Best Doctoral Programs in Kinesiology and Exercise Science

What Kinesiology Doctorate Programs Cost and Who Gets In

The 25 Best PhD in Kinesiology Programs, Ranked (2026)

The bar under each school shows where its score falls between 50 and 100 — no program scores below 50. The short tick marks 75, the middle of the range. Longer is better.

Ranks are national: every doctoral program in the federal data, all 39 of them, is placed in one list. Rank 4 sits at the top of this page because it is the highest scoring program that clears the cost-reporting filter, not because it is the highest scoring program in the country. The 14 withheld programs report an in-state tuition under $2,000 a year, which in IPEDS almost always signals a tuition-only figure with mandatory fees stripped out, and including them would put a price nobody pays at the top of a cost-weighted list.

1. 01

   Rank 1: University of Georgia

   Ph.D. in Kinesiology

   Athens, GA · Public · city campus

   Our score

   90.7

   Applicants aiming for faculty or research careers across biomechanics, exercise physiology, motor behavior or sport management policy should shortlist this PhD, which admits at a selective 38% rate.

   The PhD in Kinesiology at the University of Georgia sits in the Mary Frances Early College of Education and offers specialized research tracks in biomechanics, exercise physiology, exercise psychology, measurement, motor behavior, pedagogy, and sport management and policy. Coursework draws on biological, behavioral and physical science methods to examine physical activity across populations, including children, older adults, and people managing disability, injury or disease. Graduates are prepared for faculty, research and service roles in schools, clinical settings, government and industry, based on the Athens main campus.

   A 90% graduation rate, versus a 75% median across the 39 doctoral kinesiology programs scored at this level, and a 38% admit rate against a 77% median for the level are the two inputs driving our score of 90.7, well above the 74.9 group median. In-state tuition of $10,034 sits close to the $10,052 median, so the gap here is about outcomes and selectivity rather than sticker price. This suits a candidate targeting a research-intensive PhD who can compete for one of the department's limited admitted slots each year.

   • Interdisciplinary study spans biological, behavioral, physical sciences
   • Housed in Mary Frances Early College of Education
   • 90% graduation rate
   • $10,034 in-state tuition

   Graduation rate

   90%

   Admit rate

   38%

   In-state tuition

   $10,034

   Out-of-state tuition

   $30,272

   Cost of attendance

   $28,872

   Undergrad enrollment

   32,399

   Degrees conferred

   5

   View University of Georgia's Ph.D. in Kinesiology www.uga.edu

2. 02

   Rank 2: University of Wisconsin-Madison

   Doctorate (research) in Exercise Science and Kinesiology

   Madison, WI · Public · city campus

   Our score

   90.6

   Wisconsin's Kinesiology department separates this research doctorate from its undergraduate Certificate in Athletic Healthcare, and backs it with a 90% graduation rate against a 75% median across the 39 programs at this level.

   The University of Wisconsin-Madison awards this research doctorate in exercise science and kinesiology through a Kinesiology department housed in the School of Education. The same department also runs an undergraduate Certificate in Athletic Healthcare, a minimum 14-credit program built around four core courses, among them Introduction to Clinical Anatomy of Human Movement, plus a breadth elective drawn from fields such as public health, positive psychology or adult psychopathology. Bachelor of Science students in Athletic Training cannot add the certificate, and all certificate coursework must be taken for a letter grade with a minimum 2.5 GPA.

   Wisconsin's 90% graduation rate, against a 75% median across the 39 doctoral kinesiology programs at this level, is the largest single lift behind our score of 90.6, with a 45% admit rate also beating the group's 77% median. In-state tuition of $10,006 undercuts the $10,052 median for the level, though out-of-state students pay $40,506, a $30,500 annual gap over the in-state rate. The fit is a candidate who wants a large public research university with a strong completion record and can secure in-state or funded status to avoid that gap.

   • Certificate in Athletic Healthcare requires 14 credits
   • Housed in the School of Education
   • BS in Athletic Training students excluded from certificate
   • 45% admit rate

   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

   5

   View University of Wisconsin-Madison's Doctorate (research) in Exercise Science and Kinesiology www.wisc.edu

3. 03

   Rank 3: University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

   Doctorate (research) in Exercise Science and Kinesiology

   Champaign, IL · Public · city campus

   Our score

   90

   Illinois channels undergraduates into K-12 teacher certification by sophomore year, inside the same college that confers this research doctorate at $14,975 in-state, above the $10,052 median for the level.

   Illinois's Kinesiology major, housed in the College of Applied Health Sciences, feeds a Teacher Education: Kinesiology - Physical Education K-12 certification track that requires core courses such as exercise physiology, biomechanics, sport psychology and motor learning before students apply into the teacher-certification sequence, typically at the end of the sophomore year, followed by student teaching. Graduates of that bachelor's pathway report 85% employed or continuing education, with 39% moving on to graduate school, including at Illinois itself, and an average starting salary of $40,577. This research doctorate in exercise science and kinesiology is awarded from that same College of Applied Health Sciences.

   A 42% admit rate, far below the field at this level's 77% median, and an 85% graduation rate against a 75% median are the two largest lifts behind our score of 90, placing Illinois well above the 74.9 median across the 39 doctoral kinesiology programs scored at this level. In-state tuition of $14,975 is higher than roughly three-quarters of that group of comparable programs, and out-of-state students pay $36,804. The program fits a candidate prioritizing selectivity and completion odds at a large public research university over the lowest possible sticker price.

   • Applies into Teacher Ed by sophomore year
   • Requires student teaching for K-12 certification
   • Housed in College of Applied Health Sciences
   • 42% admit rate

   Graduation rate

   85%

   Admit rate

   42%

   In-state tuition

   $14,975

   Out-of-state tuition

   $36,804

   Cost of attendance

   $34,226

   Undergrad enrollment

   37,140

   Degrees conferred

   7

   View University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign's Doctorate (research) in Exercise Science and Kinesiology www.illinois.edu

4. 04

   Rank 4: Texas A&M University-College Station

   Doctorate (research) in Exercise Science and Kinesiology

   College Station, TX · Public · city campus

   Our score

   84.6

   An 84% graduation rate, nine points above the median for the level of 75, drives Texas A&M's 84.6 score, ahead of Texas Christian University's 77.9 and behind The University of Texas at Austin's 91.2.

   Texas A&M's Department of Kinesiology & Sport Management offers this research doctorate alongside a dual Master of Science in Nutrition and Kinesiology, a 36-credit-hour-per-degree combined program with Clinical and Sport Emphasis tracks. PhD students receive priority for the department's teaching-assistant slots over the dual master's cohort, and graduates of the master's track can sit for Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist, Strength & Conditioning Coach Certified, or Registered Clinical Exercise Physiologist exams after required internships.

