Kinesiology Degree Programs

Louisiana · Master's ranking

Best Kinesiology Master's Programs in Louisiana

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
$5,147 to $6,401
Avg graduation rate
53%
Median wage (BLS)
$59,460

What Master's in Kinesiology Programs in Louisiana 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 Louisiana. Louisiana Tech University leads the state with a score of 76.7, which is national rank 67 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 $5,147 to $6,401 across the 4 programs with a published rate. The 4 schools with a published graduation rate average 53%. Average admit rate across the 4 schools publishing one is 87%. Together they conferred 46 master's degrees in the field in the latest IPEDS completions year.

All 4 are public institutions. One is flagged as offering an online option.

All 4 Master's in Kinesiology Programs in Louisiana, 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: Louisiana Tech University

    Master of Science in Kinesiology

    Ruston, LA · Public · town campus

    Our score

    1st of 4 in Louisiana

    National rank 67 of 177

    Students who want a Louisiana-priced, 36-hour Kinesiology master's with a choice between Sports Performance and Sport and Exercise Psychology concentrations will find it at Louisiana Tech.

    Louisiana Tech University leads Louisiana at 76.7, ahead of the other 3 programs ranked here. In-state tuition of $6,401 is the highest in the state, where the published range runs $5,147 to $6,401. Its 64% graduation rate sits against a 45% to 64% spread across the 4 Louisiana schools that report one. It admits 86% of applicants, against 78% to 99% across Louisiana.

    It confers 7 master's degrees a year, 15% of the 46 awarded across Louisiana at this level. Residency is worth $6,741 a year here, the gap between the in-state rate and the $13,142 out-of-state rate. Nationally it is 67th of the 177 master's programs scored at this level.

    • Capstone exam in kinesiology required for degree completion
    • Internship or directed research requirement
    • Thesis option adds 6 hours for research-track students
    • $6,401 in-state tuition
    Graduation rate
    64%
    Admit rate
    86%
    In-state tuition
    $6,401
    Out-of-state tuition
    $13,142
    Cost of attendance
    $24,936
    Undergrad enrollment
    10,881
    Degrees conferred
    7

    View Louisiana Tech University's Master of Science in Kinesiology www.latech.edu

  2. Rank 2: University of Louisiana at Monroe

    M.S. in Exercise Science

    Monroe, LA · Public · city campus · online option

    Our score

    2nd of 4 in Louisiana

    National rank 77 of 177

    Sport Performance, Applied Exercise Science, and a fully online Sport Management concentration give Louisiana-Monroe's kinesiology master's three distinct doors in, producing 14 degrees a year against a median for the level of 9.

    University of Louisiana at Monroe places 2nd of 4 in Louisiana at 75.4, with 1 program scoring above it. In-state tuition of $5,788 is above the state midpoint, where the published range runs $5,147 to $6,401. Its 54% graduation rate sits against a 45% to 64% spread across the 4 Louisiana schools that report one.

    It is also the only one here flagged in IPEDS as offering an online option. It admits 85% of applicants, against 78% to 99% across Louisiana. It confers 14 master's degrees a year, 30% of the 46 awarded across Louisiana at this level.

    • Thesis or non-thesis-plus-internship options in Sport Performance
    • Rehabilitation-focused Applied Exercise Science coursework
    • Housed in the College of Health Sciences
    • $5,788 tuition, in-state and out
    Graduation rate
    54%
    Admit rate
    85%
    In-state tuition
    $5,788
    Out-of-state tuition
    $5,788
    Cost of attendance
    $27,316
    Undergrad enrollment
    6,761
    Degrees conferred
    14

    View University of Louisiana at Monroe's M.S. in Exercise Science www.ulm.edu

  3. Rank 3: McNeese State University

    M.S. in Kinesiology

    Lake Charles, LA · Public · city campus

    Our score

    3rd of 4 in Louisiana

    National rank 116 of 177

    A 47% graduate completion rate, the 17th percentile among 177 peer masters programs, is the biggest reason our score for McNeese sits at 69.6, though tuition undercuts 91% of those peers.

