Best colleges for Sports in Texas
Ranked by graduate earnings
Rice University, Lubbock Christian University and Southern Methodist University are the top bachelor's Sports programs in Texas by graduate earnings. Rice University leads with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $51,110, College Scorecard. Texas A&M University - College Station, Texas State University and The University of Texas at Austin award the most Sports degrees in Texas: 633, 400 and 376 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25). 87 Texas colleges offer Sports and award 6,536 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 | Rice University Houston Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $51,110 | 39 | 95% | $13,264 | $10,000 |
| 2 | Lubbock Christian University Lubbock Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $46,359 | 22 | 51% | $25,162 | $27,000 |
| 3 | Southern Methodist University Dallas Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $45,519 | 124 | 84% | $33,246 | $20,475 |
| 4 | University of the Incarnate Word San Antonio Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $40,453 | 56 | 51% | $21,745 | $30,718 |
| 5 | West Texas A & M University Canyon Public · Bachelor's degree | $40,313 | 71 | 55% | — | $22,500 |
| 6 | Sul Ross State University Alpine Public · Bachelor's degree | $39,723 | 66 | 30% | — | $27,670 |
| 7 | Stephen F Austin State University Nacogdoches Public · Bachelor's degree | $38,249 | 110 | 53% | — | $25,995 |
| 8 | Texas A&M University - College Station College Station Public · Bachelor's degree | $37,044 | 633 | 84% | — | $20,414 |
| 9 | Sam Houston State University Huntsville Public · Bachelor's degree | $37,005 | 147 | 55% | — | $26,500 |
| 10 | East Texas A&M University Commerce Public · Bachelor's degree | $36,305 | 104 | 43% | — | $23,007 |
Top 2 certificate and associate programs
Shorter credentials, ranked separately so they are not compared with four-year degrees. Ranked by median earnings one year after completion (often called starting salary), College Scorecard.
| # | Institution | Starting salary (1 yr) | Graduates / yr | Grad rate | Net price | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | South Texas College McAllen Public · Associate degree | $22,699 | 44 | 27% | — | $4,500 |
| 2 | El Paso Community College El Paso Public · Associate degree | $21,750 | 51 | 24% | — | $5,500 |
Colleges awarding the most Sports degrees in Texas
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 | Texas A&M University - College Station College Station Public | 633 | $37,044 |
| 2 | Texas State University San Marcos Public | 400 | $33,033 |
| 3 | The University of Texas at Austin Austin Public | 376 | $35,583 |
| 4 | Tarleton State University Stephenville Public | 375 | $36,117 |
| 5 | University of Houston Houston Public | 365 | $30,035 |
| 6 | The University of Texas at San Antonio San Antonio Public | 351 | $30,160 |
| 7 | University of North Texas Denton Public | 226 | $35,039 |
| 8 | The University of Texas at Arlington Arlington Public | 198 | $30,499 |
| 9 | Baylor University Waco Private not-for-profit | 170 | $33,921 |
| 10 | Texas Tech University Lubbock Public | 170 | $33,705 |
ShowHide the other 77 Texas colleges offering Sports
Career outlook
What this program leads to: Exercise Physiologists (SOC 29-1128).
Top skills
What Exercise Physiologists earn in Texas
Related careers
Common questions
Answers for students comparing Sports programs in Texas.
Which Texas colleges award the most Sports degrees?+
Texas A&M University - College Station (633 graduates a year), Texas State University (400 graduates a year) and The University of Texas at Austin (376 graduates a year) award the most Sports degrees in Texas, per IPEDS 2024–25 completions. In all, 87 Texas colleges offer Sports.
What is the best college for Sports in Texas?+
By graduate earnings, Rice University leads among bachelor's Sports programs in Texas, with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $51,110, College Scorecard. Lubbock Christian University and Southern Methodist University follow. By degrees awarded, Texas A&M University - College Station is the largest, with 633 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25).
Which Sports program in Texas has the highest-earning graduates?+
By median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, Rice University tops the list at $51,110. Compare it against graduates a year, graduation rate, cost, and debt in the ranked table above.
How much do Exercise Physiologists earn in Texas?+
The average annual wage for Exercise Physiologists in Texas is $57,340 (median $56,780), across about 520 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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