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

Updated: February 29, 2024

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 3.01M citations received by 90.2K academic papers made by 278 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: 64%
Average SAT: 1280
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 98%

2. University of Illinois at Urbana - Champaign

Illinois | Champaign

For Sports / Exercise science

#2 in North America

#2 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 45%
Average SAT: 1415
Average ACT: 32
Receiving Aid: 64%

3. Harvard University

Massachusetts | Cambridge

For Sports / Exercise science

#3 in North America

#3 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 3%
Average SAT: 1535
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $19,491

4. University of Minnesota - Twin Cities

Minnesota | Minneapolis

For Sports / Exercise science

#5 in North America

#7 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 75%
Average SAT: 1395
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 82%

5. University of Pittsburgh

Pennsylvania | Pittsburgh

For Sports / Exercise science

#6 in North America

#8 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 49%
Average SAT: 1375
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 87%

6. Stanford University

California | Stanford

For Sports / Exercise science

#7 in North America

#9 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 4%
Average SAT: 1540
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $18,279

7. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

North Carolina | Chapel Hill

For Sports / Exercise science

#8 in North America

#10 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 17%
Average SAT: 1440
Average ACT: 32
Receiving Aid: 59%

8. San Diego State University

California | San Diego

For Sports / Exercise science

#9 in North America

#12 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 39%
Receiving Aid: 98%
Average Aid: $9,934
Enrollment: 37,402

9. Arizona State University - Tempe

Arizona | Tempe

For Sports / Exercise science

#12 in North America

#20 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 90%
Receiving Aid: 93%
Average Aid: $12,381
Enrollment: 80,065

10. University of Washington - Seattle

Washington | Seattle

For Sports / Exercise science

#13 in North America

#21 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 48%
Receiving Aid: 58%
Average Aid: $14,731
Enrollment: 52,319

11. Ohio State University

Ohio | Columbus

For Sports / Exercise science

#14 in North America

#22 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 53%
Average SAT: 1395
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 83%

12. University of Massachusetts - Amherst

Massachusetts | Amherst

For Sports / Exercise science

#15 in North America

#23 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 64%
Average SAT: 1370
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 91%

13. University of California-San Diego

California | San Diego

For Sports / Exercise science

#17 in North America

#26 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 24%
Receiving Aid: 61%
Average Aid: $20,782
Enrollment: 42,006

14. University of Michigan - Ann Arbor

Michigan | Ann Arbor

For Sports / Exercise science

#18 in North America

#27 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 18%
Average SAT: 1440
Average ACT: 33
Receiving Aid: 74%

15. University of Tennessee - Knoxville

Tennessee | Knoxville

For Sports / Exercise science

#20 in North America

#31 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 68%
Average SAT: 1250
Average ACT: 28
Receiving Aid: 91%

16. University of Wisconsin - Madison

Wisconsin | Madison

For Sports / Exercise science

#21 in North America

#34 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 49%
Average SAT: 1425
Average ACT: 29
Receiving Aid: 58%

17. Johns Hopkins University

Maryland | Baltimore

For Sports / Exercise science

#23 in North America

#37 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 7%
Average SAT: 1545
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $24,034

18. University of Alabama at Birmingham

Alabama | Birmingham

For Sports / Exercise science

#25 in North America

#39 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 87%
Average SAT: 1305
Average ACT: 27
Receiving Aid: 96%

19. University of Florida

Florida | Gainesville

For Sports / Exercise science

#26 in North America

#41 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 23%
Average SAT: 1395
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 94%

20. University of Texas at Austin

Texas | Austin

For Sports / Exercise science

#27 in North America

#42 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 31%
Average SAT: 1365
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 89%

21. Pennsylvania State University

Pennsylvania | University Park

For Sports / Exercise science

#28 in North America

#44 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 55%
Average SAT: 1300
Average ACT: 29
Receiving Aid: 68%

22. University of Utah

Utah | Salt Lake

For Sports / Exercise science

#30 in North America

#50 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 89%
Average SAT: 1290
Average ACT: 26
Receiving Aid: 99%

23. Michigan State University

Michigan | East Lansing

For Sports / Exercise science

#31 in North America

#51 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 88%
Average SAT: 1260
Average ACT: 28
Receiving Aid: 94%

24. Washington University in St Louis

Missouri | St. Louis

For Sports / Exercise science

#32 in North America

#53 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 12%
Average SAT: 1535
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $23,432

25. Iowa State University

Iowa State | Ames

For Sports / Exercise science

#33 in North America

#55 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 90%
Average SAT: 1220
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 89%

