Best Online Master's in Kinesiology (2026)

• Highest Score74.1 out of 100

  Georgia Southern University

  Master of Science in Kinesiology, Coaching Education concentration (online)

  Georgia · M.S.

  Georgia Southern University's M.S. Review
• Lowest Price$320 per credit

  University of North Georgia

  Kinesiology, M.S. (Exercise Science concentration)

  Georgia · M.S.

  University of North Georgia's M.S. Review
• Most FlexibleFully Online, asynchronous, 7-week terms

  Strongest CredentialsCASCE accreditation confirmed on the official list; prepares for ACSM CEP, ACSM EP, NSCA CSCS

  Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi

  Master of Science in Kinesiology (Sport and Exercise Science emphasis)

  Texas · M.S.

  Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi's M.S. Review

A program qualifies when the degree is titled kinesiology, or is a kinesiology emphasis, and the school says you can take it online. Concentrations, thesis options and GRE policy come from school pages, not from marketing summaries.

Where a school offers several concentrations and only one is online, we list that one, as with Georgia Southern's coaching concentration and East Carolina's physical education pedagogy concentration.

Order follows our six-factor score in the methodology, which weighs cost, outcomes, online flexibility, credential alignment, program depth and track record.

• Master's level in the kinesiology family
• Concentrations, thesis options and GRE policy confirmed on school pages
• Ranked on the shared six-factor methodology

Scores are the weighted sum of six factors (Cost 25%, Outcomes 20%, Online Flexibility 20%, Credential Alignment 15%, Program Depth 10%, Track Record 10%), version 1.0. The methodology page shows the rubric for each factor.

Thesis, Project or Exam: How These Programs End

Fourteen programs on this list offer a thesis, and the rest finish with an exam, a portfolio, a practicum or a project. That choice changes your last year more than anything else, so make it before you compare tuition.

A thesis is real research. At the University of Central Missouri it's KIN 6990, six credits with an oral defense, and the other route is an internship, KIN 6980. Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi runs its thesis, KINE 5698, as a two-semester project with a committee, and you need departmental approval to start.

Sam Houston State's catalog says the thesis can be finished from out of town with remote supervision. That's the friendliest arrangement on the list for someone who lives far from campus. Augusta University is the opposite. Its thesis track needs you on campus for two semesters, usually the last two, while its non-thesis track is 100% online with an internship.

If you'd rather skip research, several programs make that easy. UNCG's sport and exercise psychology track is coursework only with a comprehensive exam. Hardin-Simmons requires a comprehensive exam score of 80% or higher and an exit interview. Southern Arkansas ends in a capstone portfolio, KINE 6833, and Avila's is a one-credit portfolio.

University of North Dakota lets you pick among thesis, non-thesis and Professional Science Master's options. Its non-thesis route needs a 2-credit independent study or a 3 to 6 credit internship. If you might want a doctorate later, ask the doctoral programs you're considering whether they expect a thesis.

Which Concentration Matches the Job You Want

A kinesiology master's isn't a license, and most of the jobs it points toward don't need one. Southern Arkansas says outright that its coaching master's is a non-licensure program. Read the wage numbers with that in mind.

The BLS May 2025 wage data puts the median for exercise physiologists at $59,460, with the middle 80% earning between $42,760 and $80,560, and only 8,560 people hold that title nationally. Coaches and scouts have a median of $47,320 across 248,950 jobs. Health education specialists come in at $64,070. None of these numbers is a promise, and a master's doesn't move you up automatically.

Pick the concentration by the work in front of you. Georgia Southern's coaching education concentration is built for people who are coaching now, since you must coach during the program and complete the KINS 7730 practicum in your own setting. Troy offers sport psychology and coaching, and Southern Arkansas is coaching only. Our coaches ranking covers more options.

For strength work, Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi and the University of Mary have CASCE-accredited strength and conditioning tracks. CASCE is the NSCA's accreditation body for these programs. California Baptist and Hardin-Simmons say their curricula prepare you for the CSCS exam. See our strength and conditioning ranking for the full field.

Teachers have their own lane. UTRGV's physical education concentration is designed for current educators, and East Carolina lists a licensure option for its pedagogy concentration.

Certifications need a closer read. The NSCA CSCS page says that starting January 1, 2030, U.S. candidates need a bachelor's degree from a CASCE-accredited program. The rule is about the bachelor's, so ask the NSCA how a CASCE master's fits your case. Details are on our CSCS guide.

ACSM has its own rule. Starting August 15, 2027, ACSM-EP and ACSM-CEP candidates must graduate from a CAAHEP-accredited program or one in the process. ACSM-CEP also asks for a master's in clinical exercise physiology or equivalent plus 600 clinical hours. None of these 28 matched CAAHEP's list, so if that's your goal, start with our clinical exercise physiology master's ranking.

What an Online Kinesiology Master's Costs You

Twenty-three programs publish a per-credit rate, and 13 of those sit at $650 or lower. The University of North Georgia charges $320 to every online student, in state or out. That puts a 30-credit degree at $9,600 before fees. Georgia Southern is $378, or $11,340. Then come UTRGV at $444.44, East Texas Baptist at $447 and Central Missouri at $450.

The top of the range is far higher. Corban charges $750 a credit, or $27,000 for 36 credits, and California Baptist charges $737. LSU's flat $644 has no out-of-state surcharge, so its 36 credits come to $23,184 wherever you live.

Residency is the trap. Six programs list two rates. Southern Arkansas asks $338 from residents and $530 from others. UNCG asks $359.48 from North Carolina residents and $667.04 from online students living elsewhere. Augusta lists $238 in state and $863 out of state, and North Carolina Central lists $299.23 against $1,038.57. UW-Whitewater lists $666.32 and $1,280.77. Ask what an online student living in your state pays.

Other schools make it simple. North Dakota says online students pay one rate regardless of residency, and Southern Mississippi waives out-of-state tuition for fully online programs. Avila charges $650 to every U.S. resident.

Fees change the total, so ask for a written figure. Sam Houston State adds a $101 per credit hour distance learning fee. Mary adds $55 per credit. East Texas Baptist charges a $330 student fee each semester plus $70 per online course. Montreat charges $250 a semester.

Credits matter too. Most degrees are 30 credits, but six run 36. LSU's $644 over 36 credits costs more than California Baptist's $737 over 30, which is $22,110. Our cheapest programs ranking sorts by standard price.

GRE, GPA and Prerequisites Before You Apply

The GRE is mostly optional here. Seven programs state it isn't required: Georgia Southern, Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi, UT Permian Basin, Avila, McNeese, North Carolina Central and Augusta. Three waive it under conditions. LSU's target score is 295 unless you qualify for a waiver, and UT Tyler waives it with a graduate degree or a 3.00 upper-division GPA.

University of North Georgia asks for a 301 GRE score unless your cumulative GPA is 3.0 or higher or you already hold a master's. For more options, see our no-GRE master's ranking.

GPA bars are modest. Ten programs list a 2.75 minimum, including Georgia Southern, Central Missouri, Hardin-Simmons, Montreat and Avila. Others want 3.0, such as LSU, Sam Houston State, UTRGV, Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi and UT Permian Basin. Corban accepts a 3.0 or one to two years of full-time professional experience.

Your undergraduate major matters more at some schools than others. Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi takes a bachelor's in any subject and encourages anatomy and physiology, exercise physiology and statistics beforehand. Southern Arkansas and UW-Whitewater welcome a variety of degrees. Avila requires a 3-credit leveling course, KN 516, if your bachelor's isn't kinesiology-related, and that adds to the total.

Others expect a related degree. McNeese wants a major or minor in kinesiology or a related field plus three hours each of exercise physiology and tests and measures. Southern Mississippi asks for an exercise science bachelor's plus a chemistry or biology course. California State University, Bakersfield lists specific coursework with a C or better, and California Baptist requires exercise physiology.

Two details are easy to miss. Georgia Southern starts one cohort a year, in summer, with an April 29 deadline. Corban asks applicants to profess faith in Jesus Christ.