25,719
Graduates Per Year
$37K
Average Salary
#24
Most Popular Major
TOP
25
Degree Stats
Popular
25,719
13% NATIONAL AVG
Diplomas Received Last Year
532
5% NATIONAL AVG
Colleges Offering this Degree
Most Popular Degrees
23
Business
25,818
24
Kinesiology and Exercise Science
25,719
25
Liberal Arts and Sciences
24,981
Most Widely Offered Degrees
35
/
1.852
Worse
Better
Top 100 Colleges offering this degree
Degree Granting Schools that are Public
Most Graduates
By Region
Southeast
Mississippi State University
By State
Texas
Texas State University
By Conference
Big Ten Conference
Indiana University-Bloomington
By School
Alabama A & M University
If you think life as a personal athletic trainer, aerobics instructor, or personal trainer sounds interesting, then a degree in kinesiology and exercise science may just be for you. You could even become a personal fitness coach for celebrities!
Kinesiology and exercise science is the 24th most popular degree in America, with 25,719 students receiving their bachelors degree last year. It just beat out #25 Liberal Arts and Sciences, and narrowly lost to #23 Business.
The degree is offered at a total of 532 colleges across the nation, and is the 39th most widely offered degree. It is only offered at 10% of the Top 100 Best Colleges in America.
It is also worth noting that 55% of colleges offering kinesiology and exercise science are public making it a pretty accessible field.
The southeast produces the most kinesiology and exercise science graduates, largely led by Mississippi State University, while it’s the Big Ten Conference that leads conference totals. As far as states, Texas ranks highest, with particular help from Texas State University and The University of Texas at San Antonio.
All that being said, no individual school produces more kinesiology and exercise science graduates than Alabama A & M University, which graduated 508 students last year alone. Although size is critical, another important factor to consider is the program’s density (the percent of all students that study kinesiology and exercise science). More students studied kinesiology and exercise science as a percentage of total students at Jarvis Christian College than any other college.
We wish you luck on your college search. We hope you enjoy Authority's 2022 official Best Colleges for Kinesiology and Exercise Science list. Some of our picks may surprise you!
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#1 Best Colleges for Kinesiology and Exercise Science
University of Iowa is a very large public university located in Iowa City, IA ranked 4th in Iowa. It has a total of 26,596 full-time undergraduate students and is not competitive, with a 82.55% acceptance rate. University of Iowa offers 430 different majors and is best known for its Kinesiology and Exercise Science, Organizational Leadership, and Informatics programs (nationally ranked 1st, 4th, and 7th respectively). With an annual tuition of $8,073 for students from Iowa and $30,036 for those from out-of-state, University of Iowa is reasonably costly. 65.58% of students graduate starting the next chapter of their lives, joining the workforce. After college, alumni go on to earn about $51,900 per year, which is 25% greater than the national median.
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Iowa City, IA
www.uiowa.edu
A-
Rating
83%
Acceptance
35,339
Students
# 83
Ranking
$30,036
Tuition
#2 Best Colleges for Kinesiology and Exercise Science
Michigan State University is a very large public university located in East Lansing, MI ranked 163rd in the US. It has a total of 42,492 full-time undergraduate students and is not very competitive, accepting 71.12% of applicants. Michigan State University offers 384 different majors and is best known for its Logistics, Materials, and Supply Chain Management, Pre-Law Studies, and Soil Sciences programs, which are all nationally ranked 1st. With an annual tuition of $14,460 for in-state students and $39,766 for those from out-of-state, Michigan State University is rather pricey. 76.24% of students graduate starting the next stage of their lives, entering the labor force. After college, alumni go on to take in close to $53,600 per year, which is 29% over the national median.
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East Lansing, MI
https://www.msu.edu
A
Rating
71%
Acceptance
55,332
Students
# 41
Ranking
$39,766
Tuition
#3 Best Colleges for Kinesiology and Exercise Science
Indiana University-Bloomington is a very large public university located in Bloomington, IN ranked 280th in the nation. It has a total of 34,843 full-time undergraduate students and is not very competitive, accepting barely north of 7 in every 9 applicants. Indiana University-Bloomington offers 336 different majors and is best known for its Business, Public Administration, and Informatics programs, which are all nationally ranked 1st. With an annual tuition of $9,575 for students from Indiana and $35,140 for those from out-of-state, Indiana University-Bloomington is somewhat moderately costly. 60.07% of students graduate beginning the next stage of their lives, employment. After finishing their studies, alumni go on to earn more or less $47,700 per year, which is 15% over the national median.
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Bloomington, IN
www.indiana.edu/
A-
Rating
78%
Acceptance
46,423
Students
# 76
Ranking
$35,140
Tuition
#4 Best Colleges for Kinesiology and Exercise Science
University of Maryland-College Park is a very large public university located in College Park, MD ranked 100th in the US. It has a total of 33,022 full-time undergraduate students and is not very competitive, accepting 44.18% of applicants. University of Maryland-College Park offers 432 different majors and is best known for its Criminology, Preschool Education and Teaching, and Family and Community Services programs (nationally ranked 1st, 1st, and 2nd respectively). With an annual tuition of $8,824 for in-state students and $34,936 for those from out-of-state, University of Maryland-College Park is somewhat moderately pricey. 75.08% of students graduate moving on to the next phase of their lives, working. Open graduating, alumni go on to earn about $62,900 per year, which is 51% over the national median.
