3 Best Master's in Kinesiology Programs in Missouri

Programs ranked: 3
In-state tuition: $9,000 to $40,200
Avg graduation rate: 41%
Median wage (BLS): $59,460

What Master's in Kinesiology Programs in Missouri 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 3 highest scoring in Missouri. Lindenwood University leads the state with a score of 74.5, which is national rank 83 out of 177. None of the 3 crack the national top 25, so read the scores below rather than assuming a national reputation.

In-state tuition runs from $9,000 to $40,200 across the 3 programs with a published rate. The 3 schools with a published graduation rate average 41%. Average admit rate across the 3 schools publishing one is 70%. Together they conferred 135 master's degrees in the field in the latest IPEDS completions year.

All 3 are private institutions. None carry an online flag in IPEDS, so plan on attending in person.

All 3 Master's in Kinesiology Programs in Missouri, 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: Lindenwood University

Athletic Training, M.S.

Saint Charles, MO · Private nonprofit · city campus

Our score

1st of 3 in Missouri

National rank 83 of 177

A selective, 20-student cohort and a perfect three-year Board of Certification pass rate make Lindenwood's CAATE-accredited Athletic Training MS worth shortlisting for candidates chasing the credential over broad completion odds.

Lindenwood University leads Missouri at 74.5, ahead of the other 2 programs ranked here. In-state tuition of $19,900 is below the state midpoint, where the published range runs $9,000 to $40,200. Its 49% graduation rate sits against a 22% to 52% spread across the 3 Missouri schools that report one.
It admits 57% of applicants, against 57% to 88% across Missouri. It confers 17 master's degrees a year, 13% of the 135 awarded across Missouri at this level. Nationally it is 83rd of the 177 master's programs scored at this level.
- Post-baccalaureate and accelerated 3+2 entry pathways
- Six-semester, two-year on-campus format at St. Charles
- 17 athletic training degrees conferred per year
- CAATE accreditation renewed for a maximum 10-year term
Graduation rate

49%

Admit rate

57%

In-state tuition

$19,900

Out-of-state tuition

$19,900

Cost of attendance

$37,702

Undergrad enrollment

4,663

Degrees conferred

17

View Lindenwood University's Athletic Training, M.S. www.lindenwood.edu
Rank 2: Logan University

M.S. in Sports Science

Chesterfield, MO · Private nonprofit · suburban campus

Our score

2nd of 3 in Missouri

National rank 107 of 177

A weekend, hands-on Sports Emergency Care lab lets Logan's MS/DC students add three chiropractic sports credentials beyond the standard CSCS and ACSM exams that every Sports Science graduate qualifies for.

Logan University places 2nd of 3 in Missouri at 70.7, with 1 program scoring above it. In-state tuition of $9,000 is the lowest in the state, where the published range runs $9,000 to $40,200. Its 22% graduation rate sits against a 22% to 52% spread across the 3 Missouri schools that report one.
It admits 64% of applicants, against 57% to 88% across Missouri. It confers 112 master's degrees a year, 83% of the 135 awarded across Missouri at this level.
- MS/DC dual-degree track
- NSCA-CPT and TSAC-F exam preparation
- 112 degrees conferred each year
- 64% admit rate
Graduation rate

22%

Admit rate

64%

In-state tuition

$9,000

Out-of-state tuition

$9,000

Undergrad enrollment

251

Degrees conferred

112

View Logan University's M.S. in Sports Science www.logan.edu
Rank 3: Avila University

Master of Science in Kinesiology

Kansas City, MO · Private nonprofit · city campus

Our score

3rd of 3 in Missouri

National rank 164 of 177

A 52% graduate rate, in the 32nd percentile among the 177 peer master's programs scored, is the single figure most weighing down Avila's Kinesiology M.S.

Avila University places 3rd of 3 in Missouri at 61.2, with 2 programs scoring above it. In-state tuition of $40,200 is the highest in the state, where the published range runs $9,000 to $40,200. Its 52% graduation rate sits against a 22% to 52% spread across the 3 Missouri schools that report one.
It admits 88% of applicants, against 57% to 88% across Missouri. It confers 6 master's degrees a year, 4% of the 135 awarded across Missouri at this level.
- Eight-week accelerated terms
- NAIA practicum with 16 varsity teams
- ACSM/NSCA-credentialed program director
- $40,200 annual tuition
Graduation rate

52%

Admit rate

88%

In-state tuition

$40,200

Out-of-state tuition

$40,200

Cost of attendance

$56,005

Undergrad enrollment

1,331

Degrees conferred

6

View Avila University's Master of Science in Kinesiology www.avila.edu

Every Master's in Kinesiology Program in Missouri 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	Lindenwood University	Saint Charles	49%	57%	$19,900
02	Logan University	Chesterfield	22%	64%	$9,000
03	Avila University	Kansas City	52%	88%	$40,200

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

What Kinesiology Careers Pay in Missouri

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

Exercise Physiologists in Missouri

Missouri median: $52,570
vs national: −$6,890
Employed in MO: 160
10th to 90th: $46,700 – $69,260

Exercise Physiologists in Missouri earn a median of $52,570, $6,890 below the national median of $59,460, across 160 jobs in the state. The bottom tenth earn under $46,700 and the top tenth clear $69,260, so the median is a midpoint rather than an offer.

Every Missouri Occupation This Field Feeds, by Median Wage

Occupation	MO median	vs national	Jobs in MO
Physical Therapists	$99,310	−$3,450	4,900
Occupational Therapists	$97,290	−$3,040	3,400
Physical Therapist Assistants	$63,770	−$4,610	2,490
Athletic Trainers	$58,660	−$3,860	510
Recreational Therapists	$58,620	−$3,340	140
Exercise Physiologists	$52,570	−$6,890	160
Coaches and Scouts	$42,790	−$4,530	4,730
Exercise Trainers and Group Fitness Instructors	$36,450	−$10,710	5,060

Of the 8 occupations in this field that BLS prices for Missouri, Physical Therapists pays the most at $99,310 ($3,450 below its national median). The largest employer of the 8 is Exercise Trainers and Group Fitness Instructors, at 5,060 jobs in the state paying a median of $36,450. None of the 8 with a national comparison pays above its national median here, which is the single most useful thing to know before committing to staying in Missouri.

BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025.

Other Kinesiology Degree Levels in Missouri

This page ranks master's programs only. Missouri reports programs at other levels too, and each level is compared only with programs at that same level.

Bachelor's Bachelor's in Kinesiology in Missouri 12 programs ranked

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 Missouri’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 Missouri, 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 Missouri

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 Missouri