9 Best Bachelor's in Kinesiology Programs in Wisconsin

Programs ranked: 9
In-state tuition: $7,061 to $38,750
Avg graduation rate: 59%
Median wage (BLS): $59,460

What Bachelor's in Kinesiology Programs in Wisconsin 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 9 highest scoring in Wisconsin. University of Wisconsin-Madison leads the state with a score of 97.5, which is national rank 6 out of 568. One of the 9 also lands in the national top 25.

In-state tuition runs from $7,061 to $38,750 across the 9 programs with a published rate. The 9 schools with a published graduation rate average 59%. Average admit rate across the 9 schools publishing one is 78%. Together they conferred 426 bachelor's degrees in the field in the latest IPEDS completions year.

4 of the 9 are public institutions and 5 are private. One is flagged as offering an online option.

All 9 Bachelor's in Kinesiology Programs in Wisconsin, 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.

Rank 1: University of Wisconsin-Madison

B.S. in Physical Education (BSPE)

Madison, WI · Public · city campus

Our score

1st of 9 in Wisconsin

National rank 6 of 568

Wisconsin's School of Education Teacher Pledge covers in-state tuition, fees, testing and licensing costs for Physical Education majors who commit to teaching three to four years in a Wisconsin PK-12 school after graduation.

University of Wisconsin-Madison leads Wisconsin at 97.5, ahead of the other 8 programs ranked here. In-state tuition of $10,006 is in the cheaper quarter of the state, where the published range runs $7,061 to $38,750. Its 90% graduation rate sits against a 42% to 90% spread across the 9 Wisconsin schools that report one. It admits 45% of applicants, against 45% to 87% across Wisconsin.
It confers 118 bachelor's degrees a year, 28% of the 426 awarded across Wisconsin at this level. Residency is worth $30,500 a year here, the gap between the in-state rate and the $40,506 out-of-state rate. Nationally it is 6th of the 568 bachelor's programs scored at this level.
- Costa Rica study-abroad team-building course each May
- 2.75 GPA required to declare the major
- Adapted PE and Health Education minors available
- PE curriculum models include Teaching Games for Understanding
Graduation rate

90%

Admit rate

45%

In-state tuition

$10,006

Out-of-state tuition

$40,506

Cost of attendance

$30,005

Undergrad enrollment

38,040

Degrees conferred

118

View University of Wisconsin-Madison's B.S. in Physical Education (BSPE) www.wisc.edu
Rank 2: University of Wisconsin-La Crosse

Bachelor's in Exercise Science and Kinesiology

La Crosse, WI · Public · city campus

Our score

2nd of 9 in Wisconsin

National rank 41 of 568

UW-La Crosse's exercise science bachelor's sits in a department built around a human performance laboratory for cardiovascular, ultrasound and body composition testing, and 71% of students graduate on time.

University of Wisconsin-La Crosse places 2nd of 9 in Wisconsin at 88.1, with 1 program scoring above it. In-state tuition of $8,333 is in the cheaper quarter of the state, where the published range runs $7,061 to $38,750. Its 71% graduation rate sits against a 42% to 90% spread across the 9 Wisconsin schools that report one.
It admits 76% of applicants, against 45% to 87% across Wisconsin. It confers 201 bachelor's degrees a year, 47% of the 426 awarded across Wisconsin at this level. Residency is worth $9,447 a year here, the gap between the in-state rate and the $17,780 out-of-state rate.
- Environmental chamber for temperature studies
- First-in-nation cardiopulmonary rehabilitation program on site
- 201 exercise science degrees conferred yearly
- 76% admission rate
Graduation rate

71%

Admit rate

76%

In-state tuition

$8,333

Out-of-state tuition

$17,780

Cost of attendance

$21,040

Undergrad enrollment

9,501

Degrees conferred

201

View University of Wisconsin-La Crosse's Bachelor's in Exercise Science and Kinesiology www.uwlax.edu
Rank 3: University of Wisconsin-Whitewater

Online Bachelor's in Human Performance

Whitewater, WI · Public · town campus · online option

Our score

3rd of 9 in Wisconsin

National rank 206 of 568

UW-Whitewater's online Human Performance major requires a 6-credit internship and 3-credit capstone inside 47 major credits, plus a minor in health promotion, recreation, strength and conditioning or sport management.

