How We Rank Online Exercise Science Programs

Cost, 25%

Percentile of the per-credit rate a non-resident online student pays, lowest price scoring highest, inside the degree level. Quarter credits are converted to semester credits first.

• Uses the published online per-credit rate; in-state rates are shown but not scored
• Programs priced by the year or with no published rate score at the peer median
• Fees are noted on each review but not added to the rate

Outcomes, 20%

Percentile of the school's IPEDS graduation rate inside the degree level. Federal earnings data is reported by field, not by school, so earnings are not scored.

• Graduation rate is institution-wide, so programs at one school share it
• Schools with no IPEDS graduation rate score at the peer median

Online Flexibility, 20%

A rubric that starts from the delivery model and adds points for asynchronous classes, short terms, frequent starts and generous transfer credit. Capped at 10.

• Fully online starts at 6; online degree completion at 5; online with campus requirements at 3
• Plus 1 for asynchronous classes
• Plus 1 for terms of 8 weeks or shorter
• Plus 1 for 4 or more start dates a year
• Plus 1 for a generous transfer limit (bachelor's: 75 credits or more; master's: 9 or more; associate: 30 or more; doctoral: 12 or more)

Credential Alignment, 15%

CAAHEP or CASCE accreditation confirmed on the official list scores highest, then field accreditation stated by the school, NSCA recognition, and named certification exams.

• CAAHEP (CoAES) or CASCE accredited and confirmed on the official list: 10
• CAATE accredited: 9
• CAAHEP or CASCE stated by the school but not matched on the official list: 8
• NSCA Education Recognition Program or NCACE: 8
• A specific exam alignment stated (ACSM-EP, ACSM-CEP, NSCA-CSCS): 7
• Other certification preparation stated: 5
• No credential alignment stated: 3

Program Depth, 10%

A rubric that starts at 1 and adds points for concentrations, an internship or practicum, a thesis or research option, sourced standout features, and named labs or partnerships. Capped at 10.

• One or two concentrations: plus 2; three or more: plus 3
• Internship or practicum: plus 2
• Thesis or research option: plus 2
• Three or more standout features, each sourced to a school page: plus 2
• Named labs or partnerships: plus 1

Track Record, 10%

IPEDS completions per year in this field and degree level, on a log scale between the 5th and 95th percentile of the level. Schools with no completions data score at the peer median.

• Completions are summed across the in-scope CIP codes at the level
• A log scale keeps very large programs from swamping small ones

Each factor is scored 0 to 10. The Online Program Score is the weighted sum times 10, shown to one decimal.

Programs are scored against other programs at the same degree level: associate, bachelor's, master's and doctoral.

The Missing-Input Rule

When a factor has no input for a program, it scores the peer median for that factor and is marked "Peer median". Those factors count at half weight and the other weights are renormalized so nothing is invented.

On a score bar this appears as a striped fill with a "Peer Median" tag. We never leave a factor blank or guess a figure for a school.

Tie-Breakers

Ties are broken by the overall score, then Cost, then Outcomes, then program name.

Each factor score times its weight gives the points. The points add to the published score of 79.2. Read the full University of Florida review.

168 of 168 programs carry an audit record. Each review lists the pages we verified and the date, under Sources.

Graduation rate is institution-wide, so programs at one school share it. Track Record reflects how many students finish this field each year, not how good the program is. Prices are the published online rate; fees are noted on each review but not scored.

The certification rules matter for Credential Alignment. ACSM exercise physiologist candidates need a CAAHEP-accredited program starting August 15, 2027, and U.S. CSCS candidates need a CASCE-accredited bachelor's starting January 1, 2030. Our accreditation guide explains both.