- Programs ranked
- 2
- In-state tuition
- $8,356 to $10,700
- Avg graduation rate
- 63%
- Median wage (BLS)
- $59,460
What Master's in Kinesiology Programs in South Carolina 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 South Carolina. Citadel Military College of South Carolina leads the state with a score of 84.2, which is national rank 29 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 $8,356 to $10,700 across the 2 programs with a published rate. The 2 schools with a published graduation rate average 63%. Average admit rate across the 2 schools publishing one is 52%. Together they conferred 4 master's degrees in the field in the latest IPEDS completions year.
All 2 are public institutions. One is flagged as offering an online option.
All 2 Master's in Kinesiology Programs in South Carolina, 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.
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Rank 1: Citadel Military College of South Carolina
Master's in Exercise Science and Kinesiology
Charleston, SC · Public · city campus
Our score
1st of 2 in South Carolina
National rank 29 of 177
Trading The Citadel's cadet corps for evening or online classes gets candidates a 23% admit rate and a research lab built around concussion and mouthpiece studies.
Citadel Military College of South Carolina leads South Carolina at 84.2, ahead of the one other program ranked here. In-state tuition of $8,356 is the lowest in the state, where the published range runs $8,356 to $10,700. Its 75% graduation rate sits against a 50% to 75% spread across the 2 South Carolina schools that report one. It admits 23% of applicants, against 23% to 81% across South Carolina.
It confers 3 master's degrees a year, 75% of the 4 awarded across South Carolina at this level. Residency is worth $25,182 a year here, the gap between the in-state rate and the $33,538 out-of-state rate. Nationally it is 29th of the 177 master's programs scored at this level.
- Dr. Hank Cross Human Performance Laboratory
- Summer medical camp treats 5,000+ patients
- Department serves about 40 graduate students
- 75% graduation rate
- $8,356 in-state tuition
- Graduation rate
- 75%
- Admit rate
- 23%
- In-state tuition
- $8,356
- Out-of-state tuition
- $33,538
- Cost of attendance
- $34,464
- Undergrad enrollment
- 2,737
- Degrees conferred
- 3
View Citadel Military College of South Carolina's Master's in Exercise Science and Kinesiology citadel.edu
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Rank 2: Lander University
M.S. in Exercise Science
Greenwood, SC · Public · town campus · online option
Our score
2nd of 2 in South Carolina
National rank 143 of 177
Lander's M.S. in Exercise Science suits a fitness or rehab professional who already has two semesters of anatomy and physiology and wants NSCA Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist prep built into the curriculum.
Lander University places 2nd of 2 in South Carolina at 65.1, with 1 program scoring above it. In-state tuition of $10,700 is the highest in the state, where the published range runs $8,356 to $10,700. Its 50% graduation rate sits against a 50% to 75% spread across the 2 South Carolina schools that report one. It is also the only one here flagged in IPEDS as offering an online option.
It admits 81% of applicants, against 23% to 81% across South Carolina. It confers 1 master's degrees a year, 25% of the 4 awarded across South Carolina at this level. Residency is worth $9,600 a year here, the gap between the in-state rate and the $20,300 out-of-state rate.
- Clinical Exercise Physiology concentration for cardiac rehab and physiotherapy
- Fall-start cohort, spring admission case by case
- Bachelor's degree required from an accredited institution
- Sport Performance and Rehabilitation concentration for coaches and personal trainers
- Graduation rate
- 50%
- Admit rate
- 81%
- In-state tuition
- $10,700
- Out-of-state tuition
- $20,300
- Cost of attendance
- $29,555
- Undergrad enrollment
- 3,776
- Degrees conferred
- 1
View Lander University's M.S. in Exercise Science www.lander.edu
Every Master's in Kinesiology Program in South Carolina 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 | Citadel Military College of South Carolina | Charleston | 75% | 23% | $8,356 | |
| 02 | Lander University | Greenwood | 50% | 81% | $10,700 | |
A blank cell means the institution did not file that figure with IPEDS.
What Kinesiology Careers Pay in South Carolina
Occupational medians for everyone in the job, not starting pay and not outcomes for any one program.
Exercise Physiologists in South Carolina
- South Carolina median
- $46,550
- vs national
- −$12,910
- Employed in SC
- 230
- 10th to 90th
- $32,100 – $64,420
Exercise Physiologists in South Carolina earn a median of $46,550, $12,910 below the national median of $59,460, across 230 jobs in the state. The bottom tenth earn under $32,100 and the top tenth clear $64,420, so the median is a midpoint rather than an offer.
Every South Carolina Occupation This Field Feeds, by Median Wage
| Occupation | SC median | vs national | Jobs in SC |
|---|---|---|---|
| Physical Therapists | $101,330 | −$1,430 | 3,930 |
| Occupational Therapists | $101,130 | +$800 | 1,840 |
| Physical Therapist Assistants | $70,500 | +$2,120 | 1,870 |
| Athletic Trainers | $59,240 | −$3,280 | 530 |
| Recreational Therapists | $48,880 | −$13,080 | 190 |
| Exercise Physiologists | $46,550 | −$12,910 | 230 |
| Exercise Trainers and Group Fitness Instructors | $43,630 | −$3,530 | 5,130 |
| Coaches and Scouts | $42,950 | −$4,370 | 3,310 |
Of the 8 occupations in this field that BLS prices for South Carolina, Physical Therapists pays the most at $101,330 ($1,430 below its national median). The largest employer of the 8 is Exercise Trainers and Group Fitness Instructors, at 5,130 jobs in the state paying a median of $43,630. 2 of the 8 with a national comparison pay above their national medians here.
Other Kinesiology Degree Levels in South Carolina
This page ranks master's programs only. South Carolina 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 South Carolina’s own BLS medians where published.
- Physical Therapist$101,330 median in South Carolina · needs doctoral degree
- Occupational Therapist$101,130 median in South Carolina · reachable at this level
- Physical Therapist Assistant$70,500 median in South Carolina · reachable at this level
- Athletic Trainer$59,240 median in South Carolina · reachable at this level
- Recreational Therapist$48,880 median in South Carolina · reachable at this level
- Exercise Physiologist$46,550 median in South Carolina · reachable at this level
- Fitness Trainer or Group Instructor$43,630 median in South Carolina · reachable at this level
- Coach or Scout$42,950 median in South Carolina · reachable at this level
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 South Carolina, 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 South Carolina
The same ranking, filtered to one state at a time. The number is how many programs that state ranks.