Best Kinesiology Bachelor's Programs in Ohio

What Bachelor's in Kinesiology Programs in Ohio Cost and Who Gets In

All 12 Bachelor's in Kinesiology Programs in Ohio, 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: Miami University-Oxford

   Bachelor of Science in Kinesiology, Nutrition, and Health

   Oxford, OH · Public · town campus

   Our score

   91.1

   1st of 12 in Ohio

   National rank 25 of 568

   Miami requires 60 semester hours of kinesiology coursework, from a Biodynamics of Human Performance lab through an elective block that ranges from Physics in Sports to Musculoskeletal Disorders and Exercise.

   Miami University-Oxford leads Ohio at 91.1, ahead of the other 11 programs ranked here. In-state tuition of $14,420 is in the cheaper quarter of the state, where the published range runs $9,790 to $53,624. Its 80% graduation rate sits against a 50% to 80% spread across the 12 Ohio schools that report one. It admits 75% of applicants, against 56% to 86% across Ohio.

   It confers 127 bachelor's degrees a year, 28% of the 459 awarded across Ohio at this level. Residency is worth $21,446 a year here, the gap between the in-state rate and the $35,866 out-of-state rate. Nationally it is 25th of the 568 bachelor's programs scored at this level.

   • Six elective hours from specialized courses
   • Physiology of Exercise and Physical Activity lab
   • Elective in Advanced Motor Control and Learning
   • Housed in College of Education, Health and Society

   Graduation rate

   80%

   Admit rate

   75%

   In-state tuition

   $14,420

   Out-of-state tuition

   $35,866

   Cost of attendance

   $39,576

   Undergrad enrollment

   16,816

   Degrees conferred

   127

   View Miami University-Oxford's Bachelor of Science in Kinesiology, Nutrition, and Health miamioh.edu

2. 02

   Rank 2: Ohio Northern University

   Exercise Physiology

   Ada, OH · Private nonprofit · town campus

   Our score

   85.4

   2nd of 12 in Ohio

   National rank 66 of 568

   Ohio Northern requires a for-credit summer internship, EXPH 4501, and offers two 3+2 pre-athletic training routes, one with Xavier University, reaching a score of 85.4 against a 73.3 median.

   Ohio Northern University places 2nd of 12 in Ohio at 85.4, with 1 program scoring above it. In-state tuition of $38,250 is above the state midpoint, where the published range runs $9,790 to $53,624. Its 75% graduation rate sits against a 50% to 80% spread across the 12 Ohio schools that report one.

   It admits 74% of applicants, against 56% to 86% across Ohio. It confers 19 bachelor's degrees a year, 4% of the 459 awarded across Ohio at this level.

   • Two tracks: Clinical/Rehabilitation and Exercise Professions
   • 120 minimum credit hours
   • 75% graduation rate
   • Behavioral Strategies in Exercise coursework in year three

   Graduation rate

   75%

   Admit rate

   74%

   In-state tuition

   $38,250

   Out-of-state tuition

   $38,250

   Cost of attendance

   $57,908

   Undergrad enrollment

   2,706

   Degrees conferred

   19

   View Ohio Northern University's Exercise Physiology www.onu.edu

3. 03

   Rank 3: John Carroll University

   Exercise Science, B.S.

   University Heights, OH · Private nonprofit · suburban campus

   Our score

   82.6

   3rd of 12 in Ohio

   National rank 103 of 568

   John Carroll trades a small, pricey campus, tuition of $48,700 undercutting only 7% of peers, for a 79% graduation rate that sits in the 94th percentile among the 568 programs at this level.

   John Carroll University places 3rd of 12 in Ohio at 82.6, with 2 programs scoring above it. In-state tuition of $48,700 is in the dearer quarter of the state, where the published range runs $9,790 to $53,624. Its 79% graduation rate sits against a 50% to 80% spread across the 12 Ohio schools that report one.

   It admits 81% of applicants, against 56% to 86% across Ohio. It confers 31 bachelor's degrees a year, 7% of the 459 awarded across Ohio at this level.

   • 150-hour senior internship
   • Pre-physical therapy concentration
   • ACSM-aligned Exercise Testing and Prescription course
   • Clinical placements with Cleveland hospitals and pro sports teams

   Graduation rate

   79%

   Admit rate

   81%

   In-state tuition

   $48,700

   Out-of-state tuition

   $48,700

   Cost of attendance

   $69,570

   Undergrad enrollment

   2,339

   Degrees conferred

   31

   View John Carroll University's Exercise Science, B.S. jcu.edu

4. 04

   Rank 4: Bowling Green State University-Main Campus

   Exercise Science, B.S.Ed.

