Best colleges for exercise science and kinesiology in North Carolina
Colleges that offer a bachelor’s in kinesiology and exercise science, ranked by Compass Score.
Best colleges for exercise science and kinesiology in North Carolina42 schools
42 schools qualify, ranked by the Compass Score. The top 25 are shown.
How this list is made
- Schools in North Carolina.
- 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 North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Chapel Hill, NC · PublicHonor RollExceptional: Compass grade A+
- Bachelor’s program in kinesiology and exercise science
- Value grade A+ · Top 1%
- 2
Wake Forest University
Winston-Salem, NC · Private nonprofitHonor RollExceptional: Compass grade A
- Bachelor’s program in kinesiology and exercise science
- Value grade B · Top 42%
- 3
North Carolina State University at Raleigh
Raleigh, NC · PublicHonor RollExceptional: Compass grade A
- Bachelor’s program in kinesiology and exercise science
- Value grade A- · Top 11%
- 4
Elon University
Elon, NC · Private nonprofitTop 8% for graduation
- Bachelor’s program in kinesiology and exercise science
- Value grade C+
- 5
University of North Carolina Wilmington
Wilmington, NC · PublicExcellent: Compass grade A-
- Bachelor’s program in kinesiology and exercise science
- Value grade B · Top 37%
- 6
Appalachian State University
Boone, NC · PublicTop 15% for graduation
- Bachelor’s program in kinesiology and exercise science
- Value grade B+ · Top 34%
- 7
High Point University
High Point, NC · Private nonprofitTop 16% for graduation
- Bachelor’s program in kinesiology and exercise science
- Value grade C+
- 8
University of North Carolina at Charlotte
Charlotte, NC · PublicTop 22% for graduation
- Bachelor’s program in kinesiology and exercise science
- Value grade B+ · Top 23%
- 9
Meredith College
Raleigh, NC · Private nonprofitTop 21% for graduation
- Bachelor’s program in kinesiology and exercise science
- Value grade B-
- 10
Queens University of Charlotte
Charlotte, NC · Private nonprofit#16 in North Carolina
- Bachelor’s program in kinesiology and exercise science
- Value grade C+
- 11
East Carolina University
Greenville, NC · Public#17 in North Carolina
- Bachelor’s program in kinesiology and exercise science
- Value grade B+ · Top 31%
- 12
Western Carolina University
Cullowhee, NC · Public#18 in North Carolina
- Bachelor’s program in kinesiology and exercise science
- Value grade B+ · Top 31%
- 13
University of North Carolina at Greensboro
Greensboro, NC · PublicTop 18% for low net price
- Bachelor’s program in kinesiology and exercise science
- Value grade B+ · Top 28%
- 14
North Carolina A & T State University
Greensboro, NC · PublicTop 17% for low net price
- Bachelor’s program in kinesiology and exercise science
- Value grade B · Top 46%
- 15
Campbell University
Buies Creek, NC · Private nonprofit#22 in North Carolina
- Bachelor’s program in kinesiology and exercise science
- Value grade B-
- 16
Salem College
Winston-Salem, NC · Private nonprofit#24 in North Carolina
- Bachelor’s program in kinesiology and exercise science
- Value grade B-
- 17
Brevard College
Brevard, NC · Private nonprofit#25 in North Carolina
- Bachelor’s program in kinesiology and exercise science
- Value grade C+
- 18
Catawba College
Salisbury, NC · Private nonprofit#26 in North Carolina
- Bachelor’s program in kinesiology and exercise science
- Value grade B-
- 19Tie
Gardner-Webb University
Boiling Springs, NC · Private nonprofit#27 in North Carolina
- Bachelor’s program in kinesiology and exercise science
- Value grade B
- 19Tie
William Peace University
Raleigh, NC · Private nonprofit#27 in North Carolina
- Bachelor’s program in kinesiology and exercise science
- Value grade B-
- 21
Elizabeth City State University
Elizabeth City, NC · PublicTop 7% for low net price
- Bachelor’s program in kinesiology and exercise science
- Value grade B · Top 39%
- 22Tie
Belmont Abbey College
Belmont, NC · Private nonprofit#30 in North Carolina
- Bachelor’s program in kinesiology and exercise science
- Value grade C+
- 22Tie
University of Mount Olive
Mount Olive, NC · Private nonprofit#30 in North Carolina
- Bachelor’s program in kinesiology and exercise science
- Value grade B-
- 22Tie
Wingate University
Wingate, NC · Private nonprofit#30 in North Carolina
- Bachelor’s program in kinesiology and exercise science
- Value grade B-
- 25
Methodist University
Fayetteville, NC · Private nonprofit#33 in North Carolina
- Bachelor’s program in kinesiology and exercise science
- Value grade C+
Compare cost and outcomes
| School | Net price a year | Median debt | Earnings 10 years out | Graduation rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill | About $12,000 | $14,000 | $72,200 | 91% |
| Wake Forest University | About $29,000 | $21,500 | $78,158 | 89% |
| North Carolina State University at Raleigh | About $17,000 | $20,121 | $68,758 | 85% |
| Elon University | About $42,000 | $20,500 | $74,545 | 84% |
| University of North Carolina Wilmington | About $20,000 | $19,500 | $54,967 | 71% |
| Appalachian State University | About $17,000 | $20,231 | $51,836 | 75% |
| High Point University | About $39,000 | $24,575 | $61,389 | 74% |
| University of North Carolina at Charlotte | About $15,000 | $21,500 | $57,289 | 69% |
| Meredith College | About $22,000 | $25,000 | $51,539 | 70% |
| Queens University of Charlotte | About $31,000 | $25,000 | $57,673 | 61% |
| East Carolina University | About $16,000 | $22,750 | $55,146 | 63% |
| Western Carolina University | About $13,000 | $21,868 | $49,458 | 60% |
| University of North Carolina at Greensboro | About $11,000 | $22,858 | $48,160 | 56% |
| North Carolina A & T State University | About $11,000 | $27,000 | $44,440 | 57% |
| Campbell University | About $25,000 | $22,500 | $54,886 | 61% |
| Salem College | About $18,000 | $26,649 | $44,640 | 57% |
| Brevard College | About $24,000 | $25,000 | $43,545 | 49% |
| Catawba College | About $18,000 | $25,000 | $48,793 | 47% |
| Gardner-Webb University | About $18,000 | $24,222 | $48,039 | 55% |
| William Peace University | About $22,000 | $22,250 | $46,643 | 45% |
| Elizabeth City State University | About $6,000 | $21,463 | $40,026 | 44% |
| Belmont Abbey College | About $25,000 | $26,000 | $47,937 | 47% |
| University of Mount Olive | About $19,000 | $27,209 | $47,139 | 52% |
| Wingate University | About $21,000 | $25,000 | $52,649 | 46% |
| Methodist University | About $25,000 | $27,000 | $48,050 | 44% |
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
- Illinois 34
- 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 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