A price-first comparison
How We Ranked Affordable Online Kinesiology Master’s Programs
We started with master’s-level programs in federal CIP 31.0505, Kinesiology and Exercise Science, that the federal data flags as available online. Each program then needed a numeric annual tuition of at least $2,000 and a school page confirming a master’s in the field with online delivery. Programs that are hybrid only were left out.
The programs are sorted from lowest to highest published tuition. At public schools that is the in-state rate, and the out-of-state rate appears beside it. If two programs publish the same rate, the higher program score comes first. This is a cost ranking, not the broader quality score; our methodology page explains that score and its limits.
2026 ranking
9 Most Affordable Online Kinesiology Master’s Programs
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Rank 1: University of North Carolina at Greensboro
Online Master’s in Kinesiology
Greensboro, NC · Public
In-state tuition
$4,422
- Rank by price
- 1 of 9
- Out-of-state tuition
- $20,773
- Graduation rate
- 56%
- Degrees conferred
- 22
UNCG offers a dedicated online master’s in kinesiology, listed by the university with a sport and exercise psychology focus. The gap between its in-state and out-of-state rates is wide, so a North Carolina resident gets the most from it. Confirm how the school bills online students before you count on either figure, and compare it with East Carolina, also in North Carolina.
View University of North Carolina at Greensboro’s Online Master’s in Kinesiology page University of North Carolina at Greensboro website
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Rank 2: East Carolina University
Kinesiology, M.S.
Greenville, NC · Public
In-state tuition
$4,452
- Rank by price
- 2 of 9
- Out-of-state tuition
- $20,729
- Graduation rate
- 63%
- Degrees conferred
- 31
East Carolina’s M.S. in Kinesiology runs on campus and online with four concentrations: Biomechanics and Motor Control, Exercise Physiology, Physical Education Pedagogy, and Sport and Exercise Psychology. Pick a thesis, a non-thesis route, or a licensure option for teachers, with at least 36 semester hours. Graduate assistantships for teaching and research can lower the real cost of a program already priced low.
View East Carolina University’s Kinesiology, M.S. page East Carolina University website
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Rank 3: University of Louisiana at Monroe
Exercise Science, M.S.
Monroe, LA · Public
In-state tuition
$5,788
- Rank by price
- 3 of 9
- Out-of-state tuition
- $5,788
- Graduation rate
- 54%
- Degrees conferred
- 14
ULM’s M.S. in Exercise Science mixes face-to-face and online courses, and only the Sport Management concentration is listed as fully online, so check which concentration you want. Sport Performance is 36 hours and Applied Exercise Science covers anatomy, physiology, biochemistry and biomechanics. Choose a non-thesis route with an internship or a thesis. The published rate is the same for residents and non-residents.
View University of Louisiana at Monroe’s Exercise Science, M.S. page University of Louisiana at Monroe website
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Rank 4: Sam Houston State University
Kinesiology (Sport and Human Performance), M.S.
Huntsville, TX · Public
In-state tuition
$5,856
- Rank by price
- 4 of 9
- Out-of-state tuition
- $15,696
- Graduation rate
- 55%
- Degrees conferred
- 13
Sam Houston State describes its M.S. in Kinesiology, Sport and Human Performance, as 100 percent online with optional on-campus lab days, alongside online live, hybrid and face-to-face classes. It runs 30 to 36 credit hours with thesis or non-thesis completion. The page names personal trainer, corporate wellness coordinator, team consultant and clinical practitioner roles, and lists fall, spring and summer deadlines.
View Sam Houston State University’s Kinesiology (Sport and Human Performance), M.S. page Sam Houston State University website
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Rank 5: The University of Texas at Tyler
Kinesiology, M.S.
Tyler, TX · Public
In-state tuition
$7,020
- Rank by price
- 5 of 9
- Out-of-state tuition
- $22,020
- Graduation rate
- 54%
- Degrees conferred
- 4
UT Tyler lists an M.S. in Kinesiology through its Department of Health and Kinesiology, with an online option. The department says graduate study is commonly used to advance a career or prepare for doctoral work, and it posts thesis policies and forms for students who choose that route. Ask the department how many courses can be taken online, since the page describes an option rather than a fully online plan.
View The University of Texas at Tyler’s Kinesiology, M.S. page The University of Texas at Tyler website
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Rank 6: University of Wisconsin-Whitewater
Applied Kinesiology, M.S.