University of Wisconsin-Whitewater places 3rd of 9 in Wisconsin at 77, with 2 programs scoring above it. In-state tuition of $7,119 is in the cheaper quarter of the state, where the published range runs $7,061 to $38,750. Its 59% graduation rate sits against a 42% to 90% spread across the 9 Wisconsin schools that report one. It is also the only one here flagged in IPEDS as offering an online option.
It admits 86% of applicants, against 45% to 87% across Wisconsin. It confers 29 bachelor's degrees a year, 7% of the 426 awarded across Wisconsin at this level. Residency is worth $10,100 a year here, the gap between the in-state rate and the $17,219 out-of-state rate.
- Fully online, asynchronous course delivery
- Internship completable entirely as a distance learner
- Minors offered in health promotion, recreation, strength and conditioning, or sport management
- 120 total credits to degree
Graduation rate

59%

Admit rate

86%

In-state tuition

$7,119

Out-of-state tuition

$17,219

Cost of attendance

$20,216

Undergrad enrollment

10,084

Degrees conferred

29

View University of Wisconsin-Whitewater's Online Bachelor's in Human Performance www.uww.edu
Rank 4: Wisconsin Lutheran College

Sport and Exercise Science

Milwaukee, WI · Private nonprofit · city campus

Our score

4th of 9 in Wisconsin

National rank 276 of 568

Wisconsin Lutheran's sport and exercise science major carries CAAHEP accreditation and reports a 100% pass rate on its internship capstone against the accreditor's 50% benchmark.

Wisconsin Lutheran College places 4th of 9 in Wisconsin at 73.9, with 3 programs scoring above it. In-state tuition of $35,550 is in the dearer quarter of the state, where the published range runs $7,061 to $38,750. Its 64% graduation rate sits against a 42% to 90% spread across the 9 Wisconsin schools that report one.
It admits 78% of applicants, against 45% to 87% across Wisconsin. It confers 17 bachelor's degrees a year, 4% of the 426 awarded across Wisconsin at this level.
- Accredited via CoAES recommendation
- Dual-degree routes into athletic training, OT, and PT
- Sport and Exercise Science Lab in Generac Hall
- 82% graduate positive placement rate reported
Graduation rate

64%

Admit rate

78%

In-state tuition

$35,550

Out-of-state tuition

$35,550

Cost of attendance

$52,198

Undergrad enrollment

957

Degrees conferred

17

View Wisconsin Lutheran College's Sport and Exercise Science www.wlc.edu
Rank 5: Carthage College

Exercise & Sport Science

Kenosha, WI · Private nonprofit · city campus

Our score

5th of 9 in Wisconsin

National rank 289 of 568

Sixty-four percent of Carthage exercise and sport science majors graduate, nine points above the 55% median, the strongest number in its scoring profile despite an 87% admit rate pulling the other way.

Carthage College places 5th of 9 in Wisconsin at 73.1, with 4 programs scoring above it. In-state tuition of $38,750 is the highest in the state, where the published range runs $7,061 to $38,750. Its 64% graduation rate sits against a 42% to 90% spread across the 9 Wisconsin schools that report one.
It admits 87% of applicants, against 45% to 87% across Wisconsin. It confers 19 bachelor's degrees a year, 4% of the 426 awarded across Wisconsin at this level.
- Wisconsin K-12 PE teaching licensure track
- Sports Performance Coaching minor with practicum
- Adaptive Physical Education certification
- 19 degrees conferred annually
Graduation rate

64%

Admit rate

87%

In-state tuition

$38,750

Out-of-state tuition

$38,750

Cost of attendance

$55,300

Undergrad enrollment

2,675

Degrees conferred

19

View Carthage College's Exercise & Sport Science www.carthage.edu
Rank 6: University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh

Exercise and Sport Science

Oshkosh, WI · Public · city campus

Our score

6th of 9 in Wisconsin

National rank 393 of 568

Students who want CAAHEP-accredited coursework and a 12-credit capstone internship without committing to graduate school should shortlist UW-Oshkosh's Exercise and Sport Science major.

