100 Best colleges for Sports / Exercise science in the United States

Updated: March 02, 2025

Ranking by academic field

Below is a list of best universities in the United States ranked based on their research performance in Sports / Exercise science. A graph of 3.9M citations received by 100K academic papers made by 296 universities in the United States was used to calculate publications' ratings, which then were adjusted for release dates and added to final scores.

We don't distinguish between undergraduate and graduate programs nor do we adjust for current majors offered. You can find information about granted degrees on a university page but always double-check with the university website.

1. University of South Carolina - Columbia

South Carolina | Columbia

For Sports / Exercise science

#1 in North America

#1 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 61%
Average SAT: 1280
Average ACT: 29
Receiving Aid: 95%

2. University of Illinois at Urbana - Champaign

Illinois | Champaign

For Sports / Exercise science

#2 in North America

#2 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 44%
Average SAT: 1390
Average ACT: 32
Receiving Aid: 61%

3. Harvard University

Massachusetts | Cambridge

For Sports / Exercise science

#3 in North America

#3 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 3%
Average SAT: 1540
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $17,900

4. University of Pittsburgh

Pennsylvania | Pittsburgh

For Sports / Exercise science

#5 in North America

#7 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 50%
Average SAT: 1360
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 87%

5. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

North Carolina | Chapel Hill

For Sports / Exercise science

#6 in North America

#9 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 19%
Average SAT: 1450
Average ACT: 32
Receiving Aid: 58%

6. San Diego State University

California | San Diego

For Sports / Exercise science

#7 in North America

#11 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 34%
Receiving Aid: 95%
Average Aid: $5,459
Enrollment: 39,241

7. University of Minnesota - Twin Cities

Minnesota | Minneapolis

For Sports / Exercise science

#8 in North America

#12 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 77%
Average SAT: 1395
Average ACT: 29
Receiving Aid: 81%

8. Stanford University

California | Stanford

For Sports / Exercise science

#11 in North America

#15 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 4%
Average SAT: 1545
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $17,998

9. University of Washington - Seattle

Washington | Seattle

For Sports / Exercise science

#12 in North America

#20 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 43%
Receiving Aid: 55%
Average Aid: $14,390
Enrollment: 55,620

10. Arizona State University - Tempe

Arizona | Tempe

For Sports / Exercise science

#13 in North America

#21 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 90%
Receiving Aid: 93%
Average Aid: $11,992
Enrollment: 79,593

11. University of Michigan - Ann Arbor

Michigan | Ann Arbor

For Sports / Exercise science

#15 in North America

#24 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 18%
Average SAT: 1440
Average ACT: 33
Receiving Aid: 66%

12. Ohio State University

Ohio | Columbus

For Sports / Exercise science

#16 in North America

#26 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 51%
Average SAT: 1405
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 75%

13. University of Massachusetts - Amherst

Massachusetts | Amherst

For Sports / Exercise science

#17 in North America

#28 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 58%
Average SAT: 1390
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 87%

14. University of California-San Diego

California | San Diego

For Sports / Exercise science

#21 in North America

#34 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 25%
Receiving Aid: 70%
Average Aid: $24,176
Enrollment: 42,376

15. Johns Hopkins University

Maryland | Baltimore

For Sports / Exercise science

#22 in North America

#35 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 8%
Average SAT: 1555
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $22,844

16. University of Tennessee - Knoxville

Tennessee | Knoxville

For Sports / Exercise science

#23 in North America

#39 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 46%
Average SAT: 1265
Average ACT: 28
Receiving Aid: 90%

17. Pennsylvania State University

Pennsylvania | University Park

For Sports / Exercise science

#24 in North America

#40 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 54%
Average SAT: 1310
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 66%

18. University of Utah

Utah | Salt Lake

For Sports / Exercise science

#25 in North America

#43 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 87%
Average SAT: 1289
Average ACT: 26
Receiving Aid: 79%

19. University of Alabama at Birmingham

Alabama | Birmingham

For Sports / Exercise science

#26 in North America

#44 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 88%
Average SAT: 1265
Average ACT: 26
Receiving Aid: 97%

20. University of Texas at Austin

Texas | Austin

For Sports / Exercise science

#27 in North America

#46 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 29%
Average SAT: 1360
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 69%

21. Washington University in St Louis

Missouri | St. Louis

For Sports / Exercise science

#29 in North America

#48 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 12%
Average SAT: 1535
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $22,440

22. University of Florida

Florida | Gainesville

For Sports / Exercise science

#30 in North America

#49 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 24%
Average SAT: 1390
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 92%

23. University of Wisconsin - Madison

Wisconsin | Madison

For Sports / Exercise science

#31 in North America

#52 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 43%
Average SAT: 1435
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 60%

