- Programs ranked
- 5
- In-state tuition
- $7,231 to $62,310
- Avg graduation rate
- 62%
- Median wage (BLS)
- $59,460
What Bachelor's in Kinesiology Programs in Washington 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 5 highest scoring in Washington. University of Puget Sound leads the state with a score of 82.4, which is national rank 107 out of 568. None of the 5 crack the national top 25, so read the scores below rather than assuming a national reputation.
In-state tuition runs from $7,231 to $62,310 across the 5 programs with a published rate. The 5 schools with a published graduation rate average 62%. Average admit rate across the 5 schools publishing one is 85%. Together they conferred 158 bachelor's degrees in the field in the latest IPEDS completions year.
2 of the 5 are public institutions and 3 are private. None carry an online flag in IPEDS, so plan on attending in person.
All 5 Bachelor's in Kinesiology Programs in Washington, 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: University of Puget Sound
Exercise Science
Tacoma, WA · Private nonprofit · city campus
Our score
1st of 5 in Washington
National rank 107 of 568
Puget Sound's Exercise Science major pairs Human Anatomy dissection labs with a student thesis option and its own teaching and research labs, built around the scientific method rather than named concentration tracks.
University of Puget Sound leads Washington at 82.4, ahead of the other 4 programs ranked here. In-state tuition of $62,310 is the highest in the state, where the published range runs $7,231 to $62,310. Its 68% graduation rate sits against a 52% to 69% spread across the 5 Washington schools that report one.
It admits 72% of applicants, against 72% to 93% across Washington. It confers 20 bachelor's degrees a year, 13% of the 158 awarded across Washington at this level. Nationally it is 107th of the 568 bachelor's programs scored at this level.
- Exercise Science Club
- Careers spanning exercise physiology to clinical biomechanics
- 72% admit rate
- Private university in Tacoma, Washington
- Graduation rate
- 68%
- Admit rate
- 72%
- In-state tuition
- $62,310
- Out-of-state tuition
- $62,310
- Cost of attendance
- $83,940
- Undergrad enrollment
- 1,594
- Degrees conferred
- 20
View University of Puget Sound's Exercise Science www.pugetsound.edu
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Rank 2: Western Washington University
Kinesiology, B.S.
Bellingham, WA · Public · city campus
Our score
2nd of 5 in Washington
National rank 149 of 568
WWU's kinesiology major splits into three specializations, including a Sport Psychology track, and requires a 360-hour internship or two field placements before graduation.
Western Washington University places 2nd of 5 in Washington at 79.9, with 1 program scoring above it. In-state tuition of $8,240 is in the cheaper quarter of the state, where the published range runs $7,231 to $62,310. Its 65% graduation rate sits against a 52% to 69% spread across the 5 Washington schools that report one.
It admits 93% of applicants, against 72% to 93% across Washington. It confers 43 bachelor's degrees a year, 27% of the 158 awarded across Washington at this level. Residency is worth $19,125 a year here, the gap between the in-state rate and the $27,365 out-of-state rate.
- Capacity-constrained Exercise Science specialization
- Pre-Healthcare Professions track for grad school prep
- Faculty-mentored field experience requirement
- 93% admit rate
- Graduation rate
- 65%
- Admit rate
- 93%
- In-state tuition
- $8,240
- Out-of-state tuition
- $27,365
- Cost of attendance
- $31,275
- Undergrad enrollment
- 13,752
- Degrees conferred
- 43
View Western Washington University's Kinesiology, B.S. wwu.edu
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Rank 3: Pacific Lutheran University
Kinesiology
Tacoma, WA · Private nonprofit · suburban campus
Our score
3rd of 5 in Washington
National rank 158 of 568
PLU's Kinesiology major suits a pre-professional student choosing between a Bachelor of Science exercise science concentration and a pre-physical therapy track that stacks two semesters each of chemistry and physics.
Pacific Lutheran University places 3rd of 5 in Washington at 79.5, with 2 programs scoring above it. In-state tuition of $50,096 is in the dearer quarter of the state, where the published range runs $7,231 to $62,310. Its 69% graduation rate sits against a 52% to 69% spread across the 5 Washington schools that report one.
It admits 78% of applicants, against 72% to 93% across Washington. It confers 40 bachelor's degrees a year, 25% of the 158 awarded across Washington at this level.
- Pre-Physical Therapy concentration with two semesters of physics
- Five kinesiology minors including pre-athletic training
- K-12 teaching certification option (86 semester hours)
- 16 of 32 major credits must be in-department
- Graduation rate
- 69%
- Admit rate
- 78%
- In-state tuition
- $50,096
- Out-of-state tuition
- $50,096
- Cost of attendance
- $68,792
- Undergrad enrollment
- 2,446
- Degrees conferred
- 40
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Rank 4: Central Washington University
Bachelor's in Exercise Science and Kinesiology
Ellensburg, WA · Public · town campus
Our score
4th of 5 in Washington
National rank 301 of 568
Central Washington splits its major into two named bachelor's tracks: Exercise and Rehabilitation for clinical graduate school, and Human Performance, Strength and Conditioning for corporate wellness or strength coaching careers.