   Bowling Green, OH · Public · town campus

   Our score

   79.7

   4th of 12 in Ohio

   National rank 156 of 568

   BGSU requires every Exercise Science major, whether in the exercise programming or sports medicine specialization, to complete two field placements ending in a mentored capstone internship.

   Bowling Green State University-Main Campus places 4th of 12 in Ohio at 79.7, with 3 programs scoring above it. In-state tuition of $11,405 is in the cheaper quarter of the state, where the published range runs $9,790 to $53,624. Its 64% graduation rate sits against a 50% to 80% spread across the 12 Ohio schools that report one.

   It admits 81% of applicants, against 56% to 86% across Ohio. It confers 62 bachelor's degrees a year, 14% of the 459 awarded across Ohio at this level. Residency is worth $7,988 a year here, the gap between the in-state rate and the $19,393 out-of-state rate.

   • Biomechanics and motor behavior laboratory
   • Exercise physiology lab open to community testing
   • Direct pipeline to BGSU's accelerated Doctor of Physical Therapy
   • 100% employed or in grad school within six months

   Graduation rate

   64%

   Admit rate

   81%

   In-state tuition

   $11,405

   Out-of-state tuition

   $19,393

   Cost of attendance

   $33,368

   Undergrad enrollment

   14,783

   Degrees conferred

   62

   View BGSU's Exercise Science, B.S.Ed. www.bgsu.edu

5. 05

   Rank 5: Xavier University

   Exercise Science B.S.

   Cincinnati, OH · Private nonprofit · city campus

   Our score

   79.1

   5th of 12 in Ohio

   National rank 164 of 568

   A 69% graduation rate, at the 81st percentile among peers, carries Xavier's 79.1 past an 86% admit rate, landing within a point of Ohio Wesleyan University's 78.8.

   Xavier University places 5th of 12 in Ohio at 79.1, with 4 programs scoring above it. In-state tuition of $49,195 is in the dearer quarter of the state, where the published range runs $9,790 to $53,624. Its 69% graduation rate sits against a 50% to 80% spread across the 12 Ohio schools that report one.

   It admits 86% of applicants, against 56% to 86% across Ohio. It confers 41 bachelor's degrees a year, 9% of the 459 awarded across Ohio at this level.

   • 400+ hours of required clinical experience
   • Fast-track pathway to Xavier's M.S. in Athletic Training
   • Senior Exercise Science Practicum capstone
   • Two dedicated exercise-science labs in Health United Building

   Graduation rate

   69%

   Admit rate

   86%

   In-state tuition

   $49,195

   Out-of-state tuition

   $49,195

   Cost of attendance

   $69,060

   Undergrad enrollment

   4,239

   Degrees conferred

   41

   View Xavier University's Exercise Science B.S. www.xavier.edu

6. 06

   Rank 6: Ohio Wesleyan University

   Exercise Science Major

   Delaware, OH · Private nonprofit · suburban campus

   Our score

   78.8

   6th of 12 in Ohio

   National rank 170 of 568

   Pre-occupational-therapy applicants should look at Ohio Wesleyan for its 3/2 agreement with Washington University in St. Louis, which turns the bachelor's exercise-science major directly into that university's Master of Science in Occupational Therapy.

   Ohio Wesleyan University places 6th of 12 in Ohio at 78.8, with 5 programs scoring above it. In-state tuition of $53,624 is the highest in the state, where the published range runs $9,790 to $53,624. Its 59% graduation rate sits against a 50% to 80% spread across the 12 Ohio schools that report one.

   It admits 56% of applicants, against 56% to 86% across Ohio. It confers 13 bachelor's degrees a year, 3% of the 459 awarded across Ohio at this level.

   • 120-hour internship required of every major
   • Theory-to-Practice undergraduate research grant
   • Travel-Learning courses in Italy and Australia
   • Minors in Coaching, Nutrition or Strength and Conditioning

   Graduation rate

   59%

   Admit rate

   56%

   In-state tuition

   $53,624

   Out-of-state tuition

   $53,624

   Cost of attendance

   $71,442

   Undergrad enrollment

   1,525

   Degrees conferred

   13

   View Ohio Wesleyan University's Exercise Science Major www.owu.edu

7. 07

   Rank 7: Walsh University

   B.S. in Exercise Science

   North Canton, OH · Private nonprofit · suburban campus

   Our score

   78.8

   7th of 12 in Ohio

   National rank 171 of 568

   Walsh matches Ohio Wesleyan University's 78.8 score at $31,515 a year, near half that program's $53,624 tuition, while carrying its own accreditation from the American Society of Exercise Physiologists.