   Texas A&M's 84% graduation rate sits nine points above the 75% median across the 39 doctoral kinesiology programs graded at this level, the largest single input behind our score of 84.6. Total enrollment across every level lands at the 100th percentile for institutional scale, though the undergraduate population doctoral students will actually encounter on campus counts 60,710. In-state tuition of $9,092 is cheaper than about two-thirds of the field at this level. This suits an applicant who wants a large public flagship with a lower price tag than most peer doctoral programs, inside the Department of Kinesiology & Sport Management.

   • Dual MS in Nutrition and Kinesiology available
   • PhD students get TA priority in the department
   • Housed in Department of Kinesiology & Sport Management
   • $9,092 in-state tuition

   Graduation rate

   84%

   Admit rate

   57%

   In-state tuition

   $9,092

   Out-of-state tuition

   $36,169

   Cost of attendance

   $33,876

   Undergrad enrollment

   60,710

   Degrees conferred

   10

   View Texas A&M University-College Station's Doctorate (research) in Exercise Science and Kinesiology www.tamu.edu

5. 05

   Rank 5: Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus

   Kinesiology

   University Park, PA · Public · city campus

   Our score

   84

   A large-scale campus of over 50,000 students and an 86% graduation rate make Penn State's doctorate a fit for candidates who want scale and completion odds over the tightest admissions numbers.

   Our score for this program is 84.0, against a median for the level of 74.9 across the 39 doctoral-level exercise science and kinesiology programs assessed. The leading input is an 86% graduation rate, in the 82nd percentile of the field at this level against a 75% median, followed by the scale of the institution, in the 79th percentile for total enrollment. This public university in University Park enrolls more than 50,000 students in total, with 42,604 undergraduates, and confers about 7 of these doctorates a year. In-state tuition is $20,066, rising to $41,212 for nonresidents, against a $41,338 cost of attendance. It fits a candidate who wants the resources of a large campus and strong completion odds, and is less concerned with admissions selectivity, which sits at the 58th percentile of the field at this level here.

   • Public four-year university
   • University Park city campus
   • 61% undergraduate admit rate

   Graduation rate

   86%

   Admit rate

   61%

   In-state tuition

   $20,066

   Out-of-state tuition

   $41,212

   Cost of attendance

   $41,338

   Undergrad enrollment

   42,604

   Degrees conferred

   7

   View PSU's Kinesiology www.psu.edu

6. 06

   Rank 6: University of Central Florida

   Ph.D. in Kinesiology

   Orlando, FL · Public · suburban campus

   Our score

   83

   UCF admits its Kinesiology PhD once a year and requires 63 credit hours beyond the master's, including 15 dissertation hours, yielding just one doctoral degree annually against a median for the level of 5.

   UCF's Kinesiology PhD, run out of the College of Health Professions and Sciences, requires a minimum of 63 credit hours beyond the master's degree: 24 hours of foundational research core courses, 24 hours of specialization electives in areas such as applied physiology, human movement, sports performance or clinical rehabilitation, and 15 dissertation hours after advancement to candidacy. The program admits once a year for the fall term, and applicants are encouraged to contact a faculty mentor directly before applying. Doctoral students collaborate with the Institute of Exercise Physiology and Rehabilitation Science and the UCF Sports Science Initiative, and the department reports a top-10 doctoral ranking by size from the National Academy of Kinesiology in 2015 and 2020, plus 100% job placement for graduates since 2011.

   An 89th percentile admissions selectivity, built on a 40% admit rate against the field at this level's 77% median, is the single biggest lift behind our score of 83 against a 74.9 median across the 39 doctoral kinesiology programs at this level. Awarding just one doctorate a year against a median for the level of 5 pulls in the other direction, since the model also weighs how many degrees a program confers in the field. In-state tuition of $4,478 is cheaper than 97.4% of comparable programs, though that figure doesn't move our score itself. This suits an applicant drawn to a highly selective admission process and low sticker price who is comfortable applying to a small annual cohort.

   • 24 credit hours of research core courses
   • Faculty mentor contact required before applying
   • Partners with UCF Sports Science Initiative
   • $4,478 in-state tuition

   Graduation rate

   78%

   Admit rate

   40%

   In-state tuition

   $4,478

   Out-of-state tuition

   $19,810

   Cost of attendance

   $25,250

   Undergrad enrollment

   59,552

   Degrees conferred

   1

   View University of Central Florida's Ph.D. in Kinesiology www.ucf.edu

7. 07

   Rank 7: University of Connecticut

   Exercise Science (M.S., Ph.D.)

   Storrs, CT · Public · town campus · online option

   Our score

   82.1

   UConn trades a smaller total enrollment, in the 42nd percentile of the field at this level, for one of the field's higher doctoral output rates and an IPEDS-flagged online option.

   Our score for this program is 82.1, against a median for the level of 74.9 across the 39 doctoral-level exercise science and kinesiology programs assessed. Graduation rate and admissions selectivity are tied as the leading inputs, an 83% completion rate and a 52% admit rate both in the 68th percentile of the field at this level against medians of 75% and 77%. Degrees conferred in the field sit in the 87th percentile, since Storrs awards about 9 of these doctorates a year against a median for the level of 5, while total institutional enrollment of 28,306 sits in the 42nd percentile, the smallest scale factor here. This public university enrolls 20,056 undergraduates, charges $17,010 in-state tuition and $39,678 for nonresidents, against a $40,744 cost of attendance. It suits a candidate who values a program that produces a steady annual cohort of doctorates and the flexibility of an online option that IPEDS flags for this campus, over the scale of a much larger institution.

   • Public four-year university
   • Town campus setting
   • 52% admit rate

   Graduation rate

   83%

   Admit rate

   52%

   In-state tuition

   $17,010

   Out-of-state tuition

   $39,678

   Cost of attendance

   $40,744

   Undergrad enrollment

   20,056

   Degrees conferred

   9

   View University of Connecticut's Exercise Science (M.S., Ph.D.) uconn.edu

8. 08

   Rank 8: The University of Tennessee-Knoxville

   Ph.D. in Kinesiology and Sport Studies

   Knoxville, TN · Public · city campus

   Our score

   79.8

   Forty-two percent of applicants get in at Tennessee, nearly half the field at this level's 77% admit-rate median, the single biggest input behind its 79.8 score, above the group's 74.9 median.

