Best colleges for Sports in Arizona
Ranked by graduate earnings
Grand Canyon University, Arizona State University Campus Immersion and Northern Arizona University are the top bachelor's Sports programs in Arizona by graduate earnings. Grand Canyon University leads with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $34,723, College Scorecard. Grand Canyon University, Northern Arizona University and Arizona State University Campus Immersion award the most Sports degrees in Arizona: 197, 175 and 133 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25). 20 Arizona colleges offer Sports and award 935 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…
Top 5 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.
| # | Institution | Starting salary (1 yr) | Graduates / yr | Grad rate | Net price | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Grand Canyon University Phoenix Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $34,723 | 197 | 43% | $21,535 | $27,000 |
| 2 | Arizona State University Campus Immersion Tempe Public · Bachelor's degree | $32,651 | 133 | 68% | — | $21,170 |
| 3 | Northern Arizona University Flagstaff Public · Bachelor's degree | $28,769 | 175 | 61% | — | $19,650 |
| 4 | The University of Arizona Global Campus Chandler Public · Bachelor's degree Online Small program | $44,513 | 8 | 11% | $26,445 | $38,750 |
| 5 | Ottawa University - Surprise Surprise Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $30,426 | 46 | 18% | $34,373 | $27,000 |
Top certificate or associate program
Shorter credentials, ranked separately so they are not compared with four-year degrees. Ranked by median earnings one year after completion (often called starting salary), College Scorecard.
| # | Institution | Starting salary (1 yr) | Graduates / yr | Grad rate | Net price | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bryan University Tempe Private for-profit · Certificate Online | $29,856 | 89 | 41% | $22,877 | $11,000 |
Colleges awarding the most Sports degrees in Arizona
Top 9 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.
| # | Institution | Graduates / yr | Starting salary (1 yr) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Grand Canyon University Phoenix Private not-for-profit | 197 | $34,723 |
| 2 | Northern Arizona University Flagstaff Public | 175 | $28,769 |
| 3 | Arizona State University Campus Immersion Tempe Public | 133 | $32,651 |
| 4 | University of Arizona Tucson Public | 53 | Not reported |
| 5 | Eastern Arizona College Thatcher Public | 50 | Not reported |
| 6 | Chandler-Gilbert Community College Chandler Public | 13 | Not reported |
| 7 | Cochise County Community College District Sierra Vista Public | 7 | Not reported |
| 8 | Yavapai College Prescott Public | 7 | Not reported |
| 9 | Estrella Mountain Community College Avondale Public | 4 | Not reported |
ShowHide the other 11 Arizona colleges offering Sports
| Institution | City | Control | Graduates / yr |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bryan University (Online) | Tempe | Private for-profit | 89 |
| Ottawa University - Surprise | Surprise | Private not-for-profit | 46 |
| Glendale Community College | Glendale | Public | 44 |
| Mesa Community College | Mesa | Public | 42 |
| Pima Community College | Tucson | Public | 16 |
| Scottsdale Community College | Scottsdale | Public | 16 |
| Arizona Western College | Yuma | Public | 12 |
| South Mountain Community College | Phoenix | Public | 12 |
| The University of Arizona Global Campus (Online) | Chandler | Public | 8 |
| Paradise Valley Community College | Phoenix | Public | 8 |
| Rio Salado College | Tempe | Public | 3 |
Career outlook
What this program leads to: Exercise Physiologists (SOC 29-1128).
Top skills
What Exercise Physiologists earn in Arizona
Related careers
Common questions
Answers for students comparing Sports programs in Arizona.
Which Arizona colleges award the most Sports degrees?+
Grand Canyon University (197 graduates a year), Northern Arizona University (175 graduates a year) and Arizona State University Campus Immersion (133 graduates a year) award the most Sports degrees in Arizona, per IPEDS 2024–25 completions. In all, 20 Arizona colleges offer Sports.
What is the best college for Sports in Arizona?+
By graduate earnings, Grand Canyon University leads among bachelor's Sports programs in Arizona, with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $34,723, College Scorecard. Arizona State University Campus Immersion and Northern Arizona University follow. By degrees awarded, Grand Canyon University is the largest, with 197 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25).
Which Sports program in Arizona has the highest-earning graduates?+
By median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, Grand Canyon University tops the list at $34,723. Compare it against graduates a year, graduation rate, cost, and debt in the ranked table above.
How much do Exercise Physiologists earn in Arizona?+
The average annual wage for Exercise Physiologists in Arizona is $66,200 (median $62,350), across about 220 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).
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.
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