   Walsh University places 7th of 12 in Ohio at 78.8, with 6 programs scoring above it. In-state tuition of $31,515 is below the state midpoint, where the published range runs $9,790 to $53,624. Its 58% graduation rate sits against a 50% to 80% spread across the 12 Ohio schools that report one.

   It admits 71% of applicants, against 56% to 86% across Ohio. It confers 36 bachelor's degrees a year, 8% of the 459 awarded across Ohio at this level.

   • ASEP-accredited Exercise Science major
   • Five pre-professional tracks including Pre-PA and Pre-OT
   • 3+2 accelerated route to Youngstown State's athletic training program
   • First-semester biometric assessment training

   Graduation rate

   58%

   Admit rate

   71%

   In-state tuition

   $31,515

   Out-of-state tuition

   $31,515

   Cost of attendance

   $51,431

   Undergrad enrollment

   1,523

   Degrees conferred

   36

   View Walsh University's B.S. in Exercise Science www.walsh.edu

8. 08

   Rank 8: Mount Vernon Nazarene University

   Exercise Science (BS)

   Mount Vernon, OH · Private nonprofit · town campus

   Our score

   77.1

   8th of 12 in Ohio

   National rank 201 of 568

   A 68% graduation rate, the 79th percentile among bachelor's exercise science programs, is what carries Mount Vernon Nazarene to a 77.1 in our score, above the 73.3 median for the level.

   Mount Vernon Nazarene University places 8th of 12 in Ohio at 77.1, with 7 programs scoring above it. In-state tuition of $26,719 is below the state midpoint, where the published range runs $9,790 to $53,624. Its 68% graduation rate sits against a 50% to 80% spread across the 12 Ohio schools that report one.

   It admits 84% of applicants, against 56% to 86% across Ohio. It confers 16 bachelor's degrees a year, 3% of the 459 awarded across Ohio at this level.

   • Human Performance Lab with BodPod body composition testing
   • Three tracks: Human Performance and Wellness, Pre-Physical Therapy, Pre-Professional
   • Faculty hold CSCS and Athletic Training credentials
   • Christian worldview integrated into coursework
   • 16 exercise science degrees conferred a year

   Graduation rate

   68%

   Admit rate

   84%

   In-state tuition

   $26,719

   Out-of-state tuition

   $26,719

   Cost of attendance

   $54,806

   Undergrad enrollment

   1,359

   Degrees conferred

   16

   View Mount Vernon Nazarene University's Exercise Science (BS) mvnu.edu

9. 09

   Rank 9: Capital University

   Exercise Science

   Columbus, OH · Private nonprofit · suburban campus

   Our score

   74.5

   9th of 12 in Ohio

   National rank 258 of 568

   A 70% admit rate puts Capital University in the 73rd percentile for selectivity among its group of comparable programs, the single strongest driver behind our score.

   Capital University places 9th of 12 in Ohio at 74.5, with 8 programs scoring above it. In-state tuition of $42,744 is in the dearer quarter of the state, where the published range runs $9,790 to $53,624. Its 60% graduation rate sits against a 50% to 80% spread across the 12 Ohio schools that report one.

   It admits 70% of applicants, against 56% to 86% across Ohio. It confers 17 bachelor's degrees a year, 4% of the 459 awarded across Ohio at this level.

   • The Capital Center athletics complex
   • NSCA-recognized since 2004
   • ACSM gold-level campus since 2017
   • 10:1 student-to-faculty ratio
   • Preps for CSCS, ACSM-EP exams

   Graduation rate

   60%

   Admit rate

   70%

   In-state tuition

   $42,744

   Out-of-state tuition

   $42,744

   Cost of attendance

   $60,414

   Undergrad enrollment

   1,609

   Degrees conferred

   17

   View Capital University's Exercise Science www.capital.edu

10. 10

    Rank 10: Youngstown State University

    Bachelor of Science in Applied Science in Exercise Science

    Youngstown, OH · Public · city campus

    Our score

    74.1

    10th of 12 in Ohio

    National rank 266 of 568

    Youngstown State layers a 4+1 track onto its CAAHEP-accredited exercise science degree, letting students add a Master of Public Health in five years without extending the undergraduate timeline.

    Youngstown State University places 10th of 12 in Ohio at 74.1, with 9 programs scoring above it. In-state tuition of $9,790 is the lowest in the state, where the published range runs $9,790 to $53,624. Its 50% graduation rate sits against a 50% to 80% spread across the 12 Ohio schools that report one.

    It admits 84% of applicants, against 56% to 86% across Ohio. It confers 62 bachelor's degrees a year, 14% of the 459 awarded across Ohio at this level. Residency is worth $360 a year here, the gap between the in-state rate and the $10,150 out-of-state rate.