   The PhD in Kinesiology and Sport Studies at Tennessee offers two concentrations, Kinesiology and Sport Studies, each split into specializations: Biomechanics, Exercise Physiology, Physical Activity Epidemiology, and Sport Psychology and Motor Behavior under Kinesiology, and Socio-Cultural Studies or Sport Management under Sport Studies. Most tracks run three years, two of coursework and one of dissertation, though the Exercise Physiology specialization typically takes four. Socio-Cultural Studies and Sport Management require 78 graduate credit hours beyond the bachelor's degree, while the Kinesiology concentration's specializations require 72, in both cases including a 24-credit-hour dissertation and at least 24 credit hours completed beyond the master's.

   A 42% admit rate, well under the field at this level's 77% median, is the strongest input behind our score of 79.8 against a 74.9 median across the 39 programs at this level. Its 74% graduation rate sits just under the group's 75% median, keeping that input close to neutral. In-state tuition of $11,560 is cheaper than only 36.8% of comparable programs, so most peers cost less. The Exercise Physiology specialization's extra year suits an applicant who wants a defined concentration and specialization structure more than the fastest time to degree.

   • Two concentrations: Kinesiology and Sport Studies
   • Exercise Physiology specialization takes four years
   • Requires a Professional Seminar course
   • 78 credit hours for the Sport Management track

   Graduation rate

   74%

   Admit rate

   42%

   In-state tuition

   $11,560

   Out-of-state tuition

   $30,704

   Cost of attendance

   $35,064

   Undergrad enrollment

   30,564

   Degrees conferred

   5

   View University of Tennessee-Knoxville's Ph.D. in Kinesiology and Sport Studies www.utk.edu

9. 09

   Rank 9: Texas Christian University

   Doctorate (research) in Exercise Science and Kinesiology

   Fort Worth, TX · Private nonprofit · city campus

   Our score

   77.9

   TCU builds its Kinesiology graduate program around a teacher-scholar model, pairing seven emphasis areas, from motor control to sport psychology, with faculty-mentored research priced at $61,650 a year regardless of residency.

   TCU's Kinesiology department, inside the Harris College of Nursing & Health Sciences, advertises a Master of Science with emphases in biomechanics, exercise physiology, exercise psychology, motor control, nutrition, physical activity and chronic disease, or sport psychology, while federal completions data show the same department also confers a small number of research doctorates in the field, about two a year. Master's students take courses such as Research Methods in Kinesiology, Graduate Statistics and Advanced Biomechanics, and the department describes itself around a teacher-scholar model in which faculty mentor students through active research.

   An 86% graduation rate and a 44% admit rate, each landing at the 81st percentile against a 39 programs at this level, are the two biggest lifts behind our score of 77.9, above the 74.9 group median. Its small overall enrollment of 12,938, in the bottom 5% of the field at this level's institutional scale, and a low doctoral output of two degrees a year both work against our score. Tuition of $61,650 a year, whether in-state or out, is cheaper than only 5.3% of comparable programs and pushes total cost of attendance to $83,662. In Texas, TCU's 77.9 trails Texas A&M's 84.6 and The University of Texas at Austin's 91.2 but clears Baylor University's 76.3, making this a fit for someone set on a small private research environment who can absorb the price.

   • Emphasis areas include motor control and nutrition
   • Related programs include Athletic Training and Movement Science
   • Careers include cardiac rehab specialist, mental performance consultant
   • $83,662 total cost of attendance

   Graduation rate

   86%

   Admit rate

   44%

   In-state tuition

   $61,650

   Out-of-state tuition

   $61,650

   Cost of attendance

   $83,662

   Undergrad enrollment

   11,049

   Degrees conferred

   2

   View Texas Christian University's Doctorate (research) in Exercise Science and Kinesiology www.tcu.edu

10. 10

    Rank 10: Indiana University-Bloomington

    Doctorate (research) in Exercise Science and Kinesiology

    Bloomington, IN · Public · city campus

    Our score

    77.7

    Indiana admits 78% of applicants, roughly in line with the field at this level's median, trading selectivity for an 80% graduation rate that beats that same group's 75% standard.

    Indiana's Kinesiology graduate program is built around the Master of Science in Kinesiology, a 35-credit-hour minimum combining a 17-credit core with an 18-credit track chosen from Biomechanics, Exercise Physiology, Exercise and Sport Psychology, Motor Control, or Sport and Coaching Science. Students choose a thesis or non-thesis option, and the department frames the thesis path specifically for those planning to continue into a doctoral degree, with a 3.0 minimum GPA and a C minimum in every course required. The Biomechanics track's lab work centers on gait mechanics and running-related overuse injury, run out of the university's Biomechanics Laboratory.

    Indiana's 80% graduation rate clears the field at this level's 75% median, and total institutional enrollment lands at the 76th percentile for scale on a campus of 38,093 undergraduates, together the biggest lift behind our score of 77.7 against the 74.9 group median. Its 78% admit rate sits almost exactly at the field at this level's 77% median, so selectivity barely moves our score, a real tradeoff against programs that lean harder on admissions selectivity. In-state tuition of $10,622 is cheaper than only 42.1% of comparable programs, above the $10,052 median. This suits an applicant who values a comparatively easier admissions bar and a large campus over the sharper selectivity that lifts some peer scores higher.

    • Five tracks include Biomechanics and Motor Control
    • Thesis option aimed at future doctoral students
    • Minimum 3.0 GPA required for the degree
    • Minimum 35 credit hours to complete

    Graduation rate

    80%

    Admit rate

    78%

    In-state tuition

    $10,622

    Out-of-state tuition

    $40,369

    Cost of attendance

    $30,602

    Undergrad enrollment

    38,093

    Degrees conferred

    6

    View Indiana University-Bloomington's Doctorate (research) in Exercise Science and Kinesiology bloomington.iu.edu

11. 11

    Rank 11: Baylor University

    Doctorate (research) in Exercise Science and Kinesiology

    Waco, TX · Private nonprofit · city campus

    Our score

    76.3

    A 51% admit rate, tighter than 71% of peer doctoral kinesiology programs, does more to lift Baylor's score than any other input.

    Baylor's exercise physiology graduate program is classified as a STEM program under the Carnegie system and trains students to use exercise as a tool for studying physiological, cellular and molecular change, including its effects on disease progression. Entry requires a bachelor's degree in exercise science, kinesiology, exercise physiology or a related field; applicants without that background must complete Human Anatomy and Physiology and Chemistry as prerequisites, and the department recommends prior coursework in exercise physiology or biomechanics. The program is built around Baylor's Christian mission of integrating faith with research training, and it points graduates toward further doctoral study, clinical research roles or practice as clinical exercise physiologists, strength and conditioning specialists or wellness coaches.

