3 Best Master's in Kinesiology Programs in West Virginia

Programs ranked: 3
In-state tuition: $7,568 to $11,520
Avg graduation rate: 44%
Median wage (BLS): $59,460

What Master's in Kinesiology Programs in West Virginia 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 West Virginia. West Liberty University leads the state with a score of 62, which is national rank 160 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 $7,568 to $11,520 across the 3 programs with a published rate. The 3 schools with a published graduation rate average 44%. Average admit rate across the 2 schools publishing one is 97%. Together they conferred 11 master's degrees in the field in the latest IPEDS completions year.

2 of the 3 are public institutions and 1 is private. One is for-profit, which is worth weighing against the nonprofit and public options here. One is flagged as offering an online option.

All 3 Master's in Kinesiology Programs in West Virginia, 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: West Liberty University

Master of Science in Exercise Physiology

West Liberty, WV · Public · rural campus

Our score

1st of 3 in West Virginia

National rank 160 of 177

Prospective students who want direct access to a metabolic cart and ECG-equipped lab without a big program price tag should look at West Liberty's Exercise Physiology graduate track, where in-state tuition runs $8,877.

West Liberty University leads West Virginia at 62, ahead of the other 2 programs ranked here. In-state tuition of $8,877 is below the state midpoint, where the published range runs $7,568 to $11,520. Its 60% graduation rate sits against a 20% to 60% spread across the 3 West Virginia schools that report one. It admits 97% of applicants, against 96% to 97% across West Virginia.
It confers 2 master's degrees a year, 18% of the 11 awarded across West Virginia at this level. Residency is worth $8,549 a year here, the gap between the in-state rate and the $17,426 out-of-state rate. Nationally it is 160th of the 177 master's programs scored at this level.
- CoAES accreditation outcomes reporting
- 100% internship pass rate
- Exercise Physiology Lab in Main Hall
- 60% graduation rate
Graduation rate

60%

Admit rate

97%

In-state tuition

$8,877

Out-of-state tuition

$17,426

Cost of attendance

$26,835

Undergrad enrollment

1,934

Degrees conferred

2

View West Liberty University's Master of Science in Exercise Physiology www.westliberty.edu
Rank 2: Marshall University

M.S. in Exercise Science

Huntington, WV · Public · city campus

Our score

2nd of 3 in West Virginia

National rank 161 of 177

Marshall's M.S. in Exercise Science trains for ACSM and NSCA certification in its own Exercise Physiology Laboratories, scoring within 0.2 points of West Liberty's 62 despite a far larger enrollment.

Marshall University places 2nd of 3 in West Virginia at 61.8, with 1 program scoring above it. In-state tuition of $7,568 is the lowest in the state, where the published range runs $7,568 to $11,520. Its 51% graduation rate sits against a 20% to 60% spread across the 3 West Virginia schools that report one.
It admits 96% of applicants, against 96% to 97% across West Virginia. It confers 3 master's degrees a year, 27% of the 11 awarded across West Virginia at this level. Residency is worth $11,180 a year here, the gap between the in-state rate and the $18,748 out-of-state rate.
- Cardiometabolic Rehabilitation concentration
- Physician-referred clinical exercise center
- 4- to 6-semester part-time option
- $7,568 in-state tuition
Graduation rate

51%

Admit rate

96%

In-state tuition

$7,568

Out-of-state tuition

$18,748

Cost of attendance

$27,754

Undergrad enrollment

9,146

Degrees conferred

3

View Marshall University's M.S. in Exercise Science www.marshall.edu
Rank 3: Salem University

Master of Science in Health and Human Performance (MSHHP)

Salem, WV · Private for-profit · rural campus · online option

Our score

3rd of 3 in West Virginia

National rank 176 of 177

Just one in five Salem University students completes a degree, a completion mark that anchors its MSHHP score at 54.7 among the 177 programs scored at this level.

Salem University places 3rd of 3 in West Virginia at 54.7, with 2 programs scoring above it. In-state tuition of $11,520 is the highest in the state, where the published range runs $7,568 to $11,520. Its 20% graduation rate sits against a 20% to 60% spread across the 3 West Virginia schools that report one.
It is the only private institution on this list, so its published rate does not split in-state and out-of-state. It is also the only one here flagged in IPEDS as offering an online option. It confers 6 master's degrees a year, 55% of the 11 awarded across West Virginia at this level.
- 36-credit MSHHP curriculum
- NSCA CSCS-aligned Strength and Conditioning track
- Sports Coaching Education specialization
- $11,520 annual tuition
Graduation rate

20%

In-state tuition

$11,520

Out-of-state tuition

$11,520

Cost of attendance

$23,260

Undergrad enrollment

892

Degrees conferred

6

View Salem University's Master of Science in Health and Human Performance (MSHHP) www.salemu.edu

Every Master's in Kinesiology Program in West Virginia 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	West Liberty University	West Liberty	60%	97%	$8,877
02	Marshall University	Huntington	51%	96%	$7,568
03	Salem University	Salem	20%		$11,520

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

What Kinesiology Careers Pay in West Virginia

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

Exercise Physiologists in West Virginia

West Virginia median: $50,270
vs national: −$9,190
Employed in WV: 60
10th to 90th: $47,290 – $75,400

Exercise Physiologists in West Virginia earn a median of $50,270, $9,190 below the national median of $59,460, across 60 jobs in the state. The bottom tenth earn under $47,290 and the top tenth clear $75,400, so the median is a midpoint rather than an offer.

Every West Virginia Occupation This Field Feeds, by Median Wage

Occupation	WV median	vs national	Jobs in WV
Physical Therapists	$96,600	−$6,160	1,310
Occupational Therapists	$96,190	−$4,140	700
Physical Therapist Assistants	$60,430	−$7,950	980
Coaches and Scouts	$52,050	+$4,730	910
Athletic Trainers	$50,510	−$12,010	110
Exercise Physiologists	$50,270	−$9,190	60
Recreational Therapists	$49,010	−$12,950	130
Exercise Trainers and Group Fitness Instructors	$38,120	−$9,040	500

Of the 8 occupations in this field that BLS prices for West Virginia, Physical Therapists pays the most at $96,600 ($6,160 below its national median). It is also the largest of the 8 by employment, at 1,310 jobs in the state. 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 West Virginia

This page ranks master's programs only. West Virginia 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 West Virginia’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 West Virginia, 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 West Virginia

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 West Virginia