7 Best Master's in Kinesiology Programs in Alabama

Programs ranked: 7
In-state tuition: $8,610 to $20,700
Avg graduation rate: 48%
Median wage (BLS): $59,460

What Master's in Kinesiology Programs in Alabama Cost and Who Gets In

We scored all 177 master's programs in exercise science and kinesiology (CIP 31.0505) on the same weighted model, then pulled the 7 highest scoring in Alabama. The University of Alabama leads the state with a score of 86, which is national rank 26 out of 177. None of the 7 crack the national top 25, so read the scores below rather than assuming a national reputation.

In-state tuition runs from $8,610 to $20,700 across the 7 programs with a published rate. The 6 schools with a published graduation rate average 48%. Average admit rate across the 7 schools publishing one is 75%. Together they conferred 62 master's degrees in the field in the latest IPEDS completions year.

6 of the 7 are public institutions and 1 is private. One is flagged as offering an online option. One is an HBCU.

All 7 Master's in Kinesiology Programs in Alabama, 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 Alabama

M.A. in Kinesiology

Tuscaloosa, AL · Public · city campus

Our score

1st of 7 in Alabama

National rank 26 of 177

Three coursework tracks, exercise science, general kinesiology studies, and sport pedagogy leading to Class A teaching certification, let this MA serve both lab-bound researchers and licensed PE teachers under one degree.

The University of Alabama leads Alabama at 86, ahead of the other 6 programs ranked here. In-state tuition of $11,380 is in the cheaper quarter of the state, where the published range runs $8,610 to $20,700. Its 73% graduation rate sits against a 24% to 73% spread across the 6 Alabama schools that report one. It admits 77% of applicants, against 54% to 96% across Alabama.
It confers 14 master's degrees a year, 23% of the 62 awarded across Alabama at this level. Residency is worth $21,992 a year here, the gap between the in-state rate and the $33,372 out-of-state rate. Nationally it is 26th of the 177 master's programs scored at this level.
- Alternative Class A requires CPR/AED certification
- Comprehensive assessment required for Class A track
- Thesis or advisor-approved coursework substitute
- $11,380 annual in-state tuition
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

14

View University of Alabama's M.A. in Kinesiology www.ua.edu
Rank 2: University of Montevallo

Exercise Science, M.S.

Montevallo, AL · Public · town campus

Our score

2nd of 7 in Alabama

National rank 70 of 177

University of Montevallo's NSCA-recognized MS in Exercise Science suits candidates targeting certification-track careers who can clear a competitive 54% admit rate at a 3,088-student campus.

University of Montevallo places 2nd of 7 in Alabama at 76.3, with 1 program scoring above it. In-state tuition of $12,090 is below the state midpoint, where the published range runs $8,610 to $20,700. Its 54% graduation rate sits against a 24% to 73% spread across the 6 Alabama schools that report one.
It admits 54% of applicants, against 54% to 96% across Alabama. It confers 9 master's degrees a year, 15% of the 62 awarded across Alabama at this level. Residency is worth $13,020 a year here, the gap between the in-state rate and the $25,110 out-of-state rate.
- NSCA Program Recognition for strength and conditioning
- Thesis or internship completion options
- 90 contact-hour approved internship placement
- March 1 scholarship priority deadline
Graduation rate

54%

Admit rate

54%

In-state tuition

$12,090

Out-of-state tuition

$25,110

Cost of attendance

$29,520

Undergrad enrollment

2,642

Degrees conferred

9

View University of Montevallo's Exercise Science, M.S. www.montevallo.edu
Rank 3: United States Sports University

M.S.S. in Exercise Science

Daphne, AL · Private nonprofit · city campus · online option

Our score

3rd of 7 in Alabama

National rank 79 of 177

A 61% admit rate, the single biggest lever behind United States Sports University's score, outweighs a total enrollment of just 367 students sitting in the bottom of its group of comparable programs among comparable institutions.