24. Michigan State University

Michigan | East Lansing

For Sports / Exercise science

#32 in North America

#53 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 84%
Average SAT: 1250
Average ACT: 29
Receiving Aid: 97%

25. Tufts University

Massachusetts | Medford

For Sports / Exercise science

#33 in North America

#54 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Average SAT: 1505
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $33,333

26. Iowa State University

Iowa State | Ames

For Sports / Exercise science

#34 in North America

#61 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 89%
Average SAT: 1230
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 89%

27. University of Georgia

Georgia | Athens

For Sports / Exercise science

#35 in North America

#63 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 37%
Average SAT: 1275
Average ACT: 29
Receiving Aid: 84%

28. University of Illinois at Chicago

Illinois | Chicago

For Sports / Exercise science

#36 in North America

#64 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 79%
Average SAT: 1230
Average ACT: 29
Receiving Aid: 80%

29. University of Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania | Philadelphia

For Sports / Exercise science

#37 in North America

#66 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 6%
Average SAT: 1535
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $26,017

30. University of California - San Francisco

California | San Francisco

For Sports / Exercise science

#38 in North America

#68 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 13%
Enrollment: 3,126
Male:Female: 35:65
Founded: 1864

31. University of California - Los Angeles

California | Los Angeles

For Sports / Exercise science

#39 in North America

#69 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 9%
Receiving Aid: 60%
Average Aid: $22,441
Enrollment: 46,678

32. Columbia University

New York State | New York City

For Sports / Exercise science

#41 in North America

#73 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 4%
Average SAT: 1530
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $20,869

33. Mayo Clinic College of Medicine and Science

Minnesota | Rochester

For Sports / Exercise science

#43 in North America

#76 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 39%
Net Price: $11,577
Receiving Aid: 100%
Average Aid: $1,900

34. University of Southern California

California | Los Angeles

For Sports / Exercise science

#44 in North America

#77 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Average SAT: 1495
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $41,496

35. University of Missouri - Columbia

Missouri | Columbia

For Sports / Exercise science

#45 in North America

#79 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 77%
Average SAT: 1240
Average ACT: 26
Receiving Aid: 90%

36. Wake Forest University

North Carolina | Winston-Salem

For Sports / Exercise science

#46 in North America

#80 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 22%
Average SAT: 1450
Average ACT: 33
Net Price: $27,790

37. University of Iowa

Iowa State | Iowa City

For Sports / Exercise science

#48 in North America

#82 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 85%
Average SAT: 1225
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 88%

38. Boston University

Massachusetts | Boston

For Sports / Exercise science

#49 in North America

#83 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 11%
Average SAT: 1460
Average ACT: 33
Net Price: $27,551

39. University at Buffalo

New York State | Buffalo

For Sports / Exercise science

#50 in North America

#84 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 69%
Average SAT: 1295
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 86%

40. University of Vermont

Vermont | Burlington

For Sports / Exercise science

#51 in North America

#85 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 60%
Average SAT: 1335
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 100%

41. Brown University

Rhode Island | Providence

For Sports / Exercise science

#52 in North America

#86 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 5%
Average SAT: 1535
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $26,608

42. University of Connecticut

Connecticut | Storrs

For Sports / Exercise science

#53 in North America

#87 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 54%
Average SAT: 1315
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 83%

43. University of Maryland - College Park

Maryland | College Park

For Sports / Exercise science

#54 in North America

#88 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 45%
Average SAT: 1445
Average ACT: 34
Receiving Aid: 65%

44. University of Maryland, Baltimore

Maryland | Baltimore

For Sports / Exercise science

#55 in North America

#97 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 65%
Enrollment: 6,667
Male:Female: 27:73
Founded: 1807

45. East Carolina University

North Carolina | Greenville

For Sports / Exercise science

#56 in North America

#98 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 90%
Average SAT: 1125
Average ACT: 23
Receiving Aid: 79%

46. Yale University

Connecticut | New Haven

For Sports / Exercise science

#57 in North America

#99 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 5%
Average SAT: 1540
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $26,044

47. Northwestern University

Illinois | Evanston

For Sports / Exercise science

#58 in North America

#101 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 7%
Average SAT: 1525
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $23,341

48. University of Colorado Boulder

Colorado | Boulder

For Sports / Exercise science

#60 in North America

#103 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 83%
Average SAT: 1325
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 66%

49. Duke University

North Carolina | Durham

For Sports / Exercise science

#61 in North America

#107 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 7%
Average SAT: 1540
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $23,422

50. University of Arizona

Arizona | Tucson

For Sports / Exercise science

#62 in North America

#109 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 86%
Average SAT: 1290
Average ACT: 26
Receiving Aid: 98%

51. Oregon State University

Oregon | Corvallis

For Sports / Exercise science

#64 in North America

#113 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 79%
Receiving Aid: 92%
Average Aid: $9,922
Enrollment: 35,622

52. University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston

Texas | Houston

For Sports / Exercise science

#65 in North America

#114 in the World

Enrollment: 5,048
Male:Female: 30:70
Founded: 1972

53. Cornell University

New York State | Ithaca

For Sports / Exercise science

#66 in North America

#117 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 8%
Average SAT: 1520
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $26,455

54. University of Virginia

Virginia | Charlottesville

For Sports / Exercise science

#67 in North America

#118 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 17%
Average SAT: 1470
Average ACT: 33
Receiving Aid: 44%

55. Baylor College of Medicine

Texas | Houston

For Sports / Exercise science

#68 in North America

#119 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 9%
Enrollment: 1,699
Male:Female: 41:59
Founded: 1900

56. West Virginia University

West Virginia | Morgantown

For Sports / Exercise science

#69 in North America

#121 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 86%
Average SAT: 1125
Average ACT: 23
Receiving Aid: 97%

57. Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College

Louisiana | Baton Rouge

For Sports / Exercise science

#70 in North America

#124 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 74%
Average SAT: 1240
Average ACT: 27
Receiving Aid: 93%

58. Texas A&M University - College Station

Texas | College Station

For Sports / Exercise science

#71 in North America

#125 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 63%
Average SAT: 1260
Average ACT: 28
Receiving Aid: 77%

59. University of California - Irvine

California | Irvine

For Sports / Exercise science

#72 in North America

#128 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 26%
Receiving Aid: 71%
Average Aid: $21,533
Enrollment: 36,582

60. University of North Carolina at Greensboro

North Carolina | Greensboro

For Sports / Exercise science

#74 in North America

#131 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 90%
Average SAT: 1190
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 90%

61. University of Kansas

Kansas State | Lawrence

For Sports / Exercise science

#76 in North America

#136 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 88%
Average SAT: 1170
Average ACT: 24
Receiving Aid: 93%

62. Emory University

Georgia | Atlanta

For Sports / Exercise science

#77 in North America

#137 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 11%
Average SAT: 1505
Average ACT: 33
Net Price: $27,986

63. University of California - Berkeley

California | Berkeley

For Sports / Exercise science

#79 in North America

#143 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 12%
Receiving Aid: 61%
Average Aid: $25,951
Enrollment: 45,699

64. University of Colorado Denver/Anschutz Medical Campus

Colorado | Denver

For Sports / Exercise science

#80 in North America

#146 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 78%
Average SAT: 1100
Average ACT: 24
Receiving Aid: 90%

65. Kansas State University

Kansas State | Manhattan

For Sports / Exercise science

#81 in North America

#147 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 79%
Average SAT: 1150
Average ACT: 24
Receiving Aid: 95%

66. University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center

Texas | Dallas

For Sports / Exercise science

#82 in North America

#149 in the World

Enrollment: 2,501
Male:Female: 44:56
Founded: 1943

67. University of Alabama

Alabama | Tuscaloosa

For Sports / Exercise science

#83 in North America

#150 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 76%
Average SAT: 1285
Average ACT: 28
Receiving Aid: 84%

68. University of Miami

Florida | Coral Gables

For Sports / Exercise science

#84 in North America

#151 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 19%
Average SAT: 1400
Average ACT: 32
Net Price: $41,028

69. University of Kentucky

Kentucky | Lexington

For Sports / Exercise science

#85 in North America

#158 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 92%
Average SAT: 1185
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 97%

70. Auburn University

Alabama | Auburn

For Sports / Exercise science

#86 in North America

#159 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 50%
Average SAT: 1310
Average ACT: 28
Receiving Aid: 81%

71. Rutgers University - New Brunswick

New Jersey | New Brunswick

For Sports / Exercise science

#87 in North America

#164 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 65%
Average SAT: 1375
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 71%

72. George Washington University

District of Columbia | Washington

For Sports / Exercise science

#88 in North America

#165 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 44%
Average SAT: 1425
Average ACT: 33
Net Price: $45,466

73. Wayne State University

Michigan | Detroit

For Sports / Exercise science

#89 in North America

#167 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 82%
Average SAT: 1150
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 97%

74. Indiana University - Purdue University - Indianapolis

Indiana | Indianapolis

For Sports / Exercise science

#90 in North America

#170 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 81%
Average SAT: 1135
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 91%

75. Vanderbilt University

Tennessee | Nashville

For Sports / Exercise science

#91 in North America

#171 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 6%
Average SAT: 1535
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $26,689

