Alabama · Sports

Best colleges for Sports in Alabama

Ranked by graduate earnings

Auburn University at Montgomery, Troy University and University of Montevallo are the top bachelor's Sports programs in Alabama by graduate earnings. Auburn University at Montgomery leads with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $36,579, College Scorecard. The University of Alabama, University of North Alabama and Troy University award the most Sports degrees in Alabama: 345, 96 and 82 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25). 20 Alabama colleges offer Sports and award 931 degrees and certificates a year in all.

The Sports program, officially titled Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness, focuses on the study of physical activity, fitness, and recreation. This program is designed for individuals interested in promoting health and…

Related programs you can study
Institutions
20
offering CIP 31.05
States & territories
53
with a program page
Degrees / yr
931
IPEDS completions 2024–25
Median starting salary
$28,469
1 yr after graduation, College Scorecard
With earnings data
8
College Scorecard
Median net price
$21,604
IPEDS 2024–25
Avg graduation rate
50%
IPEDS 2024–25
State pay · Exercise Physiologists
$54,400
BLS OEWS May 2025

Top 8 bachelor's programs, ranked by graduate earnings

Ranked by median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard. Programs with fewer than 20 graduates a year, a graduation rate under 30%, or online, degree-completion or graduate-only status rank after the rest.

Starting salary (1 yr): median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard.
#InstitutionStarting salary (1 yr)Graduates / yrGrad rateNet priceMedian debt
1Auburn University at Montgomery
Montgomery Public · Bachelor's degree
$36,5795133%—$26,500
2Troy University
Troy Public · Bachelor's degree
$36,2568250%—$27,000
3University of Montevallo
Montevallo Public · Bachelor's degree
$30,2504154%—$25,000
4University of North Alabama
Florence Public · Bachelor's degree
$29,7149655%—$23,250
5Huntingdon College
Montgomery Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree
$28,4692348%$21,604$26,798
6University of Alabama in Huntsville
Huntsville Public · Bachelor's degree
$27,7884064%—$24,250
7University of Mobile
Mobile Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree
$26,7852757%$19,817$26,000
8Faulkner University
Montgomery Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree
$25,7102237%$25,801$34,658

Colleges awarding the most Sports degrees in Alabama

Top 10 by graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25 completions). Certificate and associate programs, online, degree-completion and graduate-only schools, and schools with a graduation rate under 30% are listed in full below.

Graduates / yr: degrees and certificates awarded in a year, IPEDS completions. Starting salary (1 yr): median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard.
#InstitutionGraduates / yrStarting salary (1 yr)
1The University of Alabama
Tuscaloosa Public
345Not reported
2University of North Alabama
Florence Public
96$29,714
3Troy University
Troy Public
82$36,256
4Auburn University at Montgomery
Montgomery Public
51$36,579
5University of West Alabama
Livingston Public
51Not reported
6University of Montevallo
Montevallo Public
41$30,250
7University of Alabama in Huntsville
Huntsville Public
40$27,788
8Jacksonville State University
Jacksonville Public
35Not reported
9University of Mobile
Mobile Private not-for-profit
27$26,785
10United States Sports University
Daphne Private not-for-profit
25Not reported
Show the other 10 Alabama colleges offering Sports
InstitutionCityControlGraduates / yr
Alabama A & M UniversityNormalPublic32
Huntingdon CollegeMontgomeryPrivate not-for-profit23
Faulkner UniversityMontgomeryPrivate not-for-profit22
University of South AlabamaMobilePublic16
Samford UniversityBirminghamPrivate not-for-profit14
Spring Hill CollegeMobilePrivate not-for-profit10
University of Alabama at BirminghamBirminghamPublic9
Southern Union State Community CollegeWadleyPublic5
Athens State University (Degree completion)AthensPublic4
Shelton State Community CollegeTuscaloosaPublic3

Career outlook

What this program leads to: Exercise Physiologists (SOC 29-1128).

Projected growth (2024–2034)
+9.5%
Much faster than average
Openings / yr (US)
~1,700
BLS Employment Projections
US median wage
$58,160
typically Bachelor's degree

Top skills

Critical ThinkingActive ListeningSpeakingReading ComprehensionWritingMonitoring

What Exercise Physiologists earn in Alabama

Jobs in Alabama
70
BLS OEWS May 2025
State average pay
$54,400
median $50,820
Best-paying metro
—

Related careers

Coaches and Scouts
— avg · 3,140 jobs
Exercise Trainers and Group Fitness Instructors
$39,330 avg · 2,680 jobs
Athletic Trainers
$50,760 avg · 840 jobs
Athletes and Sports Competitors
— avg · 330 jobs
Entertainment and Recreation Managers, Except Gambling
$68,790 avg · 190 jobs
Recreation and Fitness Studies Teachers, Postsecondary
$69,950 avg · 110 jobs

Common questions

Answers for students comparing Sports programs in Alabama.

Which Alabama colleges award the most Sports degrees?+

The University of Alabama (345 graduates a year), University of North Alabama (96 graduates a year) and Troy University (82 graduates a year) award the most Sports degrees in Alabama, per IPEDS 2024–25 completions. In all, 20 Alabama colleges offer Sports.

What is the best college for Sports in Alabama?+

By graduate earnings, Auburn University at Montgomery leads among bachelor's Sports programs in Alabama, with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $36,579, College Scorecard. Troy University and University of Montevallo follow. By degrees awarded, The University of Alabama is the largest, with 345 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25).

Which Sports program in Alabama has the highest-earning graduates?+

By median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, Auburn University at Montgomery tops the list at $36,579. Compare it against graduates a year, graduation rate, cost, and debt in the ranked table above.

How much do Exercise Physiologists earn in Alabama?+

The average annual wage for Exercise Physiologists in Alabama is $54,400 (median $50,820), across about 70 jobs. Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025.

What is the focus of the Sports program?+

The Sports program, officially titled Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness, focuses on the study of physical activity, fitness, and recreation. This program is designed for individuals interested in promoting health and…

What skills will I develop in this program?+

You will develop critical thinking, active listening, speaking, reading comprehension, and related professional skills.

What is the job outlook for Exercise Physiologists?+

The national job outlook is about +9.5% growth with around 1,700 annual openings (BLS Employment Projections 2024–2034).

What is the typical education requirement?+

A Bachelor's degree is the typical entry-level education for this field (BLS).

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About the data on this page

Every figure comes from an official federal or public source. Here is each one and the release it is currently on.

IPEDSFall 2025–26 release, published July 28, 2026
Enrollment, completions, graduation rates, tuition, financial aid, staffing, and finance for every U.S. institution in federal student aid programs.
College ScorecardJune 10, 2026 release (merged 2025–26 files)
Institution and field-of-study costs, graduate earnings, debt, completion, and admissions outcomes compiled from federal aid records, tax data, and IPEDS.
PSEO graduate earnings2019–21 graduation cohorts (release V4.13.0)
Earnings and employment outcomes of graduates by institution, degree level, and field of study, measured from state wage records.
BLS wages & outlookOEWS May 2025 release
Occupational employment and wage estimates plus 10-year job outlook, used to connect programs to real-world earnings.
FVT/GE program performanceProvisional preview, May 18, 2026 release
Program-level debt-to-earnings and earnings-premium measures behind the FVT/GE and STATS accountability frameworks.

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