6 Best Master's in Kinesiology Programs in Tennessee

Programs ranked: 6
In-state tuition: $8,120 to $26,640
Avg graduation rate: 58%
Median wage (BLS): $59,460

What Master's in Kinesiology Programs in Tennessee 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 6 highest scoring in Tennessee. The University of Tennessee-Knoxville leads the state with a score of 91, which is national rank 15 out of 177. One of the 6 also lands in the national top 25.

In-state tuition runs from $8,120 to $26,640 across the 6 programs with a published rate. The 6 schools with a published graduation rate average 58%. Average admit rate across the 6 schools publishing one is 66%. Together they conferred 43 master's degrees in the field in the latest IPEDS completions year.

4 of the 6 are public institutions and 2 are private. One is flagged as offering an online option.

All 6 Master's in Kinesiology Programs in Tennessee, 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: The University of Tennessee-Knoxville

Master's in Exercise Science and Kinesiology

Knoxville, TN · Public · city campus

Our score

1st of 6 in Tennessee

National rank 15 of 177

A direct line from this master's into the department's own Kinesiology and Sport Studies PhD, sharing the same concentration structure, is what distinguishes the pathway here.

The University of Tennessee-Knoxville leads Tennessee at 91, ahead of the other 5 programs ranked here. In-state tuition of $11,560 is in the cheaper quarter of the state, where the published range runs $8,120 to $26,640. Its 74% graduation rate sits against a 46% to 74% spread across the 6 Tennessee schools that report one. It admits 42% of applicants, against 42% to 86% across Tennessee.
It confers 15 master's degrees a year, 35% of the 43 awarded across Tennessee at this level. Residency is worth $19,144 a year here, the gap between the in-state rate and the $30,704 out-of-state rate. Nationally it is 15th of the 177 master's programs scored at this level.
- Kinesiology concentration spans biomechanics to sport psychology
- Sport management specialization within Sport Studies
- 24 doctoral credit hours beyond the master's level
- 42% admit rate
Graduation rate

74%

Admit rate

42%

In-state tuition

$11,560

Out-of-state tuition

$30,704

Cost of attendance

$35,064

Undergrad enrollment

30,564

Degrees conferred

15

View University of Tennessee-Knoxville's Master's in Exercise Science and Kinesiology www.utk.edu
Rank 2: Middle Tennessee State University

Exercise Physiology, M.S.

Murfreesboro, TN · Public · city campus

Our score

2nd of 6 in Tennessee

National rank 76 of 177

MTSU's STEM-designated MS in Exercise Physiology runs a 36-credit-hour non-thesis track built around an internship and certification prep for the CSCS, NSCA-CPT and NASM-CES exams, alongside a 33-to-36-credit thesis option.

Middle Tennessee State University places 2nd of 6 in Tennessee at 75.5, with 1 program scoring above it. In-state tuition of $8,204 is in the cheaper quarter of the state, where the published range runs $8,120 to $26,640. Its 54% graduation rate sits against a 46% to 74% spread across the 6 Tennessee schools that report one.
It admits 69% of applicants, against 42% to 86% across Tennessee. It confers 6 master's degrees a year, 14% of the 43 awarded across Tennessee at this level. Residency is worth $21,308 a year here, the gap between the in-state rate and the $29,512 out-of-state rate.
- STEM-designated exercise physiology degree
- Thesis or non-thesis with internship tracks
- Certification prep for CSCS, NSCA-CPT, NASM-CES
- On-ground format only
Graduation rate

54%

Admit rate

69%

In-state tuition

$8,204

Out-of-state tuition

$29,512

Cost of attendance

$29,482

Undergrad enrollment

18,042

Degrees conferred

6

View MTSU's Exercise Physiology, M.S. www.mtsu.edu
Rank 3: Freed-Hardeman University

Master of Science in Exercise Science and Rehabilitation

Henderson, TN · Private nonprofit · town campus

Our score

3rd of 6 in Tennessee

National rank 85 of 177

Freed-Hardeman's exercise science and rehabilitation master's runs entirely online with a built-in five-year path from a kinesiology bachelor's, and it scores within a point of Middle Tennessee State's 75.5.

