Best colleges for Sports in Kentucky
Ranked by graduate earnings
University of Louisville, University of the Cumberlands and Morehead State University are the top bachelor's Sports programs in Kentucky by graduate earnings. University of Louisville leads with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $33,241, College Scorecard. University of Louisville, Western Kentucky University and University of the Cumberlands award the most Sports degrees in Kentucky: 259, 164 and 143 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25). 20 Kentucky colleges offer Sports and award 1,091 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 | University of Louisville Louisville Public · Bachelor's degree | $33,241 | 259 | 61% | — | $22,053 |
| 2 | University of the Cumberlands Williamsburg Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $31,401 | 143 | 50% | $11,672 | $22,630 |
| 3 | Morehead State University Morehead Public · Bachelor's degree | $30,696 | 49 | 52% | — | $25,946 |
| 4 | Bellarmine University Louisville Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $30,236 | 59 | 64% | $22,542 | $25,944 |
| 5 | Eastern Kentucky University Richmond Public · Bachelor's degree | $29,632 | 98 | 50% | — | $27,000 |
| 6 | Western Kentucky University Bowling Green Public · Bachelor's degree | $25,858 | 164 | 56% | — | $24,593 |
| 7 | Northern Kentucky University Highland Heights Public · Bachelor's degree Small program | $42,725 | 6 | 52% | — | $23,500 |
| 8 | Georgetown College Georgetown Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree Small program | $37,620 | 15 | 49% | $12,666 | $27,000 |
Colleges awarding the most Sports degrees in Kentucky
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 Louisville Louisville Public | 259 | $33,241 |
| 2 | Western Kentucky University Bowling Green Public | 164 | $25,858 |
| 3 | University of the Cumberlands Williamsburg Private not-for-profit | 143 | $31,401 |
| 4 | Eastern Kentucky University Richmond Public | 98 | $29,632 |
| 5 | Bellarmine University Louisville Private not-for-profit | 59 | $30,236 |
| 6 | Morehead State University Morehead Public | 49 | $30,696 |
| 7 | University of Kentucky Lexington Public | 47 | Not reported |
| 8 | Thomas More University Crestview Hills Private not-for-profit | 35 | Not reported |
| 9 | Campbellsville University Campbellsville Private not-for-profit | 34 | Not reported |
| 10 | Midway University Midway Private not-for-profit | 31 | Not reported |
ShowHide the other 10 Kentucky colleges offering Sports
| Institution | City | Control | Graduates / yr |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kentucky Wesleyan College | Owensboro | Private not-for-profit | 30 |
| Transylvania University | Lexington | Private not-for-profit | 30 |
| Union Commonwealth University | Barbourville | Private not-for-profit | 29 |
| Alice Lloyd College | Pippa Passes | Private not-for-profit | 17 |
| Asbury University | Wilmore | Private not-for-profit | 15 |
| Georgetown College | Georgetown | Private not-for-profit | 15 |
| Kentucky State University | Frankfort | Public | 12 |
| Berea College | Berea | Private not-for-profit | 10 |
| University of Pikeville | Pikeville | Private not-for-profit | 8 |
| Northern Kentucky University | Highland Heights | Public | 6 |
Career outlook
What this program leads to: Exercise Physiologists (SOC 29-1128).
Top skills
What Exercise Physiologists earn in Kentucky
Related careers
Common questions
Answers for students comparing Sports programs in Kentucky.
Which Kentucky colleges award the most Sports degrees?+
University of Louisville (259 graduates a year), Western Kentucky University (164 graduates a year) and University of the Cumberlands (143 graduates a year) award the most Sports degrees in Kentucky, per IPEDS 2024–25 completions. In all, 20 Kentucky colleges offer Sports.
What is the best college for Sports in Kentucky?+
By graduate earnings, University of Louisville leads among bachelor's Sports programs in Kentucky, with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $33,241, College Scorecard. University of the Cumberlands and Morehead State University follow. By degrees awarded, University of Louisville is the largest, with 259 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25).
Which Sports program in Kentucky has the highest-earning graduates?+
By median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, University of Louisville tops the list at $33,241. Compare it against graduates a year, graduation rate, cost, and debt in the ranked table above.
How much do Exercise Physiologists earn in Kentucky?+
The average annual wage for Exercise Physiologists in Kentucky is $53,410 (median $51,070), 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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