26. University of Illinois at Chicago

Illinois | Chicago

For Sports / Exercise science

#34 in North America

#56 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 79%
Average SAT: 1225
Average ACT: 27
Receiving Aid: 81%

27. University of Georgia

Georgia | Athens

For Sports / Exercise science

#35 in North America

#58 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 43%
Average SAT: 1320
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 94%

28. Tufts University

Massachusetts | Medford

For Sports / Exercise science

#36 in North America

#59 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Average SAT: 1500
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $30,479

29. University of Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania | Philadelphia

For Sports / Exercise science

#37 in North America

#60 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 7%
Average SAT: 1535
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $26,123

30. Boston University

Massachusetts | Boston

For Sports / Exercise science

#38 in North America

#61 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 14%
Average SAT: 1425
Average ACT: 33
Net Price: $27,829

31. University of California - San Francisco

California | San Francisco

For Sports / Exercise science

#39 in North America

#63 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 13%
Enrollment: 3,140
Male:Female: 35:65
Founded: 1864

32. Brown University

Rhode Island | Providence

For Sports / Exercise science

#40 in North America

#65 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 5%
Average SAT: 1535
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $26,723

33. University of Connecticut

Connecticut | Storrs

For Sports / Exercise science

#42 in North America

#68 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 55%
Average SAT: 1330
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 89%

34. University of California - Los Angeles

California | Los Angeles

For Sports / Exercise science

#44 in North America

#77 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 9%
Receiving Aid: 57%
Average Aid: $21,766
Enrollment: 46,430

35. University of Vermont

Vermont | Burlington

For Sports / Exercise science

#45 in North America

#78 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 60%
Average SAT: 1345
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 98%

36. University of Southern California

California | Los Angeles

For Sports / Exercise science

#46 in North America

#82 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 12%
Average SAT: 1500
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $36,808

37. Columbia University

New York State | New York City

For Sports / Exercise science

#47 in North America

#83 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 4%
Average SAT: 1535
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $22,058

38. University of Missouri - Columbia

Missouri | Columbia

For Sports / Exercise science

#48 in North America

#84 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 79%
Average SAT: 1240
Average ACT: 27
Receiving Aid: 91%

39. Wake Forest University

North Carolina | Winston-Salem

For Sports / Exercise science

#49 in North America

#85 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 21%
Net Price: $26,197
Receiving Aid: 37%
Average Aid: $54,233

40. University of Iowa

Iowa State | Iowa City

For Sports / Exercise science

#50 in North America

#86 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 86%
Average SAT: 1235
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 91%

41. Mayo Clinic College of Medicine and Science

Minnesota | Rochester

For Sports / Exercise science

#51 in North America

#87 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 64%
Net Price: $11,830
Receiving Aid: 100%
Average Aid: $2,182

42. University at Buffalo

New York State | Buffalo

For Sports / Exercise science

#52 in North America

#88 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 68%
Average SAT: 1285
Average ACT: 29
Receiving Aid: 86%

43. University of Alabama

Alabama | Tuscaloosa

For Sports / Exercise science

#53 in North America

#89 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 80%
Average SAT: 1270
Average ACT: 27
Receiving Aid: 87%

44. University of Maryland - College Park

Maryland | College Park

For Sports / Exercise science

#54 in North America

#92 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 45%
Average SAT: 1440
Average ACT: 32
Receiving Aid: 63%

45. East Carolina University

North Carolina | Greenville

For Sports / Exercise science

#55 in North America

#93 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 92%
Receiving Aid: 80%
Average Aid: $9,020
Enrollment: 27,151

46. University of Maryland, Baltimore

Maryland | Baltimore

For Sports / Exercise science

#57 in North America

#97 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 65%
Enrollment: 6,931
Male:Female: 27:73
Founded: 1807

47. University of Arizona

Arizona | Tucson

For Sports / Exercise science

#58 in North America

#98 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 87%
Average SAT: 1255
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 98%

48. University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston

Texas | Houston

For Sports / Exercise science

#60 in North America

#101 in the World

Enrollment: 5,354
Male:Female: 29:71
Founded: 1972

49. Cornell University

New York State | Ithaca

For Sports / Exercise science

#61 in North America

#103 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 7%
Average SAT: 1520
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $26,060

50. University of Colorado Boulder

Colorado | Boulder

For Sports / Exercise science

#62 in North America

#105 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 81%
Average SAT: 1275
Average ACT: 29
Receiving Aid: 68%