    Admissions selectivity is the strongest input behind Baylor's score of 76.3, itself above the 74.9 median across the 39 doctoral-level exercise science and kinesiology programs assessed: an admit rate of 51% lands in the 71st percentile of the field at this level against a 77% median. An 80% graduation rate, in the 58th percentile against a 75% median for the level, adds a second lift. Working against it, the program confers only 2 exercise-science doctorates a year against a median for the level of 5, in the 13th percentile, and Baylor's total enrollment of 20,626 sits in just the 24th percentile for institutional scale. Annual tuition of $58,100 is cheaper than only 8% of comparable programs, so this fits a candidate prioritizing selectivity and completion odds over cost.

    • Carnegie-classified as a STEM program
    • Prerequisites in anatomy and chemistry for non-majors
    • Faith-integrated research mission
    • 80% graduation rate
    • Only 2 exercise-science doctorates conferred a year

    Graduation rate

    80%

    Admit rate

    51%

    In-state tuition

    $58,100

    Out-of-state tuition

    $58,100

    Cost of attendance

    $78,816

    Undergrad enrollment

    14,915

    Degrees conferred

    2

    View Baylor University's Doctorate (research) in Exercise Science and Kinesiology www.baylor.edu

12. 12

    Rank 12: The University of Alabama

    Ph.D. in Kinesiology

    Tuscaloosa, AL · Public · city campus

    Our score

    74.9

    Alabama's admit rate and doctorate count both match the median for the level exactly, and its final score, 74.9, lands right on the group's midpoint too.

    The University of Alabama's Ph.D. in Kinesiology offers areas of study in exercise science and sport pedagogy, admitting students on a rolling basis once they identify a prospective faculty research mentor. The degree requires a minimum of 66 hours beyond the master's: a 24-hour kinesiology core, 12 hours of research and statistics, 12 hours of foundation courses taken outside the department, and 18 hours of dissertation research. Exercise science students take Physiology of Exercise, Systems Physiology I and II, and Exercise Biochemistry as core courses, while sport pedagogy students work through courses such as PE Curriculum and Advanced Adapted Physical Education. Every doctoral student is paired with a major professor who oversees coursework selection and research, and up to 6 credit hours from a prior doctoral program can transfer in.

    Alabama's score of 74.9 matches the median for the level exactly across the 39 doctoral-level exercise science and kinesiology programs assessed, and four of five reported inputs land within a few points of that median: an admit rate of 77% that matches the group figure exactly, 5 kinesiology doctorates a year that match it too, a 73% graduation rate just under the 75% median, in the 45th percentile, and a total enrollment of 40,846 in the 63rd percentile for institutional scale. In-state tuition of $11,380 sits close to the 10,052 dollar median for the level; out-of-state students pay 33,372, a premium of roughly $22,000 a year. This suits an applicant who wants a representative doctoral kinesiology program, with dual exercise-science and sport-pedagogy tracks, rather than an outlier on cost or selectivity.

    • Exercise science and sport pedagogy tracks
    • 66 credit hours required beyond the master's degree
    • Major-professor mentorship assigned at admission
    • GRE scores and letters of recommendation required
    • Up to 6 transfer credit hours accepted

    Graduation rate

    73%

    Admit rate

    77%

    In-state tuition

    $11,380

    Out-of-state tuition

    $33,372

    Cost of attendance

    $33,924

    Undergrad enrollment

    34,389

    Degrees conferred

    5

    View University of Alabama's Ph.D. in Kinesiology www.ua.edu

13. 13

    Rank 13: University of Houston

    Ph.D. in Kinesiology with an Emphasis in Exercise Physiology

    Houston, TX · Public · city campus

    Our score

    73.5

    The Laboratory of Integrative Physiology anchors Houston's Ph.D. in Kinesiology with an emphasis in Exercise Physiology, where faculty study immunology, vascular function and disease tied to aging.

    Houston's Ph.D. in Kinesiology with an emphasis in Exercise Physiology runs through the Laboratory of Integrative Physiology, where faculty use human and animal models to study exercise, inflammation, immunology and vascular function. Dr. Heather Caslin examines how weight gain and loss affect innate immune cells and cardiovascular disease risk; Dr. Emily LaVoy studies how fitness and exercise shape immune function in cancer and stress; Dr. Melissa Markofski researches how exercise and dietary protein affect muscle function, monocytes and inflammation; and Dr. Yoonjung Park investigates vascular dysfunction linked to obesity, diabetes, heart disease, hypertension and aging. Faculty and students hold memberships in the American College of Sports Medicine, the American Physiological Society, the International Society of Exercise Immunology and the American Association of Immunologists.

    A 65% graduation rate, in just the 32nd percentile against a 75% median, is the single largest drag on Houston's score of 73.5, which otherwise sits close to the 74.9 median across the 39 doctoral-level exercise science and kinesiology programs assessed. A total enrollment of 47,980 helps offset it, landing the institutional-scale input in the 74th percentile, and a 74% admit rate keeps selectivity near the middle of the field, in the 53rd percentile. In-state tuition of $8,685 runs about $12,830 a year below the out-of-state rate of 21,515, cheaper than more than three-quarters of comparable programs. It suits a candidate targeting a named research lab and low in-state cost over a guaranteed high completion rate.

    • Four named faculty studying exercise immunology and metabolism
    • Memberships in the American Physiological Society and ACSM
    • Human and animal model studies of aging-related disease
    • 65% graduation rate
    • $8,685 in-state annual tuition

    Graduation rate

    65%

    Admit rate

    74%

    In-state tuition

    $8,685

    Out-of-state tuition

    $21,515

    Cost of attendance

    $27,761

    Undergrad enrollment

    39,257

    Degrees conferred

    5

    View University of Houston's Ph.D. in Kinesiology with an Emphasis in Exercise Physiology www.uh.edu

14. 14

    Rank 14: Georgia State University

    Ph.D. in Kinesiology

    Atlanta, GA · Public · city campus

    Our score

    68.6

    Georgia State's graduation rate of 53% lands in just the 16th percentile of doctoral kinesiology peers, the deepest single cut to its score of anything the model measures.

    Georgia State's Ph.D. in Kinesiology splits into six concentrations: Biomechanics and Physical Rehabilitation, Exercise Physiology, Physical Education Teacher Education, Psychology of Physical Activity, Rehabilitation Science and Sport Administration, the last open only to students already enrolled in the university's Doctor of Physical Therapy program. Most concentrations require a minimum of 61 semester hours, though Psychology of Physical Activity runs to 63 and Rehabilitation Science to 49. Students work out of seven labs, including the Applied Physiology Lab, the Biomechanics Lab and the Cardiovascular and Thermal Physiology Laboratory, and sport administration students can draw on the Rankin Cooter Bureau for Sport Business Research. Applications require a $50 fee, a goals statement, a resume and a writing sample, with a February 1 priority deadline for fall admission.

