Best colleges for exercise science and kinesiology in Illinois
Colleges that offer a bachelor’s in kinesiology and exercise science, ranked by Compass Score.
Best colleges for exercise science and kinesiology in Illinois34 schools
34 schools qualify, ranked by the Compass Score. The top 25 are shown.
How this list is made
- Schools in Illinois.
- Accredited four-year undergraduate colleges.
- Offers a bachelor’s program in kinesiology and exercise science, from the College Scorecard field-of-study data (credential level 3).
- Each school needs a complete Compass Score, so every row shows a rating.
- Ordered by Compass Score, highest first. Schools with the same score share a rank.
Updated Oct. 20, 2026. Methodology. Spot an error? Send a correction.
- 1
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
Champaign, IL · PublicHonor Roll#3 in Illinois
- Bachelor’s program in kinesiology and exercise science
- Value grade A · Top 4%
- 2
Illinois Wesleyan University
Bloomington, IL · Private nonprofit#7 in Illinois
- Bachelor’s program in kinesiology and exercise science
- Value grade B-
- 3
Loyola University Chicago
Chicago, IL · Private nonprofitTop 13% for earnings
- Bachelor’s program in kinesiology and exercise science
- Value grade C+
- 4
DePaul University
Chicago, IL · Private nonprofitTop 16% for earnings
- Bachelor’s program in kinesiology and exercise science
- Value grade B-
- 5
University of Illinois Chicago
Chicago, IL · PublicTop 16% for earnings
- Bachelor’s program in kinesiology and exercise science
- Value grade A+ · Top 2%
- 6
Elmhurst University
Elmhurst, IL · Private nonprofitTop 21% for graduation
- Bachelor’s program in kinesiology and exercise science
- Value grade B · Top 43%
- 7
Lewis University
Romeoville, IL · Private nonprofitTop 18% for earnings
- Bachelor’s program in kinesiology and exercise science
- Value grade A- · Top 16%
- 8
North Central College
Naperville, IL · Private nonprofit#18 in Illinois
- Bachelor’s program in kinesiology and exercise science
- Value grade B · Top 45%
- 9
Illinois State University
Normal, IL · PublicTop 24% for earnings
- Bachelor’s program in kinesiology and exercise science
- Value grade B+ · Top 26%
- 10
Trinity Christian College
Palos Heights, IL · Private nonprofit#21 in Illinois
- Bachelor’s program in kinesiology and exercise science
- Value grade B · Top 47%
- 11Tie
Monmouth College
Monmouth, IL · Private nonprofit#22 in Illinois
- Bachelor’s program in kinesiology and exercise science
- Value grade B
- 11Tie
Olivet Nazarene University
Bourbonnais, IL · Private nonprofit#22 in Illinois
- Bachelor’s program in kinesiology and exercise science
- Value grade B-
- 13Tie
Aurora University
Aurora, IL · Private nonprofit#25 in Illinois
- Bachelor’s program in kinesiology and exercise science
- Value grade B+ · Top 29%
- 13Tie
Judson University
Elgin, IL · Private nonprofit#25 in Illinois
- Bachelor’s program in kinesiology and exercise science
- Value grade B · Top 44%
- 15
Southern Illinois University Edwardsville
Edwardsville, IL · Public#27 in Illinois
- Bachelor’s program in kinesiology and exercise science
- Value grade B+ · Top 21%
- 16
University of Illinois Springfield
Springfield, IL · PublicTop 15% for low net price
- Bachelor’s program in kinesiology and exercise science
- Value grade A · Top 6%
- 17
Illinois College
Jacksonville, IL · Private nonprofit#29 in Illinois
- Bachelor’s program in kinesiology and exercise science
- Value grade B
- 18
Southern Illinois University-Carbondale
Carbondale, IL · PublicGood: Compass grade B
- Bachelor’s program in kinesiology and exercise science
- Value grade B+ · Top 22%
