Best colleges for Sports in Kansas
Ranked by graduate earnings
Pittsburg State University, University of Kansas and Wichita State University are the top bachelor's Sports programs in Kansas by graduate earnings. Pittsburg State University leads with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $36,393, College Scorecard. University of Kansas, Wichita State University and Benedictine College award the most Sports degrees in Kansas: 314, 55 and 39 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25). 25 Kansas colleges offer Sports and award 850 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 9 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 | Pittsburg State University Pittsburg Public · Bachelor's degree | $36,393 | 24 | 57% | — | $24,900 |
| 2 | University of Kansas Lawrence Public · Bachelor's degree | $33,891 | 314 | 69% | — | $22,125 |
| 3 | Wichita State University Wichita Public · Bachelor's degree | $33,449 | 55 | 51% | — | $23,000 |
| 4 | University of Saint Mary Leavenworth Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $29,151 | 39 | 48% | $22,730 | $27,946 |
| 5 | Washburn University Topeka Public · Bachelor's degree | $25,679 | 36 | 53% | — | $27,717 |
| 6 | Ottawa University - Ottawa Ottawa Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $30,426 | 59 | 28% | $26,935 | $27,000 |
| 7 | Sterling College Sterling Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree Small program | $30,086 | 19 | 41% | $22,406 | $27,250 |
| 8 | Bethany College Lindsborg Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree Small program | $28,881 | 17 | 36% | $28,916 | $25,000 |
| 9 | Friends University Wichita Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree Small program | $24,870 | 12 | 43% | $24,084 | $26,500 |
Colleges awarding the most Sports degrees in Kansas
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 | University of Kansas Lawrence Public | 314 | $33,891 |
| 2 | Wichita State University Wichita Public | 55 | $33,449 |
| 3 | Benedictine College Atchison Private not-for-profit | 39 | Not reported |
| 4 | University of Saint Mary Leavenworth Private not-for-profit | 39 | $29,151 |
| 5 | Kansas Wesleyan University Salina Private not-for-profit | 36 | Not reported |
| 6 | Washburn University Topeka Public | 36 | $25,679 |
| 7 | Tabor College Hillsboro Private not-for-profit | 30 | Not reported |
| 8 | Southwestern College Winfield Private not-for-profit | 29 | Not reported |
| 9 | MidAmerica Nazarene University Olathe Private not-for-profit | 27 | Not reported |
| 10 | Pittsburg State University Pittsburg Public | 24 | $36,393 |
ShowHide the other 15 Kansas colleges offering Sports
| Institution | City | Control | Graduates / yr |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ottawa University - Ottawa | Ottawa | Private not-for-profit | 59 |
| Baker University | Baldwin City | Private not-for-profit | 22 |
| Sterling College | Sterling | Private not-for-profit | 19 |
| Bethany College | Lindsborg | Private not-for-profit | 17 |
| Haskell Indian Nations University | Lawrence | Public | 16 |
| Bethel College - North Newton | North Newton | Private not-for-profit | 15 |
| McPherson College | McPherson | Private not-for-profit | 14 |
| Kansas Christian College | Overland Park | Private not-for-profit | 13 |
| Friends University | Wichita | Private not-for-profit | 12 |
| Butler Community College | El Dorado | Public | 10 |
| Johnson County Community College | Overland Park | Public | 8 |
| Central Christian College of Kansas | McPherson | Private not-for-profit | 7 |
| Barclay College | Haviland | Private not-for-profit | 4 |
| Kansas State University | Manhattan | Public | 3 |
| Independence Community College | Independence | Public | 2 |
Career outlook
What this program leads to: Exercise Physiologists (SOC 29-1128).
Top skills
What Exercise Physiologists earn in Kansas
Related careers
Common questions
Answers for students comparing Sports programs in Kansas.
Which Kansas colleges award the most Sports degrees?+
University of Kansas (314 graduates a year), Wichita State University (55 graduates a year) and Benedictine College (39 graduates a year) award the most Sports degrees in Kansas, per IPEDS 2024–25 completions. In all, 25 Kansas colleges offer Sports.
What is the best college for Sports in Kansas?+
By graduate earnings, Pittsburg State University leads among bachelor's Sports programs in Kansas, with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $36,393, College Scorecard. University of Kansas and Wichita State University follow. By degrees awarded, University of Kansas is the largest, with 314 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25).
Which Sports program in Kansas has the highest-earning graduates?+
By median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, Pittsburg State University tops the list at $36,393. Compare it against graduates a year, graduation rate, cost, and debt in the ranked table above.
How much do Exercise Physiologists earn in Kansas?+
The average annual wage for Exercise Physiologists in Kansas is $57,900 (median $59,090), across about 60 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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