    A 53% graduation rate, in just the 16th percentile against a 75% median, is the single biggest reason Georgia State's score of 68.6 trails the 74.9 median set across the 39 doctoral-level exercise science and kinesiology programs assessed. A 55% admit rate offsets some of that, placing selectivity in the 66th percentile. In-state tuition of $7,344 runs a little below the 10,052 dollar median for the level, while out-of-state students pay 23,520, a gap of roughly $16,000 a year. This fits an applicant drawn to a specific concentration, such as sport administration's dedicated research bureau, who can tolerate a longer or less certain path to completion.

    • Six concentrations, including Sport Administration and PETE
    • Rehabilitation Science limited to enrolled DPT students
    • Seven dedicated kinesiology research labs
    • 55% admit rate
    • 61 semester-hour minimum (varies by concentration)

    Graduation rate

    53%

    Admit rate

    55%

    In-state tuition

    $7,344

    Out-of-state tuition

    $23,520

    Cost of attendance

    $29,166

    Undergrad enrollment

    27,415

    Degrees conferred

    4

    View GSU's Ph.D. in Kinesiology www.gsu.edu

15. 15

    Rank 15: University of North Carolina at Greensboro

    Doctorate (research) in Exercise Science and Kinesiology

    Greensboro, NC · Public · city campus · online option

    Our score

    68

    UNC Greensboro confers 23 kinesiology doctorates a year, the top percentile for degree output among the 39 comparable programs scored, offsetting an 89% admit rate that sits at just the 16th percentile for selectivity.

    The Department of Kinesiology at UNC Greensboro sits within the School of Health and Human Sciences and runs three separate sport psychology tracks under one roof: an applied, non-thesis program built around coursework and field hours for Certified Mental Performance Consultant certification, a thesis-based track built to feed research-focused doctoral study, and a fully online applied-theory track that ends in a written exam instead of a thesis. Faculty pull in collaborators from Counseling, Psychology and Social Work, and researchers in the department work alongside colleagues in Exercise Physiology, Applied Research and Neuromechanics, with joint projects running through the university's Center for Athlete Well-Being and Center for Women's Health and Wellness.

    Our score of 68 sits just under the 74.9 median across the 39 doctoral exercise science and kinesiology programs it is measured against, held down mainly by selectivity and completion. UNC Greensboro admits 89% of applicants, in the 16th percentile among these peers against a 77% median admit rate, and graduates 56% of its doctoral students against a 75% median for the level. It confers 23 kinesiology doctorates a year, the top percentile among these peers and well above the group's 5-degree median. In-state tuition runs $4,422 a year, the least expensive in this peer set, against $20,773 out of state. This program suits a candidate who wants heavy departmental research output and a wide admissions funnel over a highly selective doctoral filter.

    • Research ties to Center for Athlete Well-Being
    • Faculty collaboration across Exercise Physiology and Neuromechanics
    • Coursework shared with Counseling, Psychology and Social Work
    • In-state tuition of $4,422 a year
    • Undergraduate enrollment of 14,416 students

    Graduation rate

    56%

    Admit rate

    89%

    In-state tuition

    $4,422

    Out-of-state tuition

    $20,773

    Cost of attendance

    $22,585

    Undergrad enrollment

    14,416

    Degrees conferred

    23

    View University of North Carolina at Greensboro's Doctorate (research) in Exercise Science and Kinesiology www.uncg.edu

16. 16

    Rank 16: The University of Texas at Arlington

    Ph.D. in Kinesiology

    Arlington, TX · Public · city campus

    Our score

    66.5

    UT Arlington lets students enter its Ph.D. in Kinesiology straight from a bachelor's degree, without an intervening master's, through its B.S. to Ph.D. track requiring 69 credit hours.

    UT Arlington's Ph.D. in Kinesiology admits students through two entry routes: a B.S. to Ph.D. option requiring a minimum 69 credit hours, made up of 18 required course hours, at least 42 track elective hours and 9 to 12 dissertation hours, and an M.S. to Ph.D. option requiring a minimum 42 credit hours, made up of 11 required course hours, at least 22 track elective hours and 9 to 12 dissertation hours. Both routes run through tracks in Movement and Rehabilitation Sciences, Integrative and Applied Physiology, Physical Education and Public Health, with required courses such as Research Methods, Grant Writing and two semesters of Laboratory Techniques in Kinesiology, plus four semesters of a one-hour kinesiology seminar. Every applicant must secure sponsorship from a faculty research mentor before admission, and M.S. to Ph.D. applicants need a 3.25 graduate GPA and GRE Quantitative and Verbal scores of 150 each.

    A 54% graduation rate, in the 21st percentile against a 75% median, and an 80% admit rate, in just the 37th percentile for selectivity, are the two biggest reasons UT Arlington's score of 66.5 sits below the 74.9 median across the 39 doctoral-level exercise science and kinesiology programs assessed. A total enrollment of 44,956 partly offsets them, landing in the 71st percentile for institutional scale. In-state tuition of $9,206 is close to the 10,052 dollar median for the level; out-of-state students pay 26,838, a difference of about $17,600 a year. It suits a candidate who already has a bachelor's degree and wants a direct route into doctoral research without completing a separate master's first.

    • Four tracks: Movement and Rehab Sciences, Integrative Physiology, PE, Public Health
    • Faculty sponsorship required before admission
    • Electives in cardiocirculatory, pulmonary and neuromuscular exercise physiology
    • 54% graduation rate
    • $9,206 in-state tuition

    Graduation rate

    54%

    Admit rate

    80%

    In-state tuition

    $9,206

    Out-of-state tuition

    $26,838

    Cost of attendance

    $29,562

    Undergrad enrollment

    32,545

    Degrees conferred

    3

    View University of Texas at Arlington's Ph.D. in Kinesiology www.uta.edu

17. 17

    Rank 17: Montana State University

    Doctorate (research) in Exercise Science and Kinesiology

    Bozeman, MT · Public · city campus

    Our score

    65.2

    Montana State keeps in-state doctoral-track tuition at $6,299, but confers just 2 kinesiology doctorates a year, ranking in the 13th percentile for degree output among the 39 comparable programs scored at this level.

    Montana State's Kinesiology major runs an undergraduate B.S. with an Exercise Science emphasis alongside a separate Health and Fitness option, building coursework in anatomy and physiology, biomechanics and exercise physiology for students bound for physical therapy, occupational therapy, physician assistant or other clinical graduate study. The department's Neuromuscular Biomechanics Lab pairs engineering and health researchers to study the mechanics of human motion and develop rehabilitation methods, and students get hands-on placement through internships and research opportunities built into the major.

