Pennsylvania · Sports

Best colleges for Sports in Pennsylvania

Ranked by graduate earnings

Lebanon Valley College, York College of Pennsylvania and Commonwealth University of Pennsylvania are the top bachelor's Sports programs in Pennsylvania by graduate earnings. Lebanon Valley College leads with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $39,243, College Scorecard. Pennsylvania Western University, Pennsylvania State University and Temple University award the most Sports degrees in Pennsylvania: 232, 221 and 171 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25). 64 Pennsylvania colleges offer Sports and award 2,244 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…

Related programs you can study
Institutions
64
offering CIP 31.05
States & territories
53
with a program page
Degrees / yr
2,244
IPEDS completions 2024–25
Median starting salary
$35,411
1 yr after graduation, College Scorecard
With earnings data
22
College Scorecard
Median net price
$22,907
IPEDS 2024–25
Avg graduation rate
56%
IPEDS 2024–25
State pay · Exercise Physiologists
$51,910
BLS OEWS May 2025

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.

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
1Lebanon Valley College
Annville Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree
$39,2437665%$24,925$27,000
2York College of Pennsylvania
York Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree
$35,7392464%$18,682$27,000
3Commonwealth University of Pennsylvania
Bloomsburg Public · Bachelor's degree
$35,61311554%—$26,167
4Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania
Slippery Rock Public · Bachelor's degree
$35,4117366%—$27,000
5Seton Hill University
Greensburg Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree
$32,9752967%$19,887$27,000
6Pennsylvania Western University
California Public · Bachelor's degree
$32,63223252%—$32,252
7East Stroudsburg University of Pennsylvania
East Stroudsburg Public · Bachelor's degree
$31,62213243%—$26,303
8Indiana University of Pennsylvania
Indiana Public · Bachelor's degree
$31,31112756%—$27,000
9Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania
Shippensburg Public · Bachelor's degree
$30,6163956%—$26,000
10Pennsylvania State University
University Park Public · Bachelor's degree
$30,13322186%—$27,000

Colleges awarding the most Sports degrees in Pennsylvania

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.

