Best colleges for Sports in Michigan
Ranked by graduate earnings
University of Michigan-Ann Arbor, Adrian College and Eastern Michigan University are the top bachelor's Sports programs in Michigan by graduate earnings. University of Michigan-Ann Arbor leads with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $43,506, College Scorecard. University of Michigan-Ann Arbor, Michigan State University and Grand Valley State University award the most Sports degrees in Michigan: 406, 366 and 216 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25). 43 Michigan colleges offer Sports and award 2,269 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 10 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 Michigan-Ann Arbor Ann Arbor Public · Bachelor's degree | $43,506 | 406 | 93% | — | $19,135 |
| 2 | Adrian College Adrian Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $36,808 | 65 | 48% | $20,357 | $27,000 |
| 3 | Eastern Michigan University Ypsilanti Public · Bachelor's degree | $34,499 | 48 | 46% | — | $26,894 |
| 4 | Davenport University Grand Rapids Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $34,380 | 38 | 57% | $22,126 | $27,000 |
| 5 | Central Michigan University Mount Pleasant Public · Bachelor's degree | $32,850 | 146 | 59% | — | $27,000 |
| 6 | Saginaw Valley State University University Center Public · Bachelor's degree | $31,021 | 44 | 48% | — | $30,000 |
| 7 | Albion College Albion Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $30,314 | 49 | 62% | $16,537 | $27,000 |
| 8 | Grand Valley State University Allendale Public · Bachelor's degree | $29,913 | 216 | 67% | — | $26,300 |
| 9 | Northwood University Midland Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $28,569 | 24 | 63% | $24,986 | $25,237 |
| 10 | Michigan State University East Lansing Public · Bachelor's degree | $28,045 | 366 | 81% | — | $26,000 |
Colleges awarding the most Sports degrees in Michigan
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 Michigan-Ann Arbor Ann Arbor Public | 406 | $43,506 |
| 2 | Michigan State University East Lansing Public | 366 | $28,045 |
| 3 | Grand Valley State University Allendale Public | 216 | $29,913 |
| 4 | Wayne State University Detroit Public | 186 | Not reported |
| 5 | Central Michigan University Mount Pleasant Public | 146 | $32,850 |
| 6 | Western Michigan University Kalamazoo Public | 130 | $26,676 |
| 7 | Adrian College Adrian Private not-for-profit | 65 | $36,808 |
| 8 | Calvin University Grand Rapids Private not-for-profit | 51 | $26,309 |
| 9 | Albion College Albion Private not-for-profit | 49 | $30,314 |
| 10 | Eastern Michigan University Ypsilanti Public | 48 | $34,499 |
ShowHide the other 33 Michigan colleges offering Sports
| Institution | City | Control | Graduates / yr |
|---|---|---|---|
| Northern Michigan University | Marquette | Public | 45 |
| Saginaw Valley State University | University Center | Public | 44 |
| Hope College | Holland | Private not-for-profit | 43 |
| Madonna University | Livonia | Private not-for-profit | 39 |
| Davenport University | Grand Rapids | Private not-for-profit | 38 |
| Oakland University | Rochester Hills | Public | 37 |
| Cornerstone University | Grand Rapids | Private not-for-profit | 32 |
| Hillsdale College | Hillsdale | Private not-for-profit | 30 |
| Michigan Technological University | Houghton | Public | 29 |
| Siena Heights University | Adrian | Private not-for-profit | 28 |
| The University of Olivet | Olivet | Private not-for-profit | 25 |
| Rochester Christian University | Rochester Hills | Private not-for-profit | 24 |
| Northwood University | Midland | Private not-for-profit | 24 |
| Aquinas College | Grand Rapids | Private not-for-profit | 21 |
| Spring Arbor University | Spring Arbor | Private not-for-profit | 21 |
| Alma College | Alma | Private not-for-profit | 20 |
| Concordia University Ann Arbor | Ann Arbor | Private not-for-profit | 18 |
| Lake Superior State University | Sault Ste Marie | Public | 14 |
| Macomb Community College | Warren | Public | 13 |
| Washtenaw Community College | Ann Arbor | Public | 9 |
| Schoolcraft Community College District | Livonia | Public | 8 |
| Andrews University | Berrien Springs | Private not-for-profit | 7 |
| Lansing Community College | Lansing | Public | 7 |
| Delta College | University Center | Public | 6 |
| Southwestern Michigan College | Dowagiac | Public | 6 |
| Mott Community College | Flint | Public | 5 |
| Henry Ford College | Dearborn | Public | 4 |
| Jackson College | Jackson | Public | 2 |
| Kellogg Community College | Battle Creek | Public | 2 |
| Bay Mills Community College | Brimley | Public | 2 |
| Great Lakes Christian College | Lansing | Private not-for-profit | 1 |
| Kalamazoo Valley Community College | Kalamazoo | Public | 1 |
| Muskegon Community College | Muskegon | Public | 1 |
Career outlook
What this program leads to: Exercise Physiologists (SOC 29-1128).
Top skills
What Exercise Physiologists earn in Michigan
Related careers
Common questions
Answers for students comparing Sports programs in Michigan.
Which Michigan colleges award the most Sports degrees?+
University of Michigan-Ann Arbor (406 graduates a year), Michigan State University (366 graduates a year) and Grand Valley State University (216 graduates a year) award the most Sports degrees in Michigan, per IPEDS 2024–25 completions. In all, 43 Michigan colleges offer Sports.
What is the best college for Sports in Michigan?+
By graduate earnings, University of Michigan-Ann Arbor leads among bachelor's Sports programs in Michigan, with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $43,506, College Scorecard. Adrian College and Eastern Michigan University follow. By degrees awarded, University of Michigan-Ann Arbor is the largest, with 406 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25).
Which Sports program in Michigan has the highest-earning graduates?+
By median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, University of Michigan-Ann Arbor tops the list at $43,506. Compare it against graduates a year, graduation rate, cost, and debt in the ranked table above.
How much do Exercise Physiologists earn in Michigan?+
The average annual wage for Exercise Physiologists in Michigan is $56,820 (median $55,080), across about 570 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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