    Our score of 65.2 sits well under the 74.9 median across the 39 doctoral kinesiology and exercise science programs it is measured against, pulled down mainly by completion and selectivity. Montana State graduates 57% of its doctoral students, in the 29th percentile among these peers against a 75% median for the level, and admits 82% of applicants against a 77% median. It confers 2 kinesiology doctorates a year, in the 13th percentile against the group's median of 5, inside a university enrolling 17,135 students overall. In-state tuition of $6,299 undercuts about 89% of the field at this level on price, against $30,784 out of state. This program suits a candidate who wants low in-state cost and applied lab access more than a large research cohort.

    • Neuromuscular Biomechanics Lab pairs engineering and health research
    • Separate Health and Fitness major option
    • Coursework spans biomechanics, motor learning and exercise physiology
    • Out-of-state tuition of $30,784
    • 82% admit rate

    Graduation rate

    57%

    Admit rate

    82%

    In-state tuition

    $6,299

    Out-of-state tuition

    $30,784

    Cost of attendance

    $27,936

    Undergrad enrollment

    15,046

    Degrees conferred

    2

    View MSU's Doctorate (research) in Exercise Science and Kinesiology www.montana.edu

18. 18

    Rank 18: West Virginia University

    Doctorate (research) in Exercise Science and Kinesiology

    Morgantown, WV · Public · city campus

    Our score

    64.3

    West Virginia University admits 89% of doctoral applicants in this field, the 16th percentile for selectivity among the 39 comparable programs scored, the single biggest drag on its score.

    West Virginia University's Department of Coaching and Teaching Studies runs Physical Education Teacher Education through a 120-credit BS accredited by SHAPE America and the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation, leading to PK-Adult physical education licensure in the state. An Accelerated BS/MS pathway lets qualified undergraduates begin the 30-credit, fully online MS in PETE early, sharing as many as 12 credits of 400-level coursework across both degrees while holding a 3.0 GPA in each program to remain enrolled.

    Our score of 64.3 sits well under the 74.9 median across the 39 doctoral peers it is measured against, held down mainly by selectivity. West Virginia admits 89% of applicants, in the 16th percentile against a 77% median admit rate, while graduating 65% of its doctoral students against a 75% median for the level. It confers 7 kinesiology doctorates a year, in the 74th percentile against the group's median of 5. In-state tuition of $10,104 sits almost exactly at the $10,052 median for the level, undercutting less than half of these comparable programs, against $28,608 out of state. This program suits a candidate who values program output and average cost over highly selective admission.

    • SHAPE America and CAEP dual accreditation
    • Accelerated BS/MS shares up to 12 credits
    • Fully online 30-credit MS pathway
    • 7 doctorates conferred yearly in this field
    • $28,608 out-of-state tuition

    Graduation rate

    65%

    Admit rate

    89%

    In-state tuition

    $10,104

    Out-of-state tuition

    $28,608

    Cost of attendance

    $31,716

    Undergrad enrollment

    18,206

    Degrees conferred

    7

    View West Virginia University's Doctorate (research) in Exercise Science and Kinesiology www.wvu.edu

19. 19

    Rank 19: University of Mississippi

    Doctorate (research) in Exercise Science and Kinesiology

    University, MS · Public · town campus

    Our score

    63.5

    Ole Miss's 97% admit rate, the 3rd percentile for selectivity among 39 peer doctoral programs, suits applicants who want near-certain entry into hands-on exercise physiology lab research over a highly selective admissions filter.

    Ole Miss's exercise science research runs through the Exercise, Nutrition, and Performance Lab, housed in the Department of Health, Exercise Science and Recreation Management and directed by Thomas Andre, who earned his own Ph.D. in Kinesiology, Exercise Nutrition, and Health Promotion at Baylor's Exercise and Biochemical Nutrition Laboratory. The lab's work spans exercise energy metabolism, nutritional supplementation, heart rate variability, and resistance and cardiovascular training, alongside a newer line studying the physiological demands of Esports competitors, an area the lab pursues alongside a seat on the university's Esports Advisory and Development Committee. Student researchers have presented that work at outside venues such as the Ford Center's Tech Summit.

    Our score of 63.5 sits well under the 74.9 median across the 39 doctoral peers it is measured against, pulled down almost entirely by selectivity. Ole Miss admits 97% of applicants, in the 3rd percentile among these peers against a 77% median admit rate, though it graduates 72% of its doctoral students, close to the 75% median for the level. In-state tuition of $9,612 undercuts a majority of the field at this level on price, against $28,440 out of state. That score ranks 31st among the 39 programs scored at this level. This program suits a candidate focused on near-certain admission and applied lab placement over a highly selective filter.

    • Exercise, Nutrition, and Performance Lab research base
    • Lab studies physiological demands of Esports athletes
    • Faculty seat on campus Esports Advisory Committee
    • In-state tuition of $9,612
    • 72% graduation rate

    Graduation rate

    72%

    Admit rate

    97%

    In-state tuition

    $9,612

    Out-of-state tuition

    $28,440

    Cost of attendance

    $30,272

    Undergrad enrollment

    21,585

    Degrees conferred

    5

    View University of Mississippi's Doctorate (research) in Exercise Science and Kinesiology www.olemiss.edu

20. 20

    Rank 20: Concordia University-Saint Paul

    Doctorate (research) in Exercise Science and Kinesiology

    Saint Paul, MN · Private nonprofit · city campus · online option

    Our score

    62.1

    Concordia University-St. Paul charges $25,600 flat tuition per year, more than all but about 11% of these 39 comparable programs, yet still produces 10 exercise science doctorates annually, well above the group's 5-degree median.

    Concordia University-St. Paul builds its exercise science offerings as an online-first stack: a B.A. in Exercise Science, also available as a 90-credit accelerated version, alongside graduate options including an M.S. in Exercise Science, an M.S. in Strength and Conditioning, and an M.S. in Coaching and Athletic Administration, all delivered fully online through the university's Risepoint partnership. The M.S. Exercise Science track runs 33 credit hours over 2 years at $475 per credit, blending psychology, physiology, ethics and exercise coursework and ending in a capstone project, with an optional study-abroad course for students who want an international component.

    Our score of 62.1 sits well under the 74.9 median across the 39 doctoral peers it is measured against, pulled down mainly by completion and scale. Concordia-St. Paul graduates 46% of its doctoral students, in the bottom percentile among these peers against a 75% median, inside a university enrolling 6,003 students overall, also in the bottom percentile for scale. It confers 10 exercise science doctorates a year, the 92nd percentile against the group's median of 5. Admissions selectivity is a smaller drag, a 79% admit rate at the 42nd percentile. Tuition runs $25,600 a year, more expensive than about 89% of the field at this level, with a total cost of attendance of $45,532. This program suits a candidate weighing a small, output-heavy online program against a high sticker price and a lower completion record.