Central Washington University places 4th of 5 in Washington at 72.7, with 3 programs scoring above it. In-state tuition of $7,231 is the lowest in the state, where the published range runs $7,231 to $62,310. Its 54% graduation rate sits against a 52% to 69% spread across the 5 Washington schools that report one.
It admits 91% of applicants, against 72% to 93% across Washington. It confers 43 bachelor's degrees a year, 27% of the 158 awarded across Washington at this level. Residency is worth $18,109 a year here, the gap between the in-state rate and the $25,340 out-of-state rate.
- 360-hour capstone internship required
- 1-year accelerated pathway to MS in Integrative Human Physiology
- Lab-based coursework in both tracks
- $7,231 in-state tuition
- 91% admit rate
- Graduation rate
- 54%
- Admit rate
- 91%
- In-state tuition
- $7,231
- Out-of-state tuition
- $25,340
- Cost of attendance
- $32,722
- Undergrad enrollment
- 10,317
- Degrees conferred
- 43
View Central Washington University's Bachelor's in Exercise Science and Kinesiology www.cwu.edu
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Rank 5: Saint Martin's University
Exercise Science
Lacey, WA · Private nonprofit · city campus
Our score
5th of 5 in Washington
National rank 477 of 568
Saint Martin's charges $44,900 a year regardless of residency, a price that buys a 90% admit rate but not much of a graduation-rate track record at the 40th percentile.
Saint Martin's University places 5th of 5 in Washington at 65.6, with 4 programs scoring above it. In-state tuition of $44,900 is above the state midpoint, where the published range runs $7,231 to $62,310. Its 52% graduation rate sits against a 52% to 69% spread across the 5 Washington schools that report one.
It admits 90% of applicants, against 72% to 93% across Washington. It confers 12 bachelor's degrees a year, 8% of the 158 awarded across Washington at this level.
- 52% graduation rate
- 1,390 total enrollment
- Private nonprofit, city campus
- Graduation rate
- 52%
- Admit rate
- 90%
- In-state tuition
- $44,900
- Out-of-state tuition
- $44,900
- Cost of attendance
- $66,324
- Undergrad enrollment
- 1,189
- Degrees conferred
- 12
View Saint Martin's University's Exercise Science www.stmartin.edu
Every Bachelor's in Kinesiology Program in Washington 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 | University of Puget Sound | Tacoma | 68% | 72% | $62,310 | |
| 02 | Western Washington University | Bellingham | 65% | 93% | $8,240 | |
| 03 | Pacific Lutheran University | Tacoma | 69% | 78% | $50,096 | |
| 04 | Central Washington University | Ellensburg | 54% | 91% | $7,231 | |
| 05 | Saint Martin's University | Lacey | 52% | 90% | $44,900 | |
A blank cell means the institution did not file that figure with IPEDS.
What Kinesiology Careers Pay in Washington
Occupational medians for everyone in the job, not starting pay and not outcomes for any one program.
Exercise Physiologists in Washington
- Washington median
- $81,310
- vs national
- +$21,850
- Employed in WA
- 160
- 10th to 90th
- $65,830 – $97,620
Exercise Physiologists in Washington earn a median of $81,310, $21,850 above the national median of $59,460, across 160 jobs in the state. The bottom tenth earn under $65,830 and the top tenth clear $97,620, so the median is a midpoint rather than an offer.
Every Washington Occupation This Field Feeds, by Median Wage
| Occupation | WA median | vs national | Jobs in WA |
|---|---|---|---|
| Occupational Therapists | $107,670 | +$7,340 | 3,340 |
| Physical Therapists | $105,950 | +$3,190 | 5,370 |
| Exercise Physiologists | $81,310 | +$21,850 | 160 |
| Recreational Therapists | $77,860 | +$15,900 | 240 |
| Physical Therapist Assistants | $66,450 | −$1,930 | 2,150 |
| Athletic Trainers | $63,750 | +$1,230 | 240 |
| Exercise Trainers and Group Fitness Instructors | $50,830 | +$3,670 | 9,270 |
| Coaches and Scouts | $48,030 | +$710 | 11,790 |
Of the 8 occupations in this field that BLS prices for Washington, Occupational Therapists pays the most at $107,670 ($7,340 above its national median). The largest employer of the 8 is Coaches and Scouts, at 11,790 jobs in the state paying a median of $48,030. 7 of the 8 with a national comparison pay above their national medians here.
Other Kinesiology Degree Levels in Washington
This page ranks bachelor's programs only. Washington 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 Washington’s own BLS medians where published.
- Occupational Therapist$107,670 median in Washington · needs master's degree
- Physical Therapist$105,950 median in Washington · needs doctoral degree
- Exercise Physiologist$81,310 median in Washington · reachable at this level
- Recreational Therapist$77,860 median in Washington · reachable at this level
- Physical Therapist Assistant$66,450 median in Washington · reachable at this level
- Athletic Trainer$63,750 median in Washington · needs master's degree
- Fitness Trainer or Group Instructor$50,830 median in Washington · reachable at this level
- Coach or Scout$48,030 median in Washington · 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 Washington, 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 Washington
The same ranking, filtered to one state at a time. The number is how many programs that state ranks.