Best colleges for Sports in Colorado
Ranked by graduate earnings
Metropolitan State University of Denver, Colorado State University - Fort Collins and Colorado State University Pueblo are the top bachelor's Sports programs in Colorado by graduate earnings. Metropolitan State University of Denver leads with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $41,161, College Scorecard. Colorado State University - Fort Collins, Colorado Mesa University and University of Northern Colorado award the most Sports degrees in Colorado: 273, 149 and 137 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25). 17 Colorado colleges offer Sports and award 887 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 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.
| # | Institution | Starting salary (1 yr) | Graduates / yr | Grad rate | Net price | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Metropolitan State University of Denver Denver Public · Bachelor's degree | $41,161 | 82 | 32% | — | $22,292 |
| 2 | Colorado State University - Fort Collins Fort Collins Public · Bachelor's degree | $35,326 | 273 | 67% | — | $22,000 |
| 3 | Colorado State University Pueblo Pueblo Public · Bachelor's degree | $34,865 | 34 | 40% | — | $26,117 |
| 4 | University of Northern Colorado Greeley Public · Bachelor's degree | $33,952 | 137 | 51% | — | $24,500 |
| 5 | Colorado Mesa University Grand Junction Public · Bachelor's degree | $31,253 | 149 | 41% | — | $25,900 |
| 6 | Adams State University Alamosa Public · Bachelor's degree | $30,045 | 51 | 39% | — | $21,451 |
| 7 | Fort Lewis College Durango Public · Bachelor's degree | $24,419 | 52 | 36% | — | $15,000 |
| 8 | Western Colorado University Gunnison Public · Bachelor's degree | $21,038 | 29 | 50% | — | $25,050 |
Colleges awarding the most Sports degrees in Colorado
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 | Colorado State University - Fort Collins Fort Collins Public | 273 | $35,326 |
| 2 | Colorado Mesa University Grand Junction Public | 149 | $31,253 |
| 3 | University of Northern Colorado Greeley Public | 137 | $33,952 |
| 4 | Metropolitan State University of Denver Denver Public | 82 | $41,161 |
| 5 | Fort Lewis College Durango Public | 52 | $24,419 |
| 6 | Adams State University Alamosa Public | 51 | $30,045 |
| 7 | Colorado State University Pueblo Pueblo Public | 34 | $34,865 |
| 8 | Western Colorado University Gunnison Public | 29 | $21,038 |
| 9 | Regis University Denver Private not-for-profit | 20 | Not reported |
| 10 | Aims Community College Greeley Public | 12 | Not reported |
ShowHide the other 7 Colorado colleges offering Sports
| Institution | City | Control | Graduates / yr |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pikes Peak State College | Colorado Springs | Public | 13 |
| University of Denver | Denver | Private not-for-profit | 12 |
| Colorado Christian University | Lakewood | Private not-for-profit | 11 |
| Community College of Denver | Denver | Public | 7 |
| Arapahoe Community College | Littleton | Public | 3 |
| University of Colorado Colorado Springs | Colorado Springs | Public | 1 |
| Front Range Community College | Westminster | Public | 1 |
Career outlook
What this program leads to: Exercise Physiologists (SOC 29-1128).
Top skills
What Exercise Physiologists earn in Colorado
Related careers
Common questions
Answers for students comparing Sports programs in Colorado.
Which Colorado colleges award the most Sports degrees?+
Colorado State University - Fort Collins (273 graduates a year), Colorado Mesa University (149 graduates a year) and University of Northern Colorado (137 graduates a year) award the most Sports degrees in Colorado, per IPEDS 2024–25 completions. In all, 17 Colorado colleges offer Sports.
What is the best college for Sports in Colorado?+
By graduate earnings, Metropolitan State University of Denver leads among bachelor's Sports programs in Colorado, with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $41,161, College Scorecard. Colorado State University - Fort Collins and Colorado State University Pueblo follow. By degrees awarded, Colorado State University - Fort Collins is the largest, with 273 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25).
Which Sports program in Colorado has the highest-earning graduates?+
By median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, Metropolitan State University of Denver tops the list at $41,161. Compare it against graduates a year, graduation rate, cost, and debt in the ranked table above.
How much do Exercise Physiologists earn in Colorado?+
The average annual wage for Exercise Physiologists in Colorado is $63,230 (median $63,800), across about 370 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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