United States Sports University places 3rd of 7 in Alabama at 75.2, with 2 programs scoring above it. In-state tuition of $20,700 is the highest in the state, where the published range runs $8,610 to $20,700. It is the only private institution on this list, so its published rate does not split in-state and out-of-state.
It is also the only one here flagged in IPEDS as offering an online option. It admits 61% of applicants, against 54% to 96% across Alabama. It confers 7 master's degrees a year, 11% of the 62 awarded across Alabama at this level.
- Certification prep for ACSM and NSCA credentials
- Fully online M.S.S. delivery
- No out-of-state tuition surcharge
- Completable in as little as 15 months
Admit rate

61%

In-state tuition

$20,700

Out-of-state tuition

$20,700

Undergrad enrollment

234

Degrees conferred

7

View United States Sports University's M.S.S. in Exercise Science www.ussa.edu
Rank 4: University of North Alabama

Exercise Science and Health Promotion, M.S. (Exercise Science)

Florence, AL · Public · city campus

Our score

4th of 7 in Alabama

National rank 108 of 177

UNA's Master of Science in Exercise Science and Health Promotion runs through the Kinesiology department at Alabama's oldest public four-year university, in the Shoals region along the Tennessee River.

University of North Alabama places 4th of 7 in Alabama at 70.5, with 3 programs scoring above it. In-state tuition of $10,200 is in the cheaper quarter of the state, where the published range runs $8,610 to $20,700. Its 55% graduation rate sits against a 24% to 73% spread across the 6 Alabama schools that report one.
It admits 87% of applicants, against 54% to 96% across Alabama. It confers 9 master's degrees a year, 15% of the 62 awarded across Alabama at this level. Residency is worth $10,200 a year here, the gap between the in-state rate and the $20,400 out-of-state rate.
- Housed in the Spencer College of Education and Human Sciences
- 9 degrees conferred a year, matching this group of programs's median
- $10,200 in-state tuition, in line with the median for the level
- Dean's office based in Stevens Hall
Graduation rate

55%

Admit rate

87%

In-state tuition

$10,200

Out-of-state tuition

$20,400

Cost of attendance

$28,880

Undergrad enrollment

7,662

Degrees conferred

9

View University of North Alabama's Exercise Science and Health Promotion, M.S. (Exercise Science) www.una.edu
Rank 5: Alabama A & M University

Master's in Exercise Science and Kinesiology

Normal, AL · Public · city campus · HBCU

Our score

5th of 7 in Alabama

National rank 136 of 177

A 24% graduation rate, the 3rd percentile among 177 peer master's programs, weighs on Alabama A&M's kinesiology score more than any other factor.

Alabama A & M University places 5th of 7 in Alabama at 66.1, with 4 programs scoring above it. In-state tuition of $8,610 is the lowest in the state, where the published range runs $8,610 to $20,700. Its 24% graduation rate sits against a 24% to 73% spread across the 6 Alabama schools that report one.
It admits 58% of applicants, against 54% to 96% across Alabama. It confers 5 master's degrees a year, 8% of the 62 awarded across Alabama at this level. Residency is worth $8,610 a year here, the gap between the in-state rate and the $17,220 out-of-state rate.
- Public HBCU in Normal, Alabama
- 6,370 undergraduate enrollment
- $8,610 in-state tuition
Graduation rate

24%

Admit rate

58%

In-state tuition

$8,610

Out-of-state tuition

$17,220

Cost of attendance

$27,732

Undergrad enrollment

6,370

Degrees conferred

5

View Alabama A & M University's Master's in Exercise Science and Kinesiology www.aamu.edu
Rank 6: Troy University

M.S. in Kinesiology, Applied Physiology Concentration

Troy, AL · Public · town campus

Our score

6th of 7 in Alabama

National rank 149 of 177

Troy admits 96% of applicants to its on-campus Master of Science in Kinesiology, then lets each student choose a thesis or a non-thesis internship track toward ACSM and NSCA certification exams.

Troy University places 6th of 7 in Alabama at 64, with 5 programs scoring above it. In-state tuition of $10,176 is in the cheaper quarter of the state, where the published range runs $8,610 to $20,700. Its 50% graduation rate sits against a 24% to 73% spread across the 6 Alabama schools that report one.
It admits 96% of applicants, against 54% to 96% across Alabama. It confers 11 master's degrees a year, 18% of the 62 awarded across Alabama at this level. Residency is worth $10,176 a year here, the gap between the in-state rate and the $20,352 out-of-state rate.
- graduate assistantships in teaching, research or lab work
- priority for students pursuing a PhD
- delivered in person on Troy campus
- $10,176 in-state tuition
- 50% graduation rate
Graduation rate