Freed-Hardeman University places 3rd of 6 in Tennessee at 74.3, with 2 programs scoring above it. In-state tuition of $25,620 is in the dearer quarter of the state, where the published range runs $8,120 to $26,640. Its 71% graduation rate sits against a 46% to 74% spread across the 6 Tennessee schools that report one.
It admits 60% of applicants, against 42% to 86% across Tennessee. It confers 1 master's degrees a year, 2% of the 43 awarded across Tennessee at this level.
- Kinesiology faculty led by Dr. Jana Meninno
- TOEFL minimum score of 61, internet-based
- Prerequisite: 8 semester hours of anatomy and physiology
- Special permission pathway for qualifying seniors
Graduation rate

71%

Admit rate

60%

In-state tuition

$25,620

Out-of-state tuition

$25,620

Cost of attendance

$39,410

Undergrad enrollment

1,873

Degrees conferred

1

View Freed-Hardeman University's Master of Science in Exercise Science and Rehabilitation www.fhu.edu
Rank 4: University of Memphis

M.S. in Exercise, Sport & Movement Sciences

Memphis, TN · Public · city campus · online option

Our score

4th of 6 in Tennessee

National rank 99 of 177

Memphis lets students pick a coursework track for clinical and coaching careers or a research track built toward a PhD, though its 51% graduation rate trails the 58% median for the level.

University of Memphis places 4th of 6 in Tennessee at 72.4, with 3 programs scoring above it. In-state tuition of $8,856 is in the cheaper quarter of the state, where the published range runs $8,120 to $26,640. Its 51% graduation rate sits against a 46% to 74% spread across the 6 Tennessee 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 42% to 86% across Tennessee. It confers 10 master's degrees a year, 23% of the 43 awarded across Tennessee at this level. Residency is worth $4,656 a year here, the gap between the in-state rate and the $13,512 out-of-state rate.
- 12 of 36 hours are research methods
- Capstone research: applied project, thesis, or lab residence
- Named labs include Cardiorespiratory/Metabolic and Neuromechanics
- Faculty mentor guides all capstone research
Graduation rate

51%

Admit rate

72%

In-state tuition

$8,856

Out-of-state tuition

$13,512

Cost of attendance

$29,644

Undergrad enrollment

15,770

Degrees conferred

10

View University of Memphis' M.S. in Exercise, Sport & Movement Sciences www.memphis.edu
Rank 5: East Tennessee State University

Master of Science in Sport Science and Coach Education

Johnson City, TN · Public · city campus

Our score

5th of 6 in Tennessee

National rank 117 of 177

The Strength and Conditioning concentration runs entirely online, unlike the in-person Applied Sport Science track built around ETSU's CESSCE center, and our score of 69.5 trails the median for the level of 73.8.

East Tennessee State University places 5th of 6 in Tennessee at 69.5, with 4 programs scoring above it. In-state tuition of $8,120 is the lowest in the state, where the published range runs $8,120 to $26,640. Its 53% graduation rate sits against a 46% to 74% spread across the 6 Tennessee schools that report one.
It admits 86% of applicants, against 42% to 86% across Tennessee. It confers 6 master's degrees a year, 14% of the 43 awarded across Tennessee at this level. Residency is worth $3,510 a year here, the gap between the in-state rate and the $11,630 out-of-state rate.
- Applied Sport Science concentration operates through CESSCE
- Strength and Conditioning track delivered fully online
- 33-credit thesis or 36-credit non-thesis path
- Six kinesiology master's degrees awarded a year
Graduation rate

53%

Admit rate

86%

In-state tuition

$8,120

Out-of-state tuition

$11,630

Cost of attendance

$30,296

Undergrad enrollment

10,829

Degrees conferred

6

View ETSU's Master of Science in Sport Science and Coach Education www.etsu.edu
Rank 6: Cumberland University

Master of Sport and Exercise Science

Lebanon, TN · Private nonprofit · town campus

Our score

6th of 6 in Tennessee

National rank 123 of 177

Cumberland's Master of Sport and Exercise Science admits candidates without a related bachelor's degree and finishes in one to two years of evening or online classes, at a flat $26,640 tuition regardless of residency.