Whitewater, WI · Public
In-state tuition
$7,119
- Rank by price
- 6 of 9
- Out-of-state tuition
- $17,219
- Graduation rate
- 59%
- Degrees conferred
- 6
UW-Whitewater’s M.S. in Applied Kinesiology is fully online and asynchronous with no campus visits. It is 30 credits, can be finished in as few as three semesters, and prepares students for the ACSM exercise physiologist certification. The 2026-27 rates posted by the school are $666.32 per credit for Wisconsin residents and $1,280.77 for non-residents, so residency changes the bill a great deal.
View University of Wisconsin-Whitewater’s Applied Kinesiology, M.S. page University of Wisconsin-Whitewater website
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Rank 7: Pennsylvania Western University
Exercise Science and Health Promotion, M.S.
California, PA · Public
In-state tuition
$7,716
- Rank by price
- 7 of 9
- Out-of-state tuition
- $11,574
- Graduation rate
- 52%
- Degrees conferred
- 151
PennWest delivers its M.S. in Exercise Science and Health Promotion 100 percent online and says it can be completed in as little as 11 months. The program is designed for working professionals, and the program page advertises converting professional experience and certifications into course credit. Ask how that works at the master’s level, because every credit you skip lowers the final bill.
View Pennsylvania Western University’s Exercise Science and Health Promotion, M.S. page Pennsylvania Western University website
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Rank 8: University of Southern Mississippi
Kinesiology (Exercise Science), M.S.
Hattiesburg, MS · Public
In-state tuition
$9,888
- Rank by price
- 8 of 9
- Out-of-state tuition
- $11,888
- Graduation rate
- 49%
- Degrees conferred
- 12
Southern Mississippi lists its Kinesiology (Exercise Science) M.S. as 100 percent online, next to a Coaching and Sport Performance M.S. that is also offered online. Exercise science students are prepared for cardiac rehabilitation and health settings. Competitive graduate assistantships waive general tuition and non-resident fees, so a funded student could pay far less than the published rate.
View University of Southern Mississippi’s Kinesiology (Exercise Science), M.S. page University of Southern Mississippi website
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Rank 9: Lander University
Exercise Science, M.S.
Greenwood, SC · Public
In-state tuition
$10,700
- Rank by price
- 9 of 9
- Out-of-state tuition
- $20,300
- Graduation rate
- 50%
- Degrees conferred
- 1
Lander’s M.S. in Exercise Science is delivered online through its College of Graduate and Online Studies with two concentrations: Sport Performance and Rehabilitation, which aligns with CSCS exam preparation, and Clinical Exercise Physiology. Admission needs a bachelor’s degree and Anatomy and Physiology I and II with labs, eight credit hours in all, so career changers may have to finish prerequisites first.
View Lander University’s Exercise Science, M.S. page Lander University website
What You Will Really Pay for Graduate Study Online
The rate shown is the federal annual tuition figure. It leaves out fees, books, technology charges and any on-campus lab days. It also does not subtract assistantships, grants or employer tuition benefits, which can matter more than a few hundred dollars between two programs.
Residency is the biggest swing. One program here charges the same published rate to everyone, while most public programs charge non-residents far more than residents. For an online student, the school’s own online price schedule decides which rate applies, so get it in writing. Our kinesiology degree cost guide explains the residency gap in detail.
Questions to Ask Before You Apply
- Is every course online, or only some of them? Do labs or practicums require a campus visit?
- What does a student from my state pay per credit, and how many credits does the degree need?
- Are graduate assistantships or tuition waivers open to online students?
- Which concentration prepares me for the credential I want, such as the CSCS or an ACSM certification?
- Which prerequisite courses do I need before I start?
To see how these programs compare on quality rather than cost, browse the online kinesiology programs at every level, the full master’s kinesiology rankings, or the strength and conditioning master’s programs. Wondering where the degree leads? Read what you can do with a master’s in kinesiology.
Affordable Online Kinesiology Master’s FAQ
How did you rank the most affordable online kinesiology master’s programs?
Will I pay the in-state rate as an online student?
Is the cheapest program the best choice?
How is this different from your online kinesiology programs ranking?
What can I do with an online master’s in kinesiology?
Sources and Review Date
Tuition, graduation rates, institutional control, location and degrees conferred come from the U.S. Department of Education’s Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System. Program names, delivery formats and concentrations come from the school pages linked on each card. Everything was reviewed on October 2, 2026, so confirm current rates with the school.