- 19
Saint Xavier University
Chicago, IL · Private nonprofitTop 18% for low net price
- Bachelor’s program in kinesiology and exercise science
- Value grade A · Top 10%
- 20
Blackburn College
Carlinville, IL · Private nonprofitGood: Compass grade B
- Bachelor’s program in kinesiology and exercise science
- Value grade B-
- 21
Millikin University
Decatur, IL · Private nonprofit#33 in Illinois
- Bachelor’s program in kinesiology and exercise science
- Value grade B-
- 22
Quincy University
Quincy, IL · Private nonprofitGood: Compass grade B-
- Bachelor’s program in kinesiology and exercise science
- Value grade B-
- 23
North Park University
Chicago, IL · Private nonprofitGood: Compass grade B-
- Bachelor’s program in kinesiology and exercise science
- Value grade B+ · Top 35%
- 24
Northern Illinois University
Dekalb, IL · Public#37 in Illinois
- Bachelor’s program in kinesiology and exercise science
- Value grade A- · Top 18%
- 25
McKendree University
Lebanon, IL · Private nonprofit#39 in Illinois
- Bachelor’s program in kinesiology and exercise science
- Value grade B-
Compare cost and outcomes
| School | Net price a year | Median debt | Earnings 10 years out | Graduation rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign | $14,355 | $19,500 | $81,054 | 85% |
| Illinois Wesleyan University | $28,199 | $27,000 | $70,871 | 75% |
| Loyola University Chicago | $36,079 | $24,157 | $71,530 | 73% |
| DePaul University | $30,902 | $23,168 | $68,751 | 68% |
| University of Illinois Chicago | $10,974 | $16,704 | $68,740 | 62% |
| Elmhurst University | $24,185 | $20,489 | $61,462 | 70% |
| Lewis University | $17,028 | $21,500 | $66,099 | 67% |
| North Central College | $21,044 | $24,500 | $60,123 | 64% |
| Illinois State University | $19,398 | $20,482 | $62,117 | 65% |
| Trinity Christian College | $19,125 | $25,009 | $55,700 | 58% |
| Monmouth College | $17,133 | $27,000 | $51,110 | 65% |
| Olivet Nazarene University | $20,729 | $25,000 | $53,213 | 61% |
| Aurora University | $18,838 | $20,318 | $58,709 | 60% |
| Judson University | $18,558 | $25,000 | $56,313 | 60% |
| Southern Illinois University Edwardsville | $14,889 | $20,500 | $56,346 | 57% |
| University of Illinois Springfield | $9,833 | $19,128 | $57,103 | 53% |
| Illinois College | $18,298 | $25,565 | $52,575 | 64% |
| Southern Illinois University-Carbondale | $13,297 | $21,543 | $53,390 | 62% |
| Saint Xavier University | $10,970 | $22,223 | $58,656 | 57% |
| Blackburn College | $18,460 | $24,242 | $46,802 | 57% |
| Millikin University | $21,989 | $27,000 | $51,262 | 55% |
| Quincy University | $20,359 | $24,000 | $50,369 | 45% |
| North Park University | $16,948 | $25,500 | $59,572 | 58% |
| Northern Illinois University | $13,391 | $22,162 | $57,808 | 49% |
| McKendree University | $24,717 | $23,250 | $58,572 | 53% |
Net price is the average yearly cost after grants. Federal data (College Scorecard). “—” means the school reports no figure.
This list in other states
- Alabama 14
- Arizona 4
- Arkansas 16
- California 49
- Colorado 12
- Connecticut 16
- Delaware 4
- Florida 29
- Georgia 31
- Hawaii 3
- Idaho 5
- Indiana 27
- Iowa 24
- Kansas 21
- Kentucky 19
- Louisiana 11
- Maine 7
- Maryland 11
- Massachusetts 23
- Michigan 28
- Minnesota 24
- Mississippi 11
- Missouri 26
- Montana 8
- Nebraska 13
- New Hampshire 8
- New Jersey 17
- New Mexico 3
- New York 41
- North Carolina 42
- North Dakota 8
- Ohio 51
- Oklahoma 20
- Oregon 12
- Pennsylvania 56
- Puerto Rico 8
- Rhode Island 4
- South Carolina 22
- South Dakota 9
- Tennessee 30
- Texas 63
- Utah 8
- Vermont 3
- Virginia 24
- Washington 12
- West Virginia 11
- Wisconsin 21