    McNeese State University places 3rd of 4 in Louisiana at 69.6, with 2 programs scoring above it. In-state tuition of $5,147 is the lowest in the state, where the published range runs $5,147 to $6,401. Its 47% graduation rate sits against a 45% to 64% spread across the 4 Louisiana schools that report one.

    It admits 78% of applicants, against 78% to 99% across Louisiana. It confers 15 master's degrees a year, 33% of the 46 awarded across Louisiana at this level. Residency is worth $1,500 a year here, the gap between the in-state rate and the $6,647 out-of-state rate.

    • Health and Wellness Promotion concentration
    • Sports Performance concentration
    • In-person and online delivery
    • $5,147 in-state tuition
    Graduation rate
    47%
    Admit rate
    78%
    In-state tuition
    $5,147
    Out-of-state tuition
    $6,647
    Cost of attendance
    $26,650
    Undergrad enrollment
    5,668
    Degrees conferred
    15

    View MSU's M.S. in Kinesiology www.mcneese.edu

  4. Rank 4: Southeastern Louisiana University

    M.S. in Health and Kinesiology, Exercise Science Concentration

    Hammond, LA · Public · city campus

    Our score

    4th of 4 in Louisiana

    National rank 158 of 177

    The steepest driver of Southeastern Louisiana's 62.1 score is admissions: a 99% acceptance rate at the bottom of its 177 programs at this level.

    Southeastern Louisiana University places 4th of 4 in Louisiana at 62.1, with 3 programs scoring above it. In-state tuition of $5,777 is above the state midpoint, where the published range runs $5,147 to $6,401. Its 45% graduation rate sits against a 45% to 64% spread across the 4 Louisiana schools that report one.

    It admits 99% of applicants, against 78% to 99% across Louisiana. It confers 10 master's degrees a year, 22% of the 46 awarded across Louisiana at this level. Residency is worth $12,478 a year here, the gap between the in-state rate and the $18,255 out-of-state rate.

    • Thesis or non-thesis option
    • Three sibling concentrations: Adapted PE, Health Promotion, Sport Management
    • Graduate assistantships available
    • $5,777 in-state annual tuition
    Graduation rate
    45%
    Admit rate
    99%
    In-state tuition
    $5,777
    Out-of-state tuition
    $18,255
    Cost of attendance
    $25,837
    Undergrad enrollment
    13,192
    Degrees conferred
    10

    View Southeastern Louisiana University's M.S. in Health and Kinesiology, Exercise Science Concentration www.southeastern.edu

Every Master's in Kinesiology Program in Louisiana 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 Louisiana Tech University Ruston 64% 86% $6,401
02 University of Louisiana at Monroe Monroe 54% 85% $5,788
03 McNeese State University Lake Charles 47% 78% $5,147
04 Southeastern Louisiana University Hammond 45% 99% $5,777

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

What Kinesiology Careers Pay in Louisiana

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

Exercise Physiologists in Louisiana

Louisiana median
$52,450
vs national
−$7,010
Employed in LA
40
10th to 90th
$40,410 – $81,330

Exercise Physiologists in Louisiana earn a median of $52,450, $7,010 below the national median of $59,460, across 40 jobs in the state. The bottom tenth earn under $40,410 and the top tenth clear $81,330, so the median is a midpoint rather than an offer.

Every Louisiana Occupation This Field Feeds, by Median Wage

Occupation LA median vs national Jobs in LA
Physical Therapists $98,530 −$4,230 3,280
Occupational Therapists $98,490 −$1,840 2,060
Physical Therapist Assistants $65,370 −$3,010 1,670
Athletic Trainers $62,760 +$240 810
Coaches and Scouts $60,960 +$13,640 2,550
Exercise Physiologists $52,450 −$7,010 40
Recreational Therapists $51,150 −$10,810 190
Exercise Trainers and Group Fitness Instructors $44,410 −$2,750 2,290

Of the 8 occupations in this field that BLS prices for Louisiana, Physical Therapists pays the most at $98,530 ($4,230 below its national median). It is also the largest of the 8 by employment, at 3,280 jobs in the state. 2 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 Louisiana

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

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