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College Park, MD
www.umd.edu
A
Rating
44%
Acceptance
44,486
Students
# 13
Ranking
$34,936
Tuition
#5 Best Colleges for Kinesiology and Exercise Science
Texas A & M University-College Station is a very large public university located in College Station, TX ranked 124th in the United States. It has a total of 56,527 full-time undergraduate students and is not very competitive, accepting something like 4 out of every 7 applicants. Texas A & M University-College Station offers 409 different majors and is best known for its Construction Engineering Technology, Fitness Administration, and Petroleum Engineering programs, which are all nationally ranked 1st. With an annual tuition of $8,532 for students from Texas and $34,981 for those from out-of-state, Texas A & M University-College Station is somewhat moderately high-priced. 76.91% of students graduate ready to the next chapter of their lives, joining the labor force. After finishing college, alumni go on to earn approximately $58,000 per year, which is 40% greater than the national median.
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College Station, TX
https://www.tamu.edu
A
Rating
58%
Acceptance
73,267
Students
# 23
Ranking
$34,981
Tuition
#6 Best Colleges for Kinesiology and Exercise Science
Rice University is a mid-sized private university located in Houston, TX ranked 22nd in America. It has a total of 4,145 full-time undergraduate students and is highly competitive, accepting 8.72% of applicants. Rice University offers 150 different majors and is best known for its Biochemistry, Fitness Administration, and Cognitive Science programs (nationally ranked 2nd, 3rd, and 4th respectively). With an annual tuition of $48,330 per year, Rice University is exceptionally pricey. 85.71% of students graduate beginning the next stage of their lives, employment. Open graduating, alumni go on to generate near $65,400 per year, which is 57% above the national median.
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Houston, TX
www.rice.edu
A+
Rating
9%
Acceptance
7,542
Students
# 22
Ranking
$48,330
Tuition
#7 Best Colleges for Kinesiology and Exercise Science
University of Michigan-Ann Arbor is a very large public university located in Ann Arbor, MI ranked 37th in America. It has a total of 31,206 full-time undergraduate students and is relatively competitive, accepting slightly north of two in nine applicants. University of Michigan-Ann Arbor offers 433 different majors and is best known for its Experimental Psychology, Data Modeling and Database Administration, and German Language and Literature programs, which are all nationally ranked 1st. With an annual tuition of $15,230 for in-state students and $50,872 for those from out-of-state, University of Michigan-Ann Arbor is very expensive. 86.28% of students graduate moving on to the next chapter of their lives, working. Open graduating, alumni go on to bring home near $63,400 per year, which is 53% greater than the national median.
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Ann Arbor, MI
https://umich.edu/
A+
Rating
23%
Acceptance
48,218
Students
# 2
Ranking
$50,872
Tuition
#8 Best Colleges for Kinesiology and Exercise Science
University of Virginia-Main Campus is a very large public university located in Charlottesville, VA ranked 45th in America. It has a total of 18,983 full-time undergraduate students and is relatively competitive, accepting 23.94% of applicants. University of Virginia-Main Campus offers 210 different majors and is best known for its Systems Engineering, Liberal Arts and Sciences, and Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods programs (nationally ranked 1st, 2nd, and 2nd respectively). With an annual tuition of $14,836 for in-state students and $47,257 for those from out-of-state, University of Virginia-Main Campus is exceptionally costly. 88.79% of students graduate moving on to the next phase of their lives, entering the labor market. After finishing college, alumni go on to bring in around $61,200 per year, which is 47% greater than the national median.
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Charlottesville, VA
https://www.virginia.edu
A+
Rating
24%
Acceptance
28,593
Students
# 3
Ranking
$47,257
Tuition
#9 Best Colleges for Kinesiology and Exercise Science
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign is a very large public university located in Champaign, IL ranked 117th in America. It has a total of 35,883 full-time undergraduate students and is not very competitive, accepting 59.03% of applicants. University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign offers 372 different majors and is best known for its Civil Engineering, Food Science, and Architectural Technology programs (nationally ranked 1st, 1st, and 2nd respectively). With an annual tuition of $12,036 for students from Illinois and $29,178 for those from out-of-state, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign is reasonably pricey. 80.23% of students graduate ready to the next chapter of their lives, joining the labor market. Open graduating, alumni go on to draw approximately $61,500 per year, which is 48% over the national median.
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Champaign, IL
www.illinois.edu/
A
Rating
59%
Acceptance
54,985
Students
# 21
Ranking
$29,178
Tuition
#10 Best Colleges for Kinesiology and Exercise Science
Mississippi State University is a very large public university located in Mississippi State, MS ranked 3rd in Mississippi. It has a total of 19,952 full-time undergraduate students and is not very competitive, accepting 53.86% of applicants. Mississippi State University offers 174 different majors and is best known for its Business Teacher Education, Veterinary Technology, and Agricultural Production Operations programs (nationally ranked 1st, 4th, and 4th respectively). With an annual tuition of $8,800 for in-state students and $23,840 for those from out-of-state, Mississippi State University is somewhat moderately pricey. 51.18% of students graduate moving on to the next stage of their lives, entering the labor market. After college, alumni go on to generate about $40,200 per year, which is 3% under the national median.
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Mississippi State, MS
https://www.msstate.edu
B
Rating
54%
Acceptance
24,251
Students
# 135
Ranking
$23,840
Tuition
#11 Best Colleges for Kinesiology and Exercise Science
Rutