Kinesiology Degree Programs

Arkansas · Master's ranking

Best Kinesiology Master's Programs in Arkansas

4 master's programs in exercise science and kinesiology, ranked on graduation rate, admissions selectivity, in-state cost, and field outcomes.

Last updated

Programs ranked
4
In-state tuition
$7,488 to $25,290
Avg graduation rate
62%
Median wage (BLS)
$59,460

What Master's in Kinesiology Programs in Arkansas 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 4 highest scoring in Arkansas. University of Arkansas leads the state with a score of 79.9, which is national rank 49 out of 177. None of the 4 crack the national top 25, so read the scores below rather than assuming a national reputation.

In-state tuition runs from $7,488 to $25,290 across the 4 programs with a published rate. The 4 schools with a published graduation rate average 62%. Average admit rate across the 4 schools publishing one is 79%. Together they conferred 24 master's degrees in the field in the latest IPEDS completions year.

3 of the 4 are public institutions and 1 is private. None carry an online flag in IPEDS, so plan on attending in person.

All 4 Master's in Kinesiology Programs in Arkansas, 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.

  1. Rank 1: University of Arkansas

    M.S. in Exercise Science

    Fayetteville, AR · Public · city campus

    Our score

    1st of 4 in Arkansas

    National rank 49 of 177

    A 71% graduation rate does more to explain Arkansas's score than any other single figure, even though the program confers just 1 degree a year.

    University of Arkansas leads Arkansas at 79.9, ahead of the other 3 programs ranked here. In-state tuition of $7,896 is in the cheaper quarter of the state, where the published range runs $7,488 to $25,290. Its 71% graduation rate sits against a 54% to 71% spread across the 4 Arkansas schools that report one. It admits 74% of applicants, against 71% to 89% across Arkansas.

    It confers 1 master's degrees a year, 4% of the 24 awarded across Arkansas at this level. Residency is worth $19,862 a year here, the gap between the in-state rate and the $27,758 out-of-state rate. Nationally it is 49th of the 177 master's programs scored at this level.

    • ACSM fitness director certification pathway
    • Adapted Movement Science concentration
    • Exercise Science Research Center
    • Departmental and university assistantships
    • $7,896 in-state tuition
    Graduation rate
    71%
    Admit rate
    74%
    In-state tuition
    $7,896
    Out-of-state tuition
    $27,758
    Cost of attendance
    $31,430
    Undergrad enrollment
    28,859
    Degrees conferred
    1

    View University of Arkansas' M.S. in Exercise Science www.uark.edu

  2. Rank 2: Harding University

    Master of Science in Kinesiology and Sport Administration

    Searcy, AR · Private nonprofit · town campus

    Our score

    2nd of 4 in Arkansas

    National rank 54 of 177

    Harding's Master of Science in Kinesiology and Sport Administration requires a 235-hour internship or a thesis, and lets students take up to half the coursework on campus while finishing the rest online.

    Harding University places 2nd of 4 in Arkansas at 78.5, with 1 program scoring above it. In-state tuition of $25,290 is the highest in the state, where the published range runs $7,488 to $25,290. Its 69% graduation rate sits against a 54% to 71% spread across the 4 Arkansas schools that report one.

    It is the only private institution on this list, so its published rate does not split in-state and out-of-state. It admits 71% of applicants, against 71% to 89% across Arkansas. It confers 8 master's degrees a year, 33% of the 24 awarded across Arkansas at this level.

    • 18 hours qualify graduates to teach at the college level
    • Rolling admission across three semesters
    • Christian mission framing for coaching and sport administration
    • $25,290 flat tuition, in-state or out
    • 69% graduation rate
    Graduation rate
    69%
    Admit rate
    71%
    In-state tuition
    $25,290
    Out-of-state tuition
    $25,290
    Cost of attendance
    $39,986
    Undergrad enrollment
    3,536
    Degrees conferred
    8

    View Harding University's Master of Science in Kinesiology and Sport Administration www.harding.edu

  3. Rank 3: Arkansas State University

    Master of Science in Exercise Science

    Jonesboro, AR · Public · city campus

    Our score

    3rd of 4 in Arkansas

    National rank 101 of 177

    Arkansas State's M.S. in Exercise Science pairs ACSM and NSCA certification prep with a graduation rate at the 43rd percentile among master's peers and tuition cheaper than 75% of them.