Cumberland University places 6th of 6 in Tennessee at 67.8, with 5 programs scoring above it. In-state tuition of $26,640 is the highest in the state, where the published range runs $8,120 to $26,640. Its 46% graduation rate sits against a 46% to 74% spread across the 6 Tennessee schools that report one.
It admits 67% of applicants, against 42% to 86% across Tennessee. It confers 5 master's degrees a year, 12% of the 43 awarded across Tennessee at this level.
- Stand-alone M.S.E.S. since 2017, grew from 2012 MSEP
- Coursework aligned with ACSM and NSCA standards
- Curriculum spans physiology, psychology and sports administration
- 5 degrees conferred in the field a year
Graduation rate

46%

Admit rate

67%

In-state tuition

$26,640

Out-of-state tuition

$26,640

Cost of attendance

$46,220

Undergrad enrollment

2,745

Degrees conferred

5

View Cumberland University's Master of Sport and Exercise Science www.cumberland.edu

Every Master's in Kinesiology Program in Tennessee 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	The University of Tennessee-Knoxville	Knoxville	74%	42%	$11,560
02	Middle Tennessee State University	Murfreesboro	54%	69%	$8,204
03	Freed-Hardeman University	Henderson	71%	60%	$25,620
04	University of Memphis	Memphis	51%	72%	$8,856
05	East Tennessee State University	Johnson City	53%	86%	$8,120
06	Cumberland University	Lebanon	46%	67%	$26,640

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

What Kinesiology Careers Pay in Tennessee

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

Exercise Physiologists in Tennessee

Tennessee median: $53,570
vs national: −$5,890
Employed in TN: 140
10th to 90th: $40,620 – $73,360

Exercise Physiologists in Tennessee earn a median of $53,570, $5,890 below the national median of $59,460, across 140 jobs in the state. The bottom tenth earn under $40,620 and the top tenth clear $73,360, so the median is a midpoint rather than an offer.

Every Tennessee Occupation This Field Feeds, by Median Wage

Occupation	TN median	vs national	Jobs in TN
Physical Therapists	$100,140	−$2,620	4,800
Occupational Therapists	$97,700	−$2,630	2,490
Physical Therapist Assistants	$62,500	−$5,880	3,390
Athletic Trainers	$59,850	−$2,670	580
Exercise Physiologists	$53,570	−$5,890	140
Recreational Therapists	$51,910	−$10,050	150
Exercise Trainers and Group Fitness Instructors	$47,380	+$220	5,080
Coaches and Scouts	$37,780	−$9,540	6,250

Of the 8 occupations in this field that BLS prices for Tennessee, Physical Therapists pays the most at $100,140 ($2,620 below its national median). The largest employer of the 8 is Coaches and Scouts, at 6,250 jobs in the state paying a median of $37,780. 1 of the 8 with a national comparison pays above its national median here.

BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025.

Other Kinesiology Degree Levels in Tennessee

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

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 Tennessee

What Master's in Kinesiology Programs in Tennessee Cost and Who Gets In

All 6 Master's in Kinesiology Programs in Tennessee, Ranked (2026)

Rank 1: The University of Tennessee-Knoxville

Rank 2: Middle Tennessee State University

Rank 3: Freed-Hardeman University

Rank 4: University of Memphis

Rank 5: East Tennessee State University

Rank 6: Cumberland University