University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh places 6th of 9 in Wisconsin at 69.6, with 5 programs scoring above it. In-state tuition of $7,061 is the lowest in the state, where the published range runs $7,061 to $38,750. Its 46% graduation rate sits against a 42% to 90% spread across the 9 Wisconsin schools that report one.
It admits 87% of applicants, against 45% to 87% across Wisconsin. It confers 21 bachelor's degrees a year, 5% of the 426 awarded across Wisconsin at this level. Residency is worth $7,914 a year here, the gap between the in-state rate and the $14,975 out-of-state rate.
- Eligible for ACSM certification exams
- Admission portfolio with resume and video
- 2.75 GPA requirement in kinesiology
- Pre-admission course in athletic injury prevention
Graduation rate

46%

Admit rate

87%

In-state tuition

$7,061

Out-of-state tuition

$14,975

Cost of attendance

$22,442

Undergrad enrollment

11,994

Degrees conferred

21

View University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh's Exercise and Sport Science www.uwosh.edu
Rank 7: Marian University

Bachelor of Science in Exercise and Sport Science

Fond Du Lac, WI · Private nonprofit · city campus

Our score

7th of 9 in Wisconsin

National rank 430 of 568

A student weighing a small, 1,021-undergraduate private campus in Fond du Lac against a 44% graduation rate is the right audience for Marian's kinesiology program.

Marian University places 7th of 9 in Wisconsin at 68.1, with 6 programs scoring above it. In-state tuition of $34,650 is in the dearer quarter of the state, where the published range runs $7,061 to $38,750. Its 44% graduation rate sits against a 42% to 90% spread across the 9 Wisconsin schools that report one.
It admits 75% of applicants, against 45% to 87% across Wisconsin. It confers 16 bachelor's degrees a year, 4% of the 426 awarded across Wisconsin at this level.
- 75% admit rate
- $34,650 flat tuition
- 16 kinesiology degrees conferred yearly
Graduation rate

44%

Admit rate

75%

In-state tuition

$34,650

Out-of-state tuition

$34,650

Cost of attendance

$49,027

Undergrad enrollment

1,021

Degrees conferred

16

View Marian University's Bachelor of Science in Exercise and Sport Science www.marianuniversity.edu
Rank 8: Alverno College

Kinesiology

Milwaukee, WI · Private nonprofit · city campus

Our score

8th of 9 in Wisconsin

National rank 497 of 568

Alverno's kinesiology major fits students aiming at physical therapy school, since its pre-physical therapy track and required internship of at least 180 observation hours line up directly with PT program prerequisites.

Alverno College places 8th of 9 in Wisconsin at 64, with 7 programs scoring above it. In-state tuition of $33,216 is in the dearer quarter of the state, where the published range runs $7,061 to $38,750. Its 49% graduation rate sits against a 42% to 90% spread across the 9 Wisconsin schools that report one.
It admits 86% of applicants, against 45% to 87% across Wisconsin. It confers 1 bachelor's degrees a year, 0% of the 426 awarded across Wisconsin at this level.
- Pre-physical therapy and exercise science tracks
- Career Studio network of 2,000+ sites
- 8 Abilities assessment, no letter grades
- Freshman-year science coursework sequence
Graduation rate

49%

Admit rate

86%

In-state tuition

$33,216

Out-of-state tuition

$33,216

Cost of attendance

$54,402

Undergrad enrollment

673

Degrees conferred

1

View Alverno College's Kinesiology www.alverno.edu
Rank 9: Lakeland University

B.S. in Exercise Science

Plymouth, WI · Private nonprofit · rural campus

Our score

9th of 9 in Wisconsin

National rank 515 of 568

Lakeland's exercise science major pairs the Feldmann Exercise & Sport Science Lab, stocked with force platforms, EMG systems, and a metabolic cart, with a 42% graduation rate well below the median for the level.