51. University of Virginia

Virginia | Charlottesville

For Sports / Exercise science

#63 in North America

#107 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 19%
Average SAT: 1470
Average ACT: 33
Receiving Aid: 54%

52. Providence College

Rhode Island | Providence

For Sports / Exercise science

#64 in North America

#108 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 53%
Average SAT: 1340
Average ACT: 30
Net Price: $43,970

53. Oregon State University

Oregon | Corvallis

For Sports / Exercise science

#66 in North America

#112 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 83%
Receiving Aid: 91%
Average Aid: $9,260
Enrollment: 34,292

54. Duke University

North Carolina | Durham

For Sports / Exercise science

#67 in North America

#113 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 6%
Average SAT: 1530
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $23,694

55. Yale University

Connecticut | New Haven

For Sports / Exercise science

#68 in North America

#115 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 5%
Average SAT: 1540
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $18,647

56. West Virginia University

West Virginia | Morgantown

For Sports / Exercise science

#69 in North America

#116 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 88%
Average SAT: 1110
Average ACT: 23
Receiving Aid: 97%

57. Northwestern University

Illinois | Evanston

For Sports / Exercise science

#70 in North America

#119 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 7%
Average SAT: 1530
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $22,095

58. Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College

Louisiana | Baton Rouge

For Sports / Exercise science

#71 in North America

#121 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 76%
Average SAT: 1230
Average ACT: 26
Receiving Aid: 98%

59. Texas A&M University - College Station

Texas | College Station

For Sports / Exercise science

#72 in North America

#123 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 63%
Average SAT: 1270
Average ACT: 28
Receiving Aid: 74%

60. Emory University

Georgia | Atlanta

For Sports / Exercise science

#73 in North America

#125 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 11%
Average SAT: 1490
Average ACT: 33
Net Price: $26,680

61. University of California - Berkeley

California | Berkeley

For Sports / Exercise science

#74 in North America

#127 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 11%
Receiving Aid: 60%
Average Aid: $21,669
Enrollment: 45,307

62. University of North Carolina at Greensboro

North Carolina | Greensboro

For Sports / Exercise science

#75 in North America

#131 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 92%
Average SAT: 1195
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 91%

63. University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center

Texas | Dallas

For Sports / Exercise science

#78 in North America

#139 in the World

Enrollment: 2,354
Male:Female: 45:55
Founded: 1943

64. University of California - Irvine

California | Irvine

For Sports / Exercise science

#79 in North America

#140 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 21%
Receiving Aid: 80%
Average Aid: $17,411
Enrollment: 35,937

65. University of Colorado Denver/Anschutz Medical Campus

Colorado | Denver

For Sports / Exercise science

#80 in North America

#141 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 75%
Average SAT: 1145
Average ACT: 24
Receiving Aid: 94%

66. Ball State University

Indiana | Muncie

For Sports / Exercise science

#81 in North America

#142 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 69%
Average SAT: 1175
Average ACT: 26
Receiving Aid: 98%

67. University of Kansas

Kansas State | Lawrence

For Sports / Exercise science

#82 in North America

#146 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 88%
Average SAT: 1215
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 91%

68. University of Miami

Florida | Coral Gables

For Sports / Exercise science

#83 in North America

#148 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 19%
Average SAT: 1395
Average ACT: 32
Net Price: $36,467

69. Kansas State University

Kansas State | Manhattan

For Sports / Exercise science

#85 in North America

#150 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 95%
Receiving Aid: 94%
Average Aid: $8,537
Enrollment: 19,722

70. Auburn University

Alabama | Auburn

For Sports / Exercise science

#86 in North America

#151 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 44%
Average SAT: 1300
Average ACT: 27
Receiving Aid: 79%

71. Wayne State University

Michigan | Detroit

For Sports / Exercise science

#87 in North America

#154 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 75%
Average SAT: 1150
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 98%

72. Indiana University - Purdue University - Indianapolis

Indiana | Indianapolis

For Sports / Exercise science

#88 in North America

#155 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 83%
Average SAT: 1150
Average ACT: 24
Receiving Aid: 91%

73. University of Kentucky

Kentucky | Lexington

For Sports / Exercise science

#89 in North America

#157 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 95%
Average SAT: 1180
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 96%

74. Baylor College of Medicine

Texas | Houston

For Sports / Exercise science

#90 in North America

#159 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 9%
Enrollment: 1,610
Male:Female: 40:60
Founded: 1900

75. Vanderbilt University

Tennessee | Nashville

For Sports / Exercise science

#91 in North America

#162 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 7%
Average SAT: 1530
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $25,606