    • MAT track into a Master of Athletic Training
    • Graduate track for advanced health study
    • 85% reported job placement rate
    • 62 degrees conferred a year
    • Lab and field-experience coursework requirement

    Graduation rate

    50%

    Admit rate

    84%

    In-state tuition

    $9,790

    Out-of-state tuition

    $10,150

    Cost of attendance

    $28,723

    Undergrad enrollment

    9,400

    Degrees conferred

    62

    View YSU's Bachelor of Science in Applied Science in Exercise Science ysu.edu

11. 11

    Rank 11: University of Mount Union

    Bachelor of Science in Exercise Science

    Alliance, OH · Private nonprofit · town campus

    Our score

    74

    11th of 12 in Ohio

    National rank 271 of 568

    Mount Union fits a student aiming at physical therapy or PA school who wants an Early Assurance pathway and a required senior research project built around Bod Pod and EMG lab testing.

    University of Mount Union places 11th of 12 in Ohio at 74, with 10 programs scoring above it. In-state tuition of $36,100 is above the state midpoint, where the published range runs $9,790 to $53,624. Its 59% graduation rate sits against a 50% to 80% spread across the 12 Ohio schools that report one.

    It admits 78% of applicants, against 56% to 86% across Ohio. It confers 33 bachelor's degrees a year, 7% of the 459 awarded across Ohio at this level.

    • 57-credit exercise science major
    • Sophomore and senior seminar sequence
    • VO2 max testing via metabolic carts
    • Student research presented at ACSM meetings
    • $36,100 in-state tuition

    Graduation rate

    59%

    Admit rate

    78%

    In-state tuition

    $36,100

    Out-of-state tuition

    $36,100

    Cost of attendance

    $53,090

    Undergrad enrollment

    2,207

    Degrees conferred

    33

    View University of Mount Union's Bachelor of Science in Exercise Science www.mountunion.edu

12. 12

    Rank 12: Ursuline College

    Exercise Science Bachelor's Degree Program

    Pepper Pike, OH · Private nonprofit · suburban campus

    Our score

    73.8

    12th of 12 in Ohio

    National rank 277 of 568

    Ursuline's Exercise Science degree opens with gross anatomy and applied physiology coursework before moving into the study of human movement's role in health and wellness.

    Ursuline College places 12th of 12 in Ohio at 73.8, with 11 programs scoring above it. In-state tuition of $38,490 is above the state midpoint, where the published range runs $9,790 to $53,624. Its 67% graduation rate sits against a 50% to 80% spread across the 12 Ohio schools that report one.

    It admits 75% of applicants, against 56% to 86% across Ohio. It confers 2 bachelor's degrees a year, 0% of the 459 awarded across Ohio at this level.

    • 67% graduation rate
    • 75% admission rate
    • Liberal arts college setting
    • Suburban campus near Cleveland
    • Smallest yearly cohort in the field

    Graduation rate

    67%

    Admit rate

    75%

    In-state tuition

    $38,490

    Out-of-state tuition

    $38,490

    Cost of attendance

    $55,825

    Undergrad enrollment

    677

    Degrees conferred

    2

    View Ursuline College's Exercise Science Bachelor's Degree Program www.ursuline.edu

Every Bachelor's in Kinesiology Program in Ohio 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 Ohio

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

Exercise Physiologists in Ohio

Ohio median

$51,660

vs national

−$7,800

Employed in OH

340

10th to 90th

$44,310 – $71,560

Every Ohio Occupation This Field Feeds, by Median Wage

BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025.

Other Kinesiology Degree Levels in Ohio

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

• Associate's Associate's in Kinesiology in Ohio 1 program ranked
• Master's Master's in Kinesiology in Ohio 1 program ranked

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 Ohio’s own BLS medians where published.

• Physical Therapist$103,050 median in Ohio · needs doctoral degree
• Occupational Therapist$99,390 median in Ohio · needs master's degree
• Physical Therapist Assistant$63,820 median in Ohio · reachable at this level
• Athletic Trainer$61,420 median in Ohio · needs master's degree
• Recreational Therapist$60,770 median in Ohio · reachable at this level
• Exercise Physiologist$51,660 median in Ohio · reachable at this level
• Coach or Scout$46,530 median in Ohio · reachable at this level
• Fitness Trainer or Group Instructor$36,370 median in Ohio · 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 Ohio, 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

Bachelor's in Kinesiology Programs Near Ohio

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

• Illinois 12
• Indiana 12
• Iowa 12
• Kansas 9
• Michigan 12
• Minnesota 11