Best colleges for Sports in Arkansas
Ranked by graduate earnings
Arkansas State University, University of Central Arkansas and Ouachita Baptist University are the top bachelor's Sports programs in Arkansas by graduate earnings. Arkansas State University leads with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $32,685, College Scorecard. Arkansas State University, University of Central Arkansas and University of Arkansas at Monticello award the most Sports degrees in Arkansas: 212, 100 and 61 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25). 17 Arkansas colleges offer Sports and award 626 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 7 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 | Arkansas State University Jonesboro Public · Bachelor's degree | $32,685 | 212 | 55% | — | $26,000 |
| 2 | University of Central Arkansas Conway Public · Bachelor's degree | $31,767 | 100 | 54% | — | $25,000 |
| 3 | Ouachita Baptist University Arkadelphia Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $31,385 | 43 | 61% | $21,322 | $19,672 |
| 4 | Southern Arkansas University Main Campus Magnolia Public · Bachelor's degree | $29,854 | 41 | 49% | — | $20,169 |
| 5 | University of Arkansas at Monticello Monticello Public · Bachelor's degree | $29,213 | 61 | 49% | — | $22,000 |
| 6 | Harding University Searcy Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $29,178 | 54 | 69% | $19,423 | $26,054 |
| 7 | University of Arkansas Fayetteville Public · Bachelor's degree Small program | $28,934 | 1 | 71% | — | $24,550 |
Colleges awarding the most Sports degrees in Arkansas
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.
| # | Institution | Graduates / yr | Starting salary (1 yr) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Arkansas State University Jonesboro Public | 212 | $32,685 |
| 2 | University of Central Arkansas Conway Public | 100 | $31,767 |
| 3 | University of Arkansas at Monticello Monticello Public | 61 | $29,213 |
| 4 | Harding University Searcy Private not-for-profit | 54 | $29,178 |
| 5 | Ouachita Baptist University Arkadelphia Private not-for-profit | 43 | $31,385 |
| 6 | Southern Arkansas University Main Campus Magnolia Public | 41 | $29,854 |
| 7 | Arkansas Tech University Russellville Public | 20 | Not reported |
| 8 | Central Baptist College Conway Private not-for-profit | 20 | Not reported |
| 9 | Henderson State University Arkadelphia Public | 13 | Not reported |
| 10 | John Brown University Siloam Springs Private not-for-profit | 13 | Not reported |
ShowHide the other 7 Arkansas colleges offering Sports
| Institution | City | Control | Graduates / yr |
|---|---|---|---|
| Williams Baptist University | Walnut Ridge | Private not-for-profit | 14 |
| Lyon College | Batesville | Private not-for-profit | 11 |
| Ecclesia College | Springdale | Private not-for-profit | 8 |
| University of Arkansas at Little Rock | Little Rock | Public | 7 |
| Philander Smith University | Little Rock | Private not-for-profit | 6 |
| Crowley's Ridge College | Paragould | Private not-for-profit | 2 |
| University of Arkansas | Fayetteville | Public | 1 |
Career outlook
What this program leads to: Exercise Physiologists (SOC 29-1128).
Top skills
What Exercise Physiologists earn in Arkansas
Related careers
Common questions
Answers for students comparing Sports programs in Arkansas.
Which Arkansas colleges award the most Sports degrees?+
Arkansas State University (212 graduates a year), University of Central Arkansas (100 graduates a year) and University of Arkansas at Monticello (61 graduates a year) award the most Sports degrees in Arkansas, per IPEDS 2024–25 completions. In all, 17 Arkansas colleges offer Sports.
What is the best college for Sports in Arkansas?+
By graduate earnings, Arkansas State University leads among bachelor's Sports programs in Arkansas, with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $32,685, College Scorecard. University of Central Arkansas and Ouachita Baptist University follow. By degrees awarded, Arkansas State University is the largest, with 212 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25).
Which Sports program in Arkansas has the highest-earning graduates?+
By median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, Arkansas State University tops the list at $32,685. Compare it against graduates a year, graduation rate, cost, and debt in the ranked table above.
How much do Exercise Physiologists earn in Arkansas?+
The average annual wage for Exercise Physiologists in Arkansas is $52,780 (median $48,850), across about 40 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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