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)
1Pennsylvania Western University
California Public
232$32,632
2Pennsylvania State University
University Park Public
221$30,133
3Temple University
Philadelphia Public
171$29,322
4West Chester University of Pennsylvania
West Chester Public
171Not reported
5East Stroudsburg University of Pennsylvania
East Stroudsburg Public
132$31,622
6Indiana University of Pennsylvania
Indiana Public
127$31,311
7Commonwealth University of Pennsylvania
Bloomsburg Public
115$35,613
8University of Pittsburgh-Pittsburgh Campus
Pittsburgh Public
106$24,916
9Lebanon Valley College
Annville Private not-for-profit
76$39,243
10Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania
Slippery Rock Public
73$35,411
Show the other 54 Pennsylvania colleges offering Sports
InstitutionCityControlGraduates / yr
University of ScrantonScrantonPrivate not-for-profit59
Shippensburg University of PennsylvaniaShippensburgPublic39
Millersville University of PennsylvaniaMillersvillePublic38
Grove City CollegeGrove CityPrivate not-for-profit30
Immaculata UniversityImmaculataPrivate not-for-profit29
Seton Hill UniversityGreensburgPrivate not-for-profit29
Neumann UniversityAstonPrivate not-for-profit28
Pennsylvania State University - Penn State HarrisburgMiddletownPublic28
DeSales UniversityCenter ValleyPrivate not-for-profit27
Keystone CollegeLa PlumePrivate not-for-profit27
University of Pittsburgh-BradfordBradfordPublic27
King's CollegeWilkes-BarrePrivate not-for-profit26
York College of PennsylvaniaYorkPrivate not-for-profit24
Chatham UniversityPittsburghPrivate not-for-profit20
Harrisburg University of Science and TechnologyHarrisburgPrivate not-for-profit20
Pennsylvania State University - Penn State BerksReadingPublic19
Thiel CollegeGreenvillePrivate not-for-profit19
Lancaster Bible CollegeLancasterPrivate not-for-profit18
Arcadia UniversityGlensidePrivate not-for-profit17
Gannon UniversityEriePrivate not-for-profit17
Pennsylvania State University - Penn State AltoonaAltoonaPublic16
Elizabethtown CollegeElizabethtownPrivate not-for-profit15
Bucks County Community CollegeNewtownPublic14
Misericordia UniversityDallasPrivate not-for-profit13
Rosemont CollegeRosemontPrivate not-for-profit13
Saint Joseph's University - PhiladelphiaPhiladelphiaPrivate not-for-profit13
Thomas Jefferson UniversityPhiladelphiaPrivate not-for-profit13
Wilson CollegeChambersburgPrivate not-for-profit12
Drexel UniversityPhiladelphiaPrivate not-for-profit11
Lehigh Carbon Community CollegeSchnecksvillePublic11
Marywood UniversityScrantonPrivate not-for-profit11
Messiah UniversityMechanicsburgPrivate not-for-profit11
Eastern UniversitySaint DavidsPrivate not-for-profit10
Holy Family UniversityPhiladelphiaPrivate not-for-profit10
Montgomery County Community CollegeBlue BellPublic10
University of Valley ForgePhoenixvillePrivate not-for-profit10
Cairn University - LanghorneLanghornePrivate not-for-profit8
Westminster CollegeNew WilmingtonPrivate not-for-profit8
Alvernia UniversityReadingPrivate not-for-profit7
Harcum CollegeBryn MawrPrivate not-for-profit7
La Roche UniversityPittsburghPrivate not-for-profit7
Northampton County Area Community CollegeBethlehemPublic7
Albright CollegeReadingPrivate not-for-profit6
Luzerne County Community CollegeNanticokePublic6
Saint Vincent CollegeLatrobePrivate not-for-profit6
Cedar Crest CollegeAllentownPrivate not-for-profit5
Geneva CollegeBeaver FallsPrivate not-for-profit4
Community College of Allegheny CountyPittsburghPublic3
Butler County Community CollegeButlerPublic3
Waynesburg UniversityWaynesburgPrivate not-for-profit3
Pennsylvania College of TechnologyWilliamsportPublic3
Central Penn CollegeSummerdalePrivate for-profit1
Pennsylvania State University - Penn State DuBoisDuBoisPublic1
Pennsylvania State University - World Campus (Online)University ParkPublic1

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

Exercise Trainers and Group Fitness Instructors
$46,620 avg · 11,580 jobs
Coaches and Scouts
$64,540 avg · 8,170 jobs
Athletic Trainers
$62,510 avg · 1,870 jobs
Entertainment and Recreation Managers, Except Gambling
$74,160 avg · 1,220 jobs
Recreation and Fitness Studies Teachers, Postsecondary
$89,050 avg · 640 jobs
Exercise Physiologists
$51,910 avg · 640 jobs

Common questions

Answers for students comparing Sports programs in Pennsylvania.

Which Pennsylvania colleges award the most Sports degrees?+

Pennsylvania Western University (232 graduates a year), Pennsylvania State University (221 graduates a year) and Temple University (171 graduates a year) award the most Sports degrees in Pennsylvania, per IPEDS 2024–25 completions. In all, 64 Pennsylvania colleges offer Sports.

What is the best college for Sports in Pennsylvania?+

By graduate earnings, Lebanon Valley College leads among bachelor's Sports programs in Pennsylvania, with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $39,243, College Scorecard. York College of Pennsylvania and Commonwealth University of Pennsylvania follow. By degrees awarded, Pennsylvania Western University is the largest, with 232 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25).

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

By median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, Lebanon Valley College tops the list at $39,243. 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 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).

Related programs in PennsylvaniaParksParksOutdoor EducationParks

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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