    • Fully online delivery via Risepoint partnership
    • 33-credit M.S. Exercise Science curriculum
    • Capstone project replaces thesis requirement
    • Optional graduate study-abroad course
    • 79% admit rate

    Graduation rate

    46%

    Admit rate

    79%

    In-state tuition

    $25,600

    Out-of-state tuition

    $25,600

    Cost of attendance

    $45,532

    Undergrad enrollment

    3,424

    Degrees conferred

    10

    View Concordia University-Saint Paul's Doctorate (research) in Exercise Science and Kinesiology www.csp.edu

21. 21

    Rank 21: Old Dominion University

    Ph.D. in Education, Applied Kinesiology - Human Movement Sciences Concentration

    Norfolk, VA · Public · city campus

    Our score

    62

    Old Dominion's Applied Kinesiology Ph.D. sets a GRE floor of 297 combined verbal and quantitative, yet still admits 90% of applicants, the 13th percentile for selectivity among the 39 peer doctoral programs scored.

    Old Dominion's Ph.D. in Education concentrates in Human Movement Sciences, Applied Kinesiology, built around Exercise Physiology and Biomechanics and aimed at producing postdoctoral research fellows, university faculty and government research staff. Coursework includes Advanced Biomechanics, EXSC 827, covering the mechanics, energetics and control of human movement with a lab component, and Ergogenic Aids in Sport and Human Performance, EXSC 840, covering nutritional and pharmacological performance aids and their ethics. Admission requires two writing samples, three letters of recommendation, a resume or CV, and GRE scores of at least 297 combined verbal and quantitative with a 4.5 analytical writing score, or a GMAT of 470 or higher for the Sport and Recreation Management emphasis; non-native English speakers need a TOEFL of 550. Tuition is billed per credit hour, at $510 for Virginia residents, $662 for out-of-state students in technology-delivered courses, and $1,361 for other non-residents.

    Our score of 62 sits well under the 74.9 median across the 39 doctoral peers it is measured against, held down mainly by completion and selectivity. Old Dominion graduates 46% of its doctoral students, in the bottom percentile among these peers against a 75% median, and admits 90% of applicants, in the 13th percentile against a 77% median. It confers 8 doctorates a year in this field, in the 84th percentile against the group's median of 5. In-state tuition of $7,800 undercuts about 82% of the field at this level on price, against $28,305 out of state. This program suits an applicant prioritizing a defined research concentration and GRE-based admission over a stronger completion record.

    • Advanced Biomechanics course, EXSC 827
    • Ergogenic Aids in Sport and Human Performance course
    • GMAT accepted for Sport and Recreation Management emphasis
    • $510 per credit for Virginia residents
    • 8 doctorates conferred yearly in program

    Graduation rate

    46%

    Admit rate

    90%

    In-state tuition

    $7,800

    Out-of-state tuition

    $28,305

    Cost of attendance

    $32,988

    Undergrad enrollment

    17,746

    Degrees conferred

    8

    View Old Dominion University's Ph.D. in Education, Applied Kinesiology - Human Movement Sciences Concentration www.odu.edu

22. 22

    Rank 22: East Tennessee State University

    Ph.D. in Sport Physiology and Performance

    Johnson City, TN · Public · city campus

    Our score

    61

    Choosing ETSU's sport science doctorate means trading a narrow $3,510 residency tuition gap for a completion rate, 53%, that sits at just the 16th percentile among 39 peer doctoral programs.

    East Tennessee State's Ph.D. in Sport Physiology and Performance runs a minimum of 72 semester hours split across a Major Field Core, a 15-credit concentration, guided electives and a dissertation, with students choosing between a Sport Physiology concentration, focused on how training variables alter hormonal and metabolic mechanisms such as the testosterone-to-cortisol ratio, and a Sport Performance concentration, focused on nutrition, technique analysis, sport psychology and long-term athlete monitoring. Core coursework includes Instrumentation in Exercise and Sport Science, two-part Sport Physiology and Sport Conditioning sequences, Research Design and Statistics for Sport Science, and Advanced Sport Nutrition and Ergogenic Aids. The program is integrated with ETSU's Center of Excellence for Sport Science and Coach Education, giving students access to coach-education clinics and continuing-education programming alongside their coursework.

    Our score of 61 sits well under the 74.9 median across the 39 doctoral peers it is measured against, held down mainly by completion and selectivity. ETSU graduates 53% of its doctoral students, in the 16th percentile among these peers against a 75% median, and admits 86% of applicants, in the 24th percentile against a 77% median. In-state tuition runs $8,120 against just $11,630 out of state, a $3,510 gap that undercuts roughly 79% of the field at this level on price. That score ranks 34th among the 39 programs scored at this level. This program suits a candidate drawn to the dissertation-based concentration structure and a narrow residency tuition gap over a stronger completion record.

    • Sport Physiology concentration studies hormonal training mechanisms
    • Sport Performance concentration covers nutrition and technique
    • Center of Excellence for Sport Science affiliation
    • Minimum 72 semester hours including dissertation
    • $8,120 in-state annual tuition

    Graduation rate

    53%

    Admit rate

    86%

    In-state tuition

    $8,120

    Out-of-state tuition

    $11,630

    Cost of attendance

    $30,296

    Undergrad enrollment

    10,829

    Degrees conferred

    4

    View ETSU's Ph.D. in Sport Physiology and Performance www.etsu.edu

23. 23

    Rank 23: University of Northern Colorado

    Ph.D. in Kinesiology

    Greeley, CO · Public · city campus

    Our score

    60

    A 51% graduation rate at Northern Colorado sits at just the 13th percentile among the 39 peer doctoral programs scored, against a 75% median, the single largest weight on the score.

    The University of Northern Colorado's Ph.D. in Kinesiology is a 64-credit, in-person, mentor-based program built around five focus areas: Biomechanics, Exercise Physiology, Physical Education and Physical Activity Leadership, Social Psychology, and Sport and Physical Activity. Admission requires a master's degree, a 3.00 cumulative GPA, three letters of recommendation, a current resume and a Letter of Intent naming the specific faculty member an applicant wants to work with, since faculty play a direct role in admissions decisions; the GRE is optional and most applicants skip it. Students get access to the university's Cancer Rehabilitation Institute and Human Performance Laboratories, and many receive graduate assistantships that cover tuition and include teaching experience.

    Our score of 60 sits well under the 74.9 median across the 39 doctoral peers it is measured against, held down mainly by completion and selectivity. Northern Colorado graduates 51% of its doctoral students, in the 13th percentile among these peers against a 75% median, and admits 86% of applicants, in the 24th percentile against a 77% median. Total institutional enrollment of 8,869 sits at just the 3rd percentile among these peers, the thinnest scale in the group. In-state tuition of $9,047 undercuts about 71% of the field at this level on price, against $24,125 out of state. This program suits an applicant who wants a small, mentor-driven cohort and assistantship-funded tuition over a program with a stronger completion record or larger scale.