76. George Washington University

District of Columbia | Washington

For Sports / Exercise science

#92 in North America

#163 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 49%
Average SAT: 1410
Average ACT: 33
Net Price: $42,723

77. University of Chicago

Illinois | Chicago

For Sports / Exercise science

#93 in North America

#166 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 5%
Average SAT: 1540
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $36,991

78. University of California - Davis

California | Davis

For Sports / Exercise science

#94 in North America

#176 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 37%
Receiving Aid: 63%
Average Aid: $20,548
Enrollment: 39,679

79. Florida State University

Florida | Tallahassee

For Sports / Exercise science

#95 in North America

#179 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 25%
Average SAT: 1290
Average ACT: 29
Receiving Aid: 93%

80. University of Houston

Texas | Houston

For Sports / Exercise science

#96 in North America

#180 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 66%
Average SAT: 1245
Average ACT: 26
Receiving Aid: 83%

81. Rutgers University - New Brunswick

New Jersey | New Brunswick

For Sports / Exercise science

#97 in North America

#182 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 66%
Average SAT: 1375
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 70%

82. University of North Texas

Texas | Denton

For Sports / Exercise science

#98 in North America

#186 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 79%
Average SAT: 1120
Average ACT: 23
Receiving Aid: 95%

83. University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee

Wisconsin | Milwaukee

For Sports / Exercise science

#100 in North America

#189 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 86%
Average ACT: 21
Receiving Aid: 85%
Average Aid: $5,963

84. Brigham Young University - Provo

Utah | Provo

For Sports / Exercise science

#101 in North America

#191 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 67%
Average SAT: 1374
Average ACT: 30
Net Price: $13,521

85. Kent State University at Kent

Ohio | Kent

For Sports / Exercise science

#102 in North America

#196 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 88%
Average SAT: 1105
Average ACT: 22
Receiving Aid: 98%

86. University of Memphis

Tennessee | Memphis

For Sports / Exercise science

#103 in North America

#202 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 95%
Average SAT: 1080
Average ACT: 21
Receiving Aid: 99%

87. Georgia State University

Georgia | Atlanta

For Sports / Exercise science

#104 in North America

#208 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 67%
Average SAT: 1135
Average ACT: 23
Receiving Aid: 95%

88. Georgetown University

District of Columbia | Washington

For Sports / Exercise science

#105 in North America

#209 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 12%
Average SAT: 1485
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $35,566

89. Case Western Reserve University

Ohio | Cleveland

For Sports / Exercise science

#106 in North America

#211 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 27%
Average SAT: 1475
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $38,279

90. University of Mississippi

Mississippi | University

For Sports / Exercise science

#107 in North America

#213 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 97%
Average SAT: 1125
Average ACT: 26
Receiving Aid: 85%

91. Oregon Health & Science University

Oregon | Portland

For Sports / Exercise science

#108 in North America

#214 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Enrollment: 2,870
Male:Female: 30:70
Founded: 1887

92. Saint Louis University

Missouri | St. Louis

For Sports / Exercise science

#109 in North America

#215 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 85%
Average SAT: 1305
Average ACT: 29
Net Price: $29,651

93. University of Cincinnati

Ohio | Cincinnati

For Sports / Exercise science

#110 in North America

#217 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 86%
Average SAT: 1260
Average ACT: 27
Receiving Aid: 84%

94. Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University

Virginia | Blacksburg

For Sports / Exercise science

#111 in North America

#219 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 57%
Average SAT: 1335
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 71%

95. Purdue University

Indiana | West Lafayette

For Sports / Exercise science

#112 in North America

#225 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 53%
Average SAT: 1335
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 60%

96. Old Dominion University

Virginia | Norfolk

For Sports / Exercise science

#114 in North America

#228 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 95%
Average SAT: 1170
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 92%

97. Appalachian State University

North Carolina | Boone

For Sports / Exercise science

#115 in North America

#229 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 83%
Average SAT: 1185
Average ACT: 24
Receiving Aid: 70%

98. Colorado State University - Fort Collins

Colorado | Fort Collins

For Sports / Exercise science

#116 in North America

#230 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 91%
Average SAT: 1185
Average ACT: 26
Receiving Aid: 84%

99. University of South Florida

Florida | Tampa

For Sports / Exercise science

#117 in North America

#231 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 44%
Average SAT: 1235
Average ACT: 27
Receiving Aid: 90%

100. Miami University - Oxford

Ohio | Oxford

For Sports / Exercise science

#118 in North America

#232 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 88%
Average SAT: 1295
Average ACT: 28
Receiving Aid: 96%

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 Minneapolis.