50%

Admit rate

96%

In-state tuition

$10,176

Out-of-state tuition

$20,352

Cost of attendance

$25,192

Undergrad enrollment

10,222

Degrees conferred

11

View Troy University's M.S. in Kinesiology, Applied Physiology Concentration www.troy.edu
Rank 7: Auburn University at Montgomery

M.Ed. in Kinesiology

Montgomery, AL · Public · city campus

Our score

7th of 7 in Alabama

National rank 163 of 177

AUM's online Master of Education in Kinesiology pairs a required practicum with a 33 credit hour, 1.5 year schedule billed at $483 per credit for in-state students.

Auburn University at Montgomery places 7th of 7 in Alabama at 61.3, with 6 programs scoring above it. In-state tuition of $8,832 is in the cheaper quarter of the state, where the published range runs $8,610 to $20,700. Its 33% graduation rate sits against a 24% to 73% spread across the 6 Alabama schools that report one.
It admits 92% of applicants, against 54% to 96% across Alabama. It confers 7 master's degrees a year, 11% of the 62 awarded across Alabama at this level. Residency is worth $10,968 a year here, the gap between the in-state rate and the $19,800 out-of-state rate.
- Physical Education P-12 specialization option
- city campus in Montgomery, Alabama
- $8,832 in-state tuition
- 33% graduation rate
Graduation rate

33%

Admit rate

92%

In-state tuition

$8,832

Out-of-state tuition

$19,800

Cost of attendance

$23,113

Undergrad enrollment

3,325

Degrees conferred

7

View Auburn University at Montgomery's M.Ed. in Kinesiology www.aum.edu

Every Master's in Kinesiology Program in Alabama 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	The University of Alabama	Tuscaloosa	73%	77%	$11,380
02	University of Montevallo	Montevallo	54%	54%	$12,090
03	United States Sports University	Daphne		61%	$20,700
04	University of North Alabama	Florence	55%	87%	$10,200
05	Alabama A & M University	Normal	24%	58%	$8,610
06	Troy University	Troy	50%	96%	$10,176
07	Auburn University at Montgomery	Montgomery	33%	92%	$8,832

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

What Kinesiology Careers Pay in Alabama

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

Exercise Physiologists in Alabama

Alabama median: $50,820
vs national: −$8,640
Employed in AL: 70
10th to 90th: $40,540 – $76,910

Exercise Physiologists in Alabama earn a median of $50,820, $8,640 below the national median of $59,460, across 70 jobs in the state. The bottom tenth earn under $40,540 and the top tenth clear $76,910, so the median is a midpoint rather than an offer.

Every Alabama Occupation This Field Feeds, by Median Wage

Occupation	AL median	vs national	Jobs in AL
Physical Therapists	$97,290	−$5,470	3,040
Occupational Therapists	$94,050	−$6,280	1,500
Physical Therapist Assistants	$61,430	−$6,950	2,700
Recreational Therapists	$57,360	−$4,600	160
Exercise Physiologists	$50,820	−$8,640	70
Athletic Trainers	$46,940	−$15,580	840
Exercise Trainers and Group Fitness Instructors	$39,180	−$7,980	2,680

Of the 7 occupations in this field that BLS prices for Alabama, Physical Therapists pays the most at $97,290 ($5,470 below its national median). It is also the largest of the 7 by employment, at 3,040 jobs in the state. None of the 7 with a national comparison pays above its national median here, which is the single most useful thing to know before committing to staying in Alabama.

BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025.

Other Kinesiology Degree Levels in Alabama

This page ranks master's programs only. Alabama 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 Master's in Kinesiology?

These 7 occupations list this credential, or less, as their typical entry requirement. The other 1 need further study, and each page says what. Figures are Alabama’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 Alabama, 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

Master's in Kinesiology Programs Near Alabama

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

Best Kinesiology Master's Programs in Alabama

What Master's in Kinesiology Programs in Alabama Cost and Who Gets In

All 7 Master's in Kinesiology Programs in Alabama, Ranked (2026)

Rank 1: The University of Alabama

Rank 2: University of Montevallo

Rank 3: United States Sports University

Rank 4: University of North Alabama

Rank 5: Alabama A & M University

Rank 6: Troy University

Rank 7: Auburn University at Montgomery