    • Five doctoral focus areas including Biomechanics, Social Psychology
    • Mentor-based admissions naming a faculty advisor
    • Access to Cancer Rehabilitation Institute, Human Performance Labs
    • GRE optional for admission
    • 64-credit doctoral program requirement

    Graduation rate

    51%

    Admit rate

    86%

    In-state tuition

    $9,047

    Out-of-state tuition

    $24,125

    Cost of attendance

    $33,480

    Undergrad enrollment

    6,480

    Degrees conferred

    5

    View University of Northern Colorado's Ph.D. in Kinesiology www.unco.edu

24. 24

    Rank 24: Texas Woman's University

    Ph.D. in Kinesiology with a Concentration in Exercise Physiology

    Denton, TX · Public · city campus · online option

    Our score

    57.4

    Texas Woman's trades a 96% admit rate and tuition cheaper than 95% of peers for a 49% graduation rate, in just the 5th percentile among the 39 doctoral kinesiology programs scored.

    Texas Woman's Ph.D. in Kinesiology, with a concentration in Exercise Physiology, is built as a research-intensive track that requires an original contribution to the field, with doctoral students working toward expertise in physiological responses to exercise, sports performance and disease prevention. Coursework runs on the Denton campus and blends laboratory work, internships and collaborative research projects, with the university's focus on women's health and wellness woven into the curriculum to address health questions specific to female populations. Graduates are pointed toward academic, research-institution and research-industry roles rather than solely clinical practice.

    A 96% admit rate puts selectivity in just the 5th percentile of the group, and a 49% graduation rate sits at that same low percentile, the two biggest reasons Texas Woman's score of 57.4 trails the 74.9 median across the 39 doctoral-level exercise science and kinesiology programs assessed by a wide margin. Total enrollment of 15,361 across all levels lands in the 13th percentile for institutional scale, consistent with a smaller campus. Against that, in-state tuition of $5,712 sits well under the 10,052 dollar median for the level, out-of-state students pay just 15,552, and the program prices out cheaper than 95% of comparable programs; IPEDS also flags an online option here. This fits a candidate who values near-open admission, low cost and a women's health research focus over strong completion odds.

    • Concentration in Exercise Physiology within the Kinesiology Ph.D.
    • Women's health and wellness focus embedded in curriculum
    • Doctoral track requires an original research contribution
    • IPEDS-flagged online program option
    • $5,712 in-state annual tuition

    Graduation rate

    49%

    Admit rate

    96%

    In-state tuition

    $5,712

    Out-of-state tuition

    $15,552

    Cost of attendance

    $25,366

    Undergrad enrollment

    10,039

    Degrees conferred

    3

    View Texas Woman's University's Ph.D. in Kinesiology with a Concentration in Exercise Physiology www.twu.edu

25. 25

    Rank 25: University of Southern Mississippi

    PhD in Kinesiology

    Hattiesburg, MS · Public · city campus · online option

    Our score

    53.6

    Southern Miss ties its 54-hour PhD in Kinesiology to advisor-driven research hours candidates complete directly in their faculty mentor's lab, alongside a required writing sample for admission.

    The PhD in Kinesiology at Southern Miss trains students as research scientists through a mentor-guided program built around four objectives: expertise in a chosen content area, quantitative and qualitative research training, independent scholarship, and application and dissemination of research. Applicants submit a statement of purpose, a CV, a writing sample such as a published paper or class paper, and three letters of recommendation alongside the university's general graduate admission requirements. The 54 hours to degree include 12 dissertation hours and 15 hours of research tools coursework, plus core courses and seminars that rotate on current trends in doctoral education. Candidates also complete advisor-driven research hours worked directly in their faculty mentor's lab as part of that total.

    Our score of 53.6 sits well under the 74.9 median across the 39 doctoral kinesiology programs it is measured against, pulled down mainly by admissions and completion. The program admits about 99% of applicants, in the bottom percentile among those peers against a 77% median admit rate, and graduates 49% of its doctoral students against a 75% median for the level. It confers roughly one kinesiology PhD a year, a fraction of the median for the level of five, inside a university enrolling 13,170 students overall. In-state tuition runs $9,888 a year against $11,888 out of state, and the $27,860 total cost of attendance undercuts 58% of the field at this level on price. Admissions selectivity and graduation rate both sit at or below the 5th percentile among the 39 doctoral kinesiology programs at this level, the two inputs that hold the score under the median. This program suits an applicant who wants near-certain admission and a lower sticker price more than one chasing a highly selective research doctorate.

    • 99% acceptance rate
    • About one kinesiology PhD awarded per year
    • Rotating grant-writing and research-tools seminars
    • Named faculty advisors listed for direct contact
    • Housed in the School of Kinesiology and Nutrition

    Graduation rate

    49%

    Admit rate

    99%

    In-state tuition

    $9,888

    Out-of-state tuition

    $11,888

    Cost of attendance

    $27,860

    Undergrad enrollment

    10,193

    Degrees conferred

    1

    View University of Southern Mississippi's PhD in Kinesiology www.usm.edu

All 25 PhD in Kinesiology Programs Compared

The figures the ranked entries above leave out. Every column is set in tabular figures so it reads down rather than across.

A blank cell means the institution did not file that figure with IPEDS. Tuition is the published annual rate before aid. "Degrees / yr" is completions in CIP 31.0505 at this award level in the most recent reporting year.

PhD in Kinesiology Programs by State

Counts are programs in the national ranked pool, not only the 25 listed above.

Every state above with a ranked program has its own doctoral page, and the same is true at the other degree levels. To compare levels within one state, start from the state index.

What Careers Can You Get With a PhD in Kinesiology?

These 8 occupations list this credential, or less, as their typical entry requirement.

• Physical Therapist$102,760 median · reachable at this level
• Occupational Therapist$100,330 median · reachable at this level
• Physical Therapist Assistant$68,380 median · reachable at this level
• Athletic Trainer$62,520 median · reachable at this level
• Recreational Therapist$61,960 median · reachable at this level
• Exercise Physiologist$59,460 median · reachable at this level
• Coach or Scout$47,320 median · reachable at this level
• Fitness Trainer or Group Instructor$47,160 median · 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.

Every program on this site is ranked the same way, from the same public records. See how we compare programs.

Sources for this page

• U.S. Dept. of Education, IPEDS
• BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook: Exercise Physiologists
• O*NET, SOC 29-1128 Exercise Physiologists
• CAAHEP / CoAES accredited exercise science programs