3 Best Master's in Kinesiology Programs in New York

Programs ranked: 3
In-state tuition: $7,070 to $32,200
Avg graduation rate: 63%
Median wage (BLS): $59,460

What Master's in Kinesiology Programs in New York 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 New York. State University of New York at Cortland leads the state with a score of 81.4, which is national rank 40 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 $7,070 to $32,200 across the 3 programs with a published rate. The 3 schools with a published graduation rate average 63%. Average admit rate across the 2 schools publishing one is 66%. Together they conferred 25 master's degrees in the field in the latest IPEDS completions year.

1 of the 3 is a public institution and 2 are private. One is flagged as offering an online option.

All 3 Master's in Kinesiology Programs in New York, 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: State University of New York at Cortland

Master of Science in Exercise Science

Cortland, NY · Public · town campus

Our score

1st of 3 in New York

National rank 40 of 177

SUNY Cortland's exercise science M.S. lets candidates swap a six-credit thesis for a one-credit comprehensive exam, then finish most coursework in evening sections built for students working full time.

State University of New York at Cortland leads New York at 81.4, ahead of the other 2 programs ranked here. In-state tuition of $7,070 is the lowest in the state, where the published range runs $7,070 to $32,200. Its 68% graduation rate sits against a 55% to 68% spread across the 3 New York schools that report one. It is the only public option among them, which is where the in-state rate above comes from.
It admits 60% of applicants, against 60% to 72% across New York. It confers 3 master's degrees a year, 12% of the 25 awarded across New York at this level. Residency is worth $9,910 a year here, the gap between the in-state rate and the $16,980 out-of-state rate. Nationally it is 40th of the 177 master's programs scored at this level.
- Completed in three to four semesters
- Two-semester capstone seminar requirement
- GPA 3.0 admissions preference
- Independent research or internship option
- 68% graduation rate
Graduation rate

68%

Admit rate

60%

In-state tuition

$7,070

Out-of-state tuition

$16,980

Cost of attendance

$28,684

Undergrad enrollment

5,911

Degrees conferred

3

View State University of New York at Cortland's Master of Science in Exercise Science www2.cortland.edu
Rank 2: Canisius University

M.S. in Exercise Science

Buffalo, NY · Private nonprofit · city campus · online option

Our score

2nd of 3 in New York

National rank 75 of 177

Canisius' 66% graduation rate, eight points above the 58% median across its 177 comparable programs, does more to explain the score than any other single figure.

Canisius University places 2nd of 3 in New York at 75.8, with 1 program scoring above it. In-state tuition of $32,200 is the highest in the state, where the published range runs $7,070 to $32,200. Its 66% graduation rate sits against a 55% to 68% spread across the 3 New York schools that report one.
It is also the only one here flagged in IPEDS as offering an online option. It admits 72% of applicants, against 60% to 72% across New York. It confers 6 master's degrees a year, 24% of the 25 awarded across New York at this level.
- Fully online, 33-credit format finished in 1 to 2 years
- Curriculum aligned to NASM's PES, CES, and BCS certification exams
- Coursework preparing for the NSCA CSCS exam
- Internship placements with the Buffalo Bills and Roswell Park
Graduation rate

66%

Admit rate

72%

In-state tuition

$32,200

Out-of-state tuition

$32,200

Cost of attendance

$50,830

Undergrad enrollment

1,724

Degrees conferred

6

View Canisius University's M.S. in Exercise Science www.canisius.edu
Rank 3: St. Francis College

Exercise and Sport Science, M.S.

Brooklyn, NY · Private nonprofit · city campus

Our score

3rd of 3 in New York

National rank 109 of 177

St. Francis reports only three of five figures our model uses, and that thin federal record, not the capstone and practicum sequence, holds our score near the 73.8 median at 70.4.

St. Francis College places 3rd of 3 in New York at 70.4, with 2 programs scoring above it. In-state tuition of $28,425 is in the dearer quarter of the state, where the published range runs $7,070 to $32,200.
Its 55% graduation rate sits against a 55% to 68% spread across the 3 New York schools that report one. It confers 16 master's degrees a year, 64% of the 25 awarded across New York at this level.
- Strength and conditioning core course
- Four elective courses beyond the core
- $28,700 minimum funds required for international applicants
- Brooklyn campus setting
Graduation rate

55%

In-state tuition

$28,425

Out-of-state tuition

$28,425

Cost of attendance

$53,575

Undergrad enrollment

1,719

Degrees conferred

16

View St. Francis College's Exercise and Sport Science, M.S. www.sfc.edu

Every Master's in Kinesiology Program in New York 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	State University of New York at Cortland	Cortland	68%	60%	$7,070
02	Canisius University	Buffalo	66%	72%	$32,200
03	St. Francis College	Brooklyn	55%		$28,425

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

What Kinesiology Careers Pay in New York

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

Exercise Physiologists in New York

New York median: $59,940
vs national: +$480
Employed in NY: 360
10th to 90th: $53,610 – $107,800

Exercise Physiologists in New York earn a median of $59,940, $480 above the national median of $59,460, across 360 jobs in the state. The bottom tenth earn under $53,610 and the top tenth clear $107,800, so the median is a midpoint rather than an offer.

Every New York Occupation This Field Feeds, by Median Wage

Occupation	NY median	vs national	Jobs in NY
Physical Therapists	$100,660	−$2,100	20,940
Occupational Therapists	$96,390	−$3,940	11,690
Athletic Trainers	$66,230	+$3,710	1,370
Recreational Therapists	$65,520	+$3,560	1,230
Physical Therapist Assistants	$64,100	−$4,280	3,620
Exercise Physiologists	$59,940	+$480	360
Coaches and Scouts	$59,920	+$12,600	11,220
Exercise Trainers and Group Fitness Instructors	$47,090	−$70	20,140

Of the 8 occupations in this field that BLS prices for New York, Physical Therapists pays the most at $100,660 ($2,100 below its national median). It is also the largest of the 8 by employment, at 20,940 jobs in the state. 4 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 New York

This page ranks master's programs only. New York 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 New York’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 New York, 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 New York

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 New York