Lakeland University places 9th of 9 in Wisconsin at 62.8, with 8 programs scoring above it. In-state tuition of $31,900 is in the dearer quarter of the state, where the published range runs $7,061 to $38,750. Its 42% graduation rate sits against a 42% to 90% spread across the 9 Wisconsin schools that report one.
It admits 86% of applicants, against 45% to 87% across Wisconsin. It confers 4 bachelor's degrees a year, 1% of the 426 awarded across Wisconsin at this level.
- Up to 25% degree via paid Co-Op
- Sports partnership with Muskie Athletics
- COSMED Pony FX spirometer equipment
- Reported 100% grad school acceptance
- Rehabilitation-focused coursework track
Graduation rate

42%

Admit rate

86%

In-state tuition

$31,900

Out-of-state tuition

$31,900

Cost of attendance

$51,118

Undergrad enrollment

2,411

Degrees conferred

4

View Lakeland University's B.S. in Exercise Science www.lakeland.edu

Every Bachelor's in Kinesiology Program in Wisconsin Compared

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

#	School	City	Grad rate	Admit rate	In-state
01	University of Wisconsin-Madison	Madison	90%	45%	$10,006
02	University of Wisconsin-La Crosse	La Crosse	71%	76%	$8,333
03	University of Wisconsin-Whitewater	Whitewater	59%	86%	$7,119
04	Wisconsin Lutheran College	Milwaukee	64%	78%	$35,550
05	Carthage College	Kenosha	64%	87%	$38,750
06	University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh	Oshkosh	46%	87%	$7,061
07	Marian University	Fond Du Lac	44%	75%	$34,650
08	Alverno College	Milwaukee	49%	86%	$33,216
09	Lakeland University	Plymouth	42%	86%	$31,900

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

What Kinesiology Careers Pay in Wisconsin

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

Exercise Physiologists in Wisconsin

Wisconsin median: $63,210
vs national: +$3,750
Employed in WI: 340
10th to 90th: $55,100 – $77,320

Exercise Physiologists in Wisconsin earn a median of $63,210, $3,750 above the national median of $59,460, across 340 jobs in the state. The bottom tenth earn under $55,100 and the top tenth clear $77,320, so the median is a midpoint rather than an offer.

Every Wisconsin Occupation This Field Feeds, by Median Wage

Occupation	WI median	vs national	Jobs in WI
Physical Therapists	$101,840	−$920	5,580
Occupational Therapists	$92,390	−$7,940	3,710
Physical Therapist Assistants	$64,080	−$4,300	1,650
Exercise Physiologists	$63,210	+$3,750	340
Athletic Trainers	$61,820	−$700	620
Recreational Therapists	$59,350	−$2,610	350
Coaches and Scouts	$44,800	−$2,520	5,480
Exercise Trainers and Group Fitness Instructors	$44,200	−$2,960	6,330

Of the 8 occupations in this field that BLS prices for Wisconsin, Physical Therapists pays the most at $101,840 ($920 below its national median). The largest employer of the 8 is Exercise Trainers and Group Fitness Instructors, at 6,330 jobs in the state paying a median of $44,200. 1 of the 8 with a national comparison pays above its national median here.

BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025.

Other Kinesiology Degree Levels in Wisconsin

This page ranks bachelor's programs only. Wisconsin 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 Wisconsin’s own BLS medians where published.

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 Wisconsin, 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 Wisconsin

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

Best Kinesiology Bachelor's Programs in Wisconsin

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

All 9 Bachelor's in Kinesiology Programs in Wisconsin, Ranked (2026)

Rank 1: University of Wisconsin-Madison

Rank 2: University of Wisconsin-La Crosse

Rank 3: University of Wisconsin-Whitewater

Rank 4: Wisconsin Lutheran College

Rank 5: Carthage College

Rank 6: University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh

Rank 7: Marian University

Rank 8: Alverno College

Rank 9: Lakeland University