2 Best Master's in Kinesiology Programs in Colorado

Programs ranked: 2
In-state tuition: $9,047 to $10,610
Avg graduation rate: 59%
Median wage (BLS): $59,460

What Master's in Kinesiology Programs in Colorado 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 2 highest scoring in Colorado. Colorado State University-Fort Collins leads the state with a score of 74.8, which is national rank 81 out of 177. None of the 2 crack the national top 25, so read the scores below rather than assuming a national reputation.

In-state tuition runs from $9,047 to $10,610 across the 2 programs with a published rate. The 2 schools with a published graduation rate average 59%. Average admit rate across the 2 schools publishing one is 88%. Together they conferred 55 master's degrees 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 Master's in Kinesiology Programs in Colorado, 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: Colorado State University-Fort Collins

M.S. in Health and Exercise Science

Fort Collins, CO · Public · city campus

Our score

1st of 2 in Colorado

National rank 81 of 177

Nine in ten applicants get into Colorado State's Health and Exercise Science program, and that 89% admit rate costs the score more than any other single input.

Colorado State University-Fort Collins leads Colorado at 74.8, ahead of the one other program ranked here. In-state tuition of $10,610 is the highest in the state, where the published range runs $9,047 to $10,610. Its 67% graduation rate sits against a 51% to 67% spread across the 2 Colorado schools that report one. It admits 89% of applicants, against 86% to 89% across Colorado.
It confers 5 master's degrees a year, 9% of the 55 awarded across Colorado at this level. Residency is worth $21,688 a year here, the gap between the in-state rate and the $32,298 out-of-state rate. Nationally it is 81st of the 177 master's programs scored at this level.
- Collaboration with the Colorado School of Public Health
- Ph.D. in Human Bioenergetics in the same department
- Virtual Wellness Programming certificate
- 34,096 total institutional enrollment
Graduation rate

67%

Admit rate

89%

In-state tuition

$10,610

Out-of-state tuition

$32,298

Cost of attendance

$34,684

Undergrad enrollment

26,221

Degrees conferred

5

View Colorado State University-Fort Collins' M.S. in Health and Exercise Science colostate.edu
Rank 2: University of Northern Colorado

Kinesiology M.S.

Greeley, CO · Public · city campus

Our score

2nd of 2 in Colorado

National rank 118 of 177

Five master's degrees, including this one in kinesiology, sit inside UNC's Sport and Exercise Science area, with a direct path into the department's Sport Administration and Kinesiology Ph.D.

University of Northern Colorado places 2nd of 2 in Colorado at 69.3, with 1 program scoring above it. In-state tuition of $9,047 is the lowest in the state, where the published range runs $9,047 to $10,610. Its 51% graduation rate sits against a 51% to 67% spread across the 2 Colorado schools that report one.
It admits 86% of applicants, against 86% to 89% across Colorado. It confers 50 master's degrees a year, 91% of the 55 awarded across Colorado at this level. Residency is worth $15,078 a year here, the gap between the in-state rate and the $24,125 out-of-state rate.
- Sport Coaching graduate certificate
- Athletic Training M.S. offered alongside it
- 50 degrees conferred each year
- 86% admit rate
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

50

View University of Northern Colorado's Kinesiology M.S. www.unco.edu

Every Master's in Kinesiology Program in Colorado 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	Colorado State University-Fort Collins	Fort Collins	67%	89%	$10,610
02	University of Northern Colorado	Greeley	51%	86%	$9,047

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

What Kinesiology Careers Pay in Colorado

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

Exercise Physiologists in Colorado

Colorado median: $63,800
vs national: +$4,340
Employed in CO: 370
10th to 90th: $45,210 – $75,350

Exercise Physiologists in Colorado earn a median of $63,800, $4,340 above the national median of $59,460, across 370 jobs in the state. The bottom tenth earn under $45,210 and the top tenth clear $75,350, so the median is a midpoint rather than an offer.

Every Colorado Occupation This Field Feeds, by Median Wage

Occupation	CO median	vs national	Jobs in CO
Occupational Therapists	$106,720	+$6,390	3,390
Physical Therapists	$102,030	−$730	5,630
Recreational Therapists	$66,580	+$4,620	200
Physical Therapist Assistants	$64,810	−$3,570	1,350
Athletic Trainers	$64,580	+$2,060	380
Exercise Physiologists	$63,800	+$4,340	370
Exercise Trainers and Group Fitness Instructors	$49,900	+$2,740	10,500
Coaches and Scouts	$47,110	−$210	4,120

Of the 8 occupations in this field that BLS prices for Colorado, Occupational Therapists pays the most at $106,720 ($6,390 above its national median). The largest employer of the 8 is Exercise Trainers and Group Fitness Instructors, at 10,500 jobs in the state paying a median of $49,900. 5 of the 8 with a national comparison pay above their national medians here.

BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025.

Other Kinesiology Degree Levels in Colorado

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

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 Colorado