    Arkansas State University places 3rd of 4 in Arkansas at 72, with 2 programs scoring above it. In-state tuition of $7,488 is the lowest in the state, where the published range runs $7,488 to $25,290. Its 55% graduation rate sits against a 54% to 71% spread across the 4 Arkansas schools that report one.

    It admits 82% of applicants, against 71% to 89% across Arkansas. It confers 6 master's degrees a year, 25% of the 24 awarded across Arkansas at this level. Residency is worth $6,432 a year here, the gap between the in-state rate and the $13,920 out-of-state rate.

    • 33-credit degree requirement
    • Prepares for ACSM and NSCA certifications
    • 82% admit rate
    • 6 exercise science degrees conferred a year
    Graduation rate
    55%
    Admit rate
    82%
    In-state tuition
    $7,488
    Out-of-state tuition
    $13,920
    Cost of attendance
    $27,114
    Undergrad enrollment
    9,985
    Degrees conferred
    6

    View ASU's Master of Science in Exercise Science www.astate.edu

  4. Rank 4: University of Central Arkansas

    Master of Science in Exercise Science

    Conway, AR · Public · city campus

    Our score

    4th of 4 in Arkansas

    National rank 127 of 177

    UCA's exercise science master's, scoring 67.4 against our 73.8 median for the level, fits a candidate eyeing eventual doctoral study through its thesis track.

    University of Central Arkansas places 4th of 4 in Arkansas at 67.4, with 3 programs scoring above it. In-state tuition of $7,500 is the lowest in the state, where the published range runs $7,488 to $25,290. Its 54% graduation rate sits against a 54% to 71% spread across the 4 Arkansas schools that report one.

    It admits 89% of applicants, against 71% to 89% across Arkansas. It confers 9 master's degrees a year, 38% of the 24 awarded across Arkansas at this level. Residency is worth $7,500 a year here, the gap between the in-state rate and the $15,000 out-of-state rate.

    • Non-thesis completion option
    • Exercise physiology, biomechanics and motor control curriculum
    • Department of Exercise and Sport Science
    • $7,500 in-state tuition
    Graduation rate
    54%
    Admit rate
    89%
    In-state tuition
    $7,500
    Out-of-state tuition
    $15,000
    Cost of attendance
    $27,840
    Undergrad enrollment
    8,268
    Degrees conferred
    9

    View University of Central Arkansas' Master of Science in Exercise Science www.uca.edu

Every Master's in Kinesiology Program in Arkansas Compared

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

# School City Grad rate Admit rate In-state Our score
01 University of Arkansas Fayetteville 71% 74% $7,896
02 Harding University Searcy 69% 71% $25,290
03 Arkansas State University Jonesboro 55% 82% $7,488
04 University of Central Arkansas Conway 54% 89% $7,500

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

What Kinesiology Careers Pay in Arkansas

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

Exercise Physiologists in Arkansas

Arkansas median
$48,850
vs national
−$10,610
Employed in AR
40
10th to 90th
$40,800 – $66,890

Exercise Physiologists in Arkansas earn a median of $48,850, $10,610 below the national median of $59,460, across 40 jobs in the state. The bottom tenth earn under $40,800 and the top tenth clear $66,890, so the median is a midpoint rather than an offer.

Every Arkansas Occupation This Field Feeds, by Median Wage

Occupation AR median vs national Jobs in AR
Occupational Therapists $106,360 +$6,030 2,160
Physical Therapists $99,010 −$3,750 2,680
Physical Therapist Assistants $64,520 −$3,860 1,620
Athletic Trainers $57,240 −$5,280 240
Exercise Physiologists $48,850 −$10,610 40
Recreational Therapists $42,670 −$19,290 70
Exercise Trainers and Group Fitness Instructors $42,140 −$5,020 1,390
Coaches and Scouts $38,930 −$8,390 2,070

Of the 8 occupations in this field that BLS prices for Arkansas, Occupational Therapists pays the most at $106,360 ($6,030 above its national median). The largest employer of the 8 is Physical Therapists, at 2,680 jobs in the state paying a median of $99,010. 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 Arkansas

This page ranks master's programs only. Arkansas 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 Arkansas’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 Arkansas, 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 Arkansas

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