Best colleges for Sports in Virginia
Ranked by graduate earnings
Longwood University, James Madison University and George Mason University are the top bachelor's Sports programs in Virginia by graduate earnings. Longwood University leads with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $39,479, College Scorecard. Liberty University, James Madison University and Old Dominion University award the most Sports degrees in Virginia: 409, 389 and 176 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25). 24 Virginia colleges offer Sports and award 1,797 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 | Longwood University Farmville Public · Bachelor's degree | $39,479 | 26 | 61% | — | $27,000 |
| 2 | James Madison University Harrisonburg Public · Bachelor's degree | $35,955 | 389 | 80% | — | $21,500 |
| 3 | George Mason University Fairfax Public · Bachelor's degree | $34,890 | 133 | 68% | — | $25,033 |
| 4 | Bridgewater College Bridgewater Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $30,243 | 51 | 53% | $19,485 | $27,000 |
| 5 | Old Dominion University Norfolk Public · Bachelor's degree | $29,989 | 176 | 46% | — | $26,375 |
| 6 | Emory & Henry University Emory Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $28,146 | 64 | 56% | $20,446 | $27,000 |
| 7 | University of Virginia Charlottesville Public · Bachelor's degree | $27,810 | 112 | 96% | — | $23,250 |
| 8 | Hampton University Hampton Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $27,633 | 54 | 57% | $34,268 | $26,000 |
| 9 | Liberty University Lynchburg Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $27,423 | 409 | 65% | $28,911 | $25,645 |
| 10 | Roanoke College Salem Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $27,304 | 53 | 67% | $24,604 | $27,000 |
Colleges awarding the most Sports degrees in Virginia
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 | Liberty University Lynchburg Private not-for-profit | 409 | $27,423 |
| 2 | James Madison University Harrisonburg Public | 389 | $35,955 |
| 3 | Old Dominion University Norfolk Public | 176 | $29,989 |
| 4 | George Mason University Fairfax Public | 133 | $34,890 |
| 5 | University of Virginia Charlottesville Public | 112 | $27,810 |
| 6 | William & Mary Williamsburg Public | 110 | $27,114 |
| 7 | Emory & Henry University Emory Private not-for-profit | 64 | $28,146 |
| 8 | Hampton University Hampton Private not-for-profit | 54 | $27,633 |
| 9 | Roanoke College Salem Private not-for-profit | 53 | $27,304 |
| 10 | Bridgewater College Bridgewater Private not-for-profit | 51 | $30,243 |
ShowHide the other 14 Virginia colleges offering Sports
| Institution | City | Control | Graduates / yr |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virginia Commonwealth University | Richmond | Public | 39 |
| Norfolk State University | Norfolk | Public | 36 |
| Randolph College | Lynchburg | Private not-for-profit | 36 |
| Longwood University | Farmville | Public | 26 |
| Radford University | Radford | Public | 25 |
| Virginia State University | Petersburg | Public | 16 |
| Virginia Wesleyan University | Virginia Beach | Private not-for-profit | 14 |
| University of Lynchburg | Lynchburg | Private not-for-profit | 12 |
| Shenandoah University | Winchester | Private not-for-profit | 11 |
| Averett University | Danville | Private not-for-profit | 9 |
| Bluefield University | Bluefield | Private not-for-profit | 7 |
| Eastern Mennonite University | Harrisonburg | Private not-for-profit | 7 |
| Ferrum College | Ferrum | Private not-for-profit | 5 |
| Mary Baldwin University | Staunton | Private not-for-profit | 3 |
Career outlook
What this program leads to: Exercise Physiologists (SOC 29-1128).
Top skills
What Exercise Physiologists earn in Virginia
Related careers
Common questions
Answers for students comparing Sports programs in Virginia.
Which Virginia colleges award the most Sports degrees?+
Liberty University (409 graduates a year), James Madison University (389 graduates a year) and Old Dominion University (176 graduates a year) award the most Sports degrees in Virginia, per IPEDS 2024–25 completions. In all, 24 Virginia colleges offer Sports.
What is the best college for Sports in Virginia?+
By graduate earnings, Longwood University leads among bachelor's Sports programs in Virginia, with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $39,479, College Scorecard. James Madison University and George Mason University follow. By degrees awarded, Liberty University is the largest, with 409 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25).
Which Sports program in Virginia has the highest-earning graduates?+
By median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, Longwood University tops the list at $39,479. Compare it against graduates a year, graduation rate, cost, and debt in the ranked table above.
How much do Exercise Physiologists earn in Virginia?+
The average annual wage for Exercise Physiologists in Virginia is $59,230 (median $52,400), across about 240 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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