
Exercise Science
Hastings, NE · Private nonprofit · town campus
Our score
5th of 6 in Nebraska
National rank 367 of 568
A 49% graduation rate, in the 32nd percentile among comparable bachelor's programs, does more than any other factor to explain Hastings College's Exercise Science score.
Hastings College places 5th of 6 in Nebraska at 70.4, with 4 programs scoring above it. In-state tuition of $35,990 is in the dearer quarter of the state, where the published range runs $5,880 to $42,274. Its 49% graduation rate sits against a 38% to 66% spread across the 6 Nebraska schools that report one.
It admits 72% of applicants, against 45% to 87% across Nebraska. It confers 14 bachelor's degrees a year, 10% of the 136 awarded across Nebraska at this level.
- Athletic Training and Chiropractic tracks offered
- NSCA Education Recognition Program approval
- Block schedule of one or two courses at a time
- 13:1 student-to-faculty ratio
- Graduation rate
- 49%
- Admit rate
- 72%
- In-state tuition
- $35,990
- Out-of-state tuition
- $35,990
- Cost of attendance
- $55,160
- Undergrad enrollment
- 933
- Degrees conferred
- 14
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Rank 6: Peru State College
Bachelor of Science in Exercise Science
Peru, NE · Public · rural campus
Our score
6th of 6 in Nebraska
National rank 521 of 568
Peru State suits budget-focused students drawn to its Human Performance Lab and metabolic testing equipment, since in-state tuition of $5,880 undercuts nearly all of its group of comparable programs.
Peru State College places 6th of 6 in Nebraska at 62.3, with 5 programs scoring above it. In-state tuition of $5,880 is the lowest in the state, where the published range runs $5,880 to $42,274.
Its 38% graduation rate sits against a 38% to 66% spread across the 6 Nebraska schools that report one. It confers 13 bachelor's degrees a year, 10% of the 136 awarded across Nebraska at this level.
- Fitness Center in the Al Wheeler Activity Center
- Capstone project simulating professional practice
- Related track in Tactical Strength and Conditioning
- 13 exercise science degrees conferred a year
- Graduation rate
- 38%
- In-state tuition
- $5,880
- Out-of-state tuition
- $5,880
- Cost of attendance
- $23,348
- Undergrad enrollment
- 1,308
- Degrees conferred
- 13
View Peru State College's Bachelor of Science in Exercise Science www.peru.edu
Every Bachelor's in Kinesiology Program in Nebraska Compared
The same scores in one readout. Tuition is the published in-state rate before aid.
| # | School | City | Grad rate | Admit rate | In-state | Our score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | College of Saint Mary | Omaha | 61% | 45% | $24,510 | |
| 02 | Nebraska Wesleyan University | Lincoln | 66% | 80% | $42,274 | |
| 03 | Concordia University-Nebraska | Seward | 65% | 86% | $39,800 | |
| 04 | University of Nebraska at Omaha | Omaha | 47% | 87% | $6,758 | |
| 05 | Hastings College | Hastings | 49% | 72% | $35,990 | |
| 06 | Peru State College | Peru | 38% | $5,880 | |
A blank cell means the institution did not file that figure with IPEDS.
What Kinesiology Careers Pay in Nebraska
Occupational medians for everyone in the job, not starting pay and not outcomes for any one program.
Every Nebraska Occupation This Field Feeds, by Median Wage
| Occupation | NE median | vs national | Jobs in NE |
|---|---|---|---|
| Physical Therapists | $97,090 | −$5,670 | 2,140 |
| Occupational Therapists | $93,740 | −$6,590 | 1,500 |
| Recreational Therapists | $62,980 | +$1,020 | 150 |
| Physical Therapist Assistants | $61,370 | −$7,010 | 980 |
| Athletic Trainers | $61,020 | −$1,500 | 270 |
| Coaches and Scouts | $47,810 | +$490 | 1,180 |
| Exercise Trainers and Group Fitness Instructors | $31,440 | −$15,720 | 2,410 |
Of the 7 occupations in this field that BLS prices for Nebraska, Physical Therapists pays the most at $97,090 ($5,670 below its national median). The largest employer of the 7 is Exercise Trainers and Group Fitness Instructors, at 2,410 jobs in the state paying a median of $31,440. 2 of the 7 with a national comparison pay above their national medians here.
Other Kinesiology Degree Levels in Nebraska
This page ranks bachelor's programs only. Nebraska reports programs at other levels too, and each level is compared only with programs at that same level.
What Careers Can You Get With a Bachelor's in Kinesiology?
These 5 occupations list this credential, or less, as their typical entry requirement. The other 3 need further study, and each page says what. Figures are Nebraska’s own BLS medians where published.
- Physical Therapist$97,090 median in Nebraska · needs doctoral degree
- Occupational Therapist$93,740 median in Nebraska · needs master's degree
- Recreational Therapist$62,980 median in Nebraska · reachable at this level
- Physical Therapist Assistant$61,370 median in Nebraska · reachable at this level
- Athletic Trainer$61,020 median in Nebraska · needs master's degree
- Exercise Physiologist$59,460 median (national) · reachable at this level
- Coach or Scout$47,810 median in Nebraska · reachable at this level
- Fitness Trainer or Group Instructor$31,440 median in Nebraska · 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 Nebraska, 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
Bachelor's in Kinesiology Programs Near Nebraska
The same ranking, filtered to one state at a time. The number is how many programs that state ranks.