Best Online Exercise Science Programs in California (2026)

• Top Bachelor's69.3 out of 100

  Lionel University

  Bachelor of Science in Exercise Science

  California · B.S.

  Lionel University's B.S. Review
• Top Master's61.3 out of 100

  Lionel University

  Master of Science in Exercise Science

  California · M.S.

  Lionel University's M.S. Review
• Top Associate66.3 out of 100

  Lionel University

  Associate of Science in Exercise Science

  California · A.S.

  Lionel University's A.S. Review

Pricing here doesn't split into in-state and out-of-state. Lionel, California Baptist and Concordia Irvine are private and each publishes one rate. The two Cal State campuses sell their online programs through extended education. Monterey Bay says its $550 a unit applies to every student, and Bakersfield's $651 a unit is what its own page calls a self-support rate.

Public doesn't mean cheaper in this state. Monterey Bay's $550 sits above California Baptist's $541 for a bachelor's, and Bakersfield's $651 sits above Concordia Irvine's $610 for a master's. Compare the total for your whole degree, not the school's label.

California pays well for the jobs this degree points toward. The May 2025 BLS figures put the state median at $62,440 for exercise physiologists, $57,990 for exercise trainers and group fitness instructors, and $47,660 for coaches and scouts. Nationally those medians are $59,460, $47,160 and $47,320. The state has 640 exercise physiologist jobs, 43,600 trainer and group fitness jobs and 31,150 coach and scout jobs.

The low end matters too. A tenth of California exercise physiologists earn $36,970 or less, and a tenth of trainers earn $36,750 or less. These are wages for people already working, not a forecast for new graduates, and they aren't adjusted for California's living costs.

State authorization is the caveat for out-of-state programs. The National Council for State Authorization Reciprocity Agreements (NC-SARA) says 49 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands have joined its reciprocity agreement, and California is the state that hasn't. That agreement doesn't cover you as a California resident, so ask each out-of-state school whether it's approved to enroll you in the program you want.

A program lands on this page when it's fully online or an online degree-completion program and the school's main campus is in California. That gives eight programs from five schools.

Inside each degree level they're ordered by the six-factor score in our methodology: cost, outcomes, online flexibility, credential alignment, program depth and track record. We use only what the schools publish and what accrediting and federal sources list. Where a California program doesn't fit your goal, the sections below point you to national options.

• School based in California, program delivered online
• In-state rate shown when the school publishes one
• Scored on the same six factors as every list and ranked inside its degree level

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.

How Much Do California's Online Exercise Science Programs Cost?

Read the unit before you read the price. Lionel charges $333 per credit for its associate and bachelor's degrees and $440 for its master's, but those are quarter credits, worth two-thirds of a semester credit. Converted, that's $499.50 and $660 per semester credit, which is how you compare Lionel with the other four schools. Lionel adds a $45 technology fee and a $25 wellness fee each quarter.

Here are the totals from each school's own pages. Lionel's 90-credit associate degree comes to $29,970, its 180-credit bachelor's to $59,940 and its 45-credit master's to $19,800. California Baptist's 30-unit master's is $22,110, Concordia Irvine's 36-unit master's is $21,960 and Bakersfield's 30-unit master's is $19,530. Bakersfield's own estimate with books and supplies is $22,100.

Watch what the bachelor's totals leave out. California Baptist's $27,050 and Monterey Bay's $27,500 cover the 50 units of the major only. Monterey Bay's degree totals 120 units, and it wants 60 or more transferable credits from you to apply. California Baptist accepts up to 100 transferred units. If you don't have that credit, your real cost is higher.

Military students get a break at one school: California Baptist's bachelor's drops to $250 a unit for Military Tuition Assistance, and our military ranking explains the caps. For the lowest prices anywhere, see the cheapest online exercise science degrees.

Do California Programs Meet the 2027 and 2030 Certification Rules?

Not on paper. None of the eight is on the lists kept by CAAHEP, the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs, or CASCE, the Council on Accreditation of Strength and Conditioning Education. Both matter because certification bodies are tying exam eligibility to them.

The American College of Sports Medicine, or ACSM, says that effective August 15, 2027, candidates for its Certified Exercise Physiologist (ACSM-EP) and Certified Clinical Exercise Physiologist (ACSM-CEP) credentials must graduate from a CAAHEP-accredited exercise science or exercise physiology program, or one that has started the process. Until then, a bachelor's degree in exercise science, exercise physiology or kinesiology plus CPR/AED training qualifies you for the ACSM-EP.

The National Strength and Conditioning Association, or NSCA, says that from January 1, 2030, U.S. candidates for its Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist (CSCS) credential need a bachelor's from a CASCE-accredited program. Today a bachelor's degree and CPR/AED training are enough. Personal trainer exams from ACSM, NSCA, NASM and ACE don't require a degree at all.

Two California pages promise exam preparation. California Baptist's bachelor's names the NSCA and ACSM exams, and Concordia Irvine's master's names the CSCS. That fits today's rules. It doesn't tell you the program will be accredited when the rules change, so ask each school whether it has filed with CAAHEP or CASCE.

Outside California, Arizona State University's online kinesiology bachelor's is on both lists at $580 a credit for its 120 credits.

Northeastern State University in Oklahoma has a CAAHEP-listed bachelor's at $279 a credit for online students who don't live in Oklahoma. For a master's, the University of Florida's is on the CASCE list and ranks first among the 99 online master's programs in our scoring, and Commonwealth University of Pennsylvania's is on the CAAHEP list.

The certification-ready ranking covers the rest, and there's a state page for Arizona too.

Financial Aid and State Authorization for California Residents

Start with the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, or FAFSA. The California Student Aid Commission says the Cal Grant, the state's main aid you don't repay, goes to California residents at a Cal Grant eligible institution who are working toward a first undergraduate degree and are enrolled at least half time.

File the FAFSA or the California Dream Act Application by March 2 for priority consideration, or by September 2 if you're heading to a California community college.

Two catches for online students. Master's students can't use the Cal Grant, because it's for people without a bachelor's degree. And Monterey Bay's tuition page says program students count as part-time for financial aid, so ask its financial aid office whether you'd still be at least half time before you plan around a Cal Grant.

Authorization is a separate question when a school sits in another state. NC-SARA's member list covers 49 states, and California is the one missing. Ask admissions three things: is this program approved for California residents, does it require any in-person placement near you, and does the price change for you. Get the answers by email so you have them in writing.

How Do the Five California Schools Differ?

Lionel University is the only school in the group built entirely around exercise science, and it's fully online. It's accredited by DEAC, the Distance Education Accrediting Commission, a national accreditor.

The other four California schools are accredited by WSCUC, the WASC Senior College and University Commission. If you might transfer credits or go on to a doctorate elsewhere, ask the receiving school whether it accepts Lionel credits before you enroll.

California Baptist and Concordia Irvine are Christian universities. California Baptist runs 8-week sessions with 6 starts a year, and its master's takes 12 months at a full-time load. Concordia Irvine's master's in coaching and exercise sciences has four 11-week terms a year and centers on coaching. Our Christian programs ranking compares them with schools elsewhere.

The Cal State programs serve different people. Monterey Bay's is a degree-completion program for transfer students, with 8-week courses, 3 entry points a year and anatomy and physiology with labs as prerequisites. Bakersfield's master's runs 4 semesters, offers a thesis, a project or a comprehensive exam, and includes a 3-unit practicum. It asks for a 3.0 GPA in your last 60 semester units.