Pennsylvania · Physiology

Best colleges for Physiology in Pennsylvania

Ranked by graduate earnings

Gettysburg College, Ursinus College and Chestnut Hill College award the most Physiology degrees and certificates in Pennsylvania: 50, 39 and 18 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25). 13 Pennsylvania colleges offer Physiology and award 171 degrees and certificates a year in all.

The Physiology program, officially titled Physiology, Pathology and Related Sciences, is a branch of biological and biomedical sciences focused on the study of functions and mechanisms in living systems. This program is ideal for students…

Institutions
13
offering CIP 26.09
States offered
49
with a program page
Degrees / yr
171
IPEDS completions 2024–25
Median starting salary
$26,123
1 yr after graduation, College Scorecard
With earnings data
2
College Scorecard
Median net price
$25,987
IPEDS 2024–25
Avg graduation rate
73%
IPEDS 2024–25
State pay · Exercise Physiologists
$51,910
BLS OEWS May 2025

Top 2 institutions, 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.

Starting salary (1 yr): median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard.
#InstitutionStarting salary (1 yr)Graduates / yrGrad rateNet priceMedian debt
1Gettysburg College
Gettysburg Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree
$37,9775083%$24,453$27,000
2Ursinus College
Collegeville Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree
$26,1233973%$27,153$27,000

Colleges awarding the most Physiology degrees in Pennsylvania

Top 10 by graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25 completions). Online, degree-completion and graduate-only schools, and schools with a graduation rate under 30% are listed in full below.

Graduates / yr: degrees and certificates awarded in a year, IPEDS completions. Starting salary (1 yr): median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard.
#InstitutionGraduates / yrStarting salary (1 yr)
1Gettysburg College
Gettysburg Private not-for-profit
50$37,977
2Ursinus College
Collegeville Private not-for-profit
39$26,123
3Chestnut Hill College
Philadelphia Private not-for-profit
18Not reported
4Saint Francis University
Loretto Private not-for-profit
15Not reported
5University of Pittsburgh-Pittsburgh Campus
Pittsburgh Public
12Not reported
6Lebanon Valley College
Annville Private not-for-profit
8Not reported
7Mercyhurst University
Erie Private not-for-profit
8Not reported
8Drexel University
Philadelphia Private not-for-profit
6Not reported
9University of Scranton
Scranton Private not-for-profit
6Not reported
10Cedar Crest College
Allentown Private not-for-profit
3Not reported
Show the other 3 Pennsylvania colleges offering Physiology
InstitutionCityControlGraduates / yr
Temple UniversityPhiladelphiaPublic3
Pennsylvania State UniversityUniversity ParkPublic2
Saint Joseph's University - PhiladelphiaPhiladelphiaPrivate not-for-profit1

Career outlook

What this program leads to: Exercise Physiologists (SOC 29-1128).

Projected growth (2024–2034)
+9.5%
Much faster than average
Openings / yr (US)
~1,700
BLS Employment Projections
US median wage
$58,160
typically Bachelor's degree

Top skills

Critical ThinkingActive ListeningSpeakingReading ComprehensionWritingMonitoring

What Exercise Physiologists earn in Pennsylvania

Jobs in Pennsylvania
640
BLS OEWS May 2025
State average pay
$51,910
median $48,040
Best-paying metro
$57,980
Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ

Related careers

Biochemists and Biophysicists
$137,680 avg · 2,750 jobs
Biological Science Teachers, Postsecondary
$95,300 avg · 2,410 jobs
Biological Scientists, All Other
$104,980 avg · 1,810 jobs

Common questions

Answers for students comparing Physiology programs in Pennsylvania.

Which Pennsylvania colleges award the most Physiology degrees?+

Gettysburg College (50 graduates a year), Ursinus College (39 graduates a year) and Chestnut Hill College (18 graduates a year) award the most Physiology degrees and certificates in Pennsylvania, per IPEDS 2024–25 completions. In all, 13 Pennsylvania colleges offer Physiology.

Which Physiology program in Pennsylvania has the highest-earning graduates?+

By median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, Gettysburg College tops the list at $37,977. Compare it against graduates a year, graduation rate, cost, and debt in the ranked table above.

How much do Exercise Physiologists earn in Pennsylvania?+

The average annual wage for Exercise Physiologists in Pennsylvania is $51,910 (median $48,040), across about 640 jobs. Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025.

What is the focus of the Physiology program?+

The Physiology program, officially titled Physiology, Pathology and Related Sciences, is a branch of biological and biomedical sciences focused on the study of functions and mechanisms in living systems. This program is ideal for students…

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.

IPEDSFall 2025–26 release, published July 28, 2026
Enrollment, completions, graduation rates, tuition, financial aid, staffing, and finance for every U.S. institution in federal student aid programs.
College ScorecardJune 10, 2026 release (merged 2025–26 files)
Institution and field-of-study costs, graduate earnings, debt, completion, and admissions outcomes compiled from federal aid records, tax data, and IPEDS.
PSEO graduate earnings2019–21 graduation cohorts (release V4.13.0)
Earnings and employment outcomes of graduates by institution, degree level, and field of study, measured from state wage records.
BLS wages & outlookOEWS May 2025 release
Occupational employment and wage estimates plus 10-year job outlook, used to connect programs to real-world earnings.
FVT/GE program performanceProvisional preview, May 18, 2026 release
Program-level debt-to-earnings and earnings-premium measures behind the FVT/GE and STATS accountability frameworks.

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