2 Best PhD in Kinesiology Programs in Tennessee

Programs ranked: 2
In-state tuition: $8,120 to $11,560
Avg graduation rate: 64%
Median wage (BLS): $59,460

What PhD in Kinesiology Programs in Tennessee Cost and Who Gets In

We scored all 39 doctoral programs in exercise science and kinesiology (CIP 31.0505) on the same weighted model, then pulled the 2 highest scoring in Tennessee. The University of Tennessee-Knoxville leads the state with a score of 79.8, which is national rank 13 out of 39. One of the 2 also lands in the national top 25.

In-state tuition runs from $8,120 to $11,560 across the 2 programs with a published rate. The 2 schools with a published graduation rate average 64%. Average admit rate across the 2 schools publishing one is 64%. Together they conferred 9 research doctorates in the field in the latest IPEDS completions year.

All 2 are public institutions. None carry an online flag in IPEDS, so plan on attending in person.

All 2 PhD in Kinesiology Programs in Tennessee, 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: The University of Tennessee-Knoxville

Ph.D. in Kinesiology and Sport Studies

Knoxville, TN · Public · city campus

Our score

1st of 2 in Tennessee

National rank 13 of 39

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 University of Tennessee-Knoxville leads Tennessee at 79.8, ahead of the one other program ranked here. In-state tuition of $11,560 is the highest in the state, where the published range runs $8,120 to $11,560. Its 74% graduation rate sits against a 53% to 74% spread across the 2 Tennessee schools that report one. It admits 42% of applicants, against 42% to 86% across Tennessee.
It confers 5 research doctorates a year, 56% of the 9 awarded across Tennessee at this level. Residency is worth $19,144 a year here, the gap between the in-state rate and the $30,704 out-of-state rate. Nationally it is 13th of the 39 doctoral programs scored at this level.
- 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
Rank 2: East Tennessee State University

Ph.D. in Sport Physiology and Performance

Johnson City, TN · Public · city campus

Our score

2nd of 2 in Tennessee

National rank 34 of 39

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 University places 2nd of 2 in Tennessee at 61, with 1 program scoring above it. In-state tuition of $8,120 is the lowest in the state, where the published range runs $8,120 to $11,560. Its 53% graduation rate sits against a 53% to 74% spread across the 2 Tennessee schools that report one.
It admits 86% of applicants, against 42% to 86% across Tennessee. It confers 4 research doctorates a year, 44% of the 9 awarded across Tennessee at this level. Residency is worth $3,510 a year here, the gap between the in-state rate and the $11,630 out-of-state rate.
- 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

Every PhD in Kinesiology Program in Tennessee 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	The University of Tennessee-Knoxville	Knoxville	74%	42%	$11,560
02	East Tennessee State University	Johnson City	53%	86%	$8,120

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

What Kinesiology Careers Pay in Tennessee

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

Exercise Physiologists in Tennessee

Tennessee median: $53,570
vs national: −$5,890
Employed in TN: 140
10th to 90th: $40,620 – $73,360

Exercise Physiologists in Tennessee earn a median of $53,570, $5,890 below the national median of $59,460, across 140 jobs in the state. The bottom tenth earn under $40,620 and the top tenth clear $73,360, so the median is a midpoint rather than an offer.

Every Tennessee Occupation This Field Feeds, by Median Wage

Occupation	TN median	vs national	Jobs in TN
Physical Therapists	$100,140	−$2,620	4,800
Occupational Therapists	$97,700	−$2,630	2,490
Physical Therapist Assistants	$62,500	−$5,880	3,390
Athletic Trainers	$59,850	−$2,670	580
Exercise Physiologists	$53,570	−$5,890	140
Recreational Therapists	$51,910	−$10,050	150
Exercise Trainers and Group Fitness Instructors	$47,380	+$220	5,080
Coaches and Scouts	$37,780	−$9,540	6,250

Of the 8 occupations in this field that BLS prices for Tennessee, Physical Therapists pays the most at $100,140 ($2,620 below its national median). The largest employer of the 8 is Coaches and Scouts, at 6,250 jobs in the state paying a median of $37,780. 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 Tennessee

This page ranks doctoral programs only. Tennessee 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 PhD in Kinesiology?

These 8 occupations list this credential, or less, as their typical entry requirement. Figures are Tennessee’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 Tennessee, 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

PhD in Kinesiology Programs Near Tennessee

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

Best Kinesiology Doctoral Programs in Tennessee