76. Ball State University

Indiana | Muncie

For Sports / Exercise science

#92 in North America

#175 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 72%
Average SAT: 1165
Average ACT: 28
Receiving Aid: 97%

77. University of California - Davis

California | Davis

For Sports / Exercise science

#93 in North America

#183 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 42%
Receiving Aid: 58%
Average Aid: $21,258
Enrollment: 39,707

78. University of Chicago

Illinois | Chicago

For Sports / Exercise science

#94 in North America

#185 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 5%
Average SAT: 1540
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $27,979

79. Purdue University

Indiana | West Lafayette

For Sports / Exercise science

#95 in North America

#187 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 50%
Average SAT: 1325
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 60%

80. Florida State University

Florida | Tallahassee

For Sports / Exercise science

#96 in North America

#190 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 25%
Average SAT: 1315
Average ACT: 29
Receiving Aid: 95%

81. University of North Texas

Texas | Denton

For Sports / Exercise science

#97 in North America

#194 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 72%
Average SAT: 1105
Average ACT: 23
Receiving Aid: 91%

82. Brigham Young University - Provo

Utah | Provo

For Sports / Exercise science

#99 in North America

#198 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 69%
Average SAT: 1370
Average ACT: 30
Net Price: $14,643

83. Saint Louis University

Missouri | St. Louis

For Sports / Exercise science

#100 in North America

#199 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 81%
Average SAT: 1320
Average ACT: 29
Net Price: $30,911

84. Kent State University at Kent

Ohio | Kent

For Sports / Exercise science

#101 in North America

#200 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 87%
Average SAT: 1115
Average ACT: 22
Receiving Aid: 96%

85. University of Memphis

Tennessee | Memphis

For Sports / Exercise science

#102 in North America

#201 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 93%
Average SAT: 1055
Average ACT: 21
Receiving Aid: 97%

86. Case Western Reserve University

Ohio | Cleveland

For Sports / Exercise science

#103 in North America

#202 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 29%
Average SAT: 1485
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $41,351

87. University of South Florida

Florida | Tampa

For Sports / Exercise science

#104 in North America

#208 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 41%
Average SAT: 1235
Average ACT: 27
Receiving Aid: 88%

88. Oregon Health & Science University

Oregon | Portland

For Sports / Exercise science

#105 in North America

#210 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Enrollment: 2,877
Male:Female: 30:70
Founded: 1887

89. Georgia State University

Georgia | Atlanta

For Sports / Exercise science

#106 in North America

#212 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 62%
Average SAT: 1160
Average ACT: 23
Receiving Aid: 94%

90. Old Dominion University

Virginia | Norfolk

For Sports / Exercise science

#107 in North America

#216 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 91%
Average SAT: 1200
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 94%

91. University of Houston

Texas | Houston

For Sports / Exercise science

#108 in North America

#219 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 70%
Average SAT: 1240
Average ACT: 26
Receiving Aid: 83%

92. University of Mississippi

Mississippi | University

For Sports / Exercise science

#109 in North America

#221 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 98%
Average SAT: 1115
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 85%

93. University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee

Wisconsin | Milwaukee

For Sports / Exercise science

#110 in North America

#224 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 88%
Average ACT: 21
Receiving Aid: 89%
Average Aid: $5,305

94. Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University

Virginia | Blacksburg

For Sports / Exercise science

#111 in North America

#225 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 57%
Average SAT: 1330
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 69%

95. Augusta University

Georgia | Augusta

For Sports / Exercise science

#112 in North America

#230 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 89%
Average SAT: 1125
Average ACT: 23
Receiving Aid: 94%

96. Georgetown University

District of Columbia | Washington

For Sports / Exercise science

#115 in North America

#237 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 13%
Average SAT: 1470
Average ACT: 33
Net Price: $37,967

97. University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center

Texas | Houston

For Sports / Exercise science

#116 in North America

#240 in the World

Enrollment: 355
Male:Female: 21:79
Founded: 1941

98. University of Cincinnati

Ohio | Cincinnati

For Sports / Exercise science

#117 in North America

#244 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 88%
Average SAT: 1255
Average ACT: 27
Receiving Aid: 87%

99. Colorado State University - Fort Collins

Colorado | Fort Collins

For Sports / Exercise science

#118 in North America

#246 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 90%
Receiving Aid: 74%
Average Aid: $10,554
Enrollment: 33,500

100. University of Delaware

Delaware | Newark

For Sports / Exercise science

#119 in North America

#251 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 65%
Average SAT: 1280
Average ACT: 29
Receiving Aid: 92%

The best cities to study Sports / Exercise science in the United States based on the number of universities and their ranks are Columbia, Champaign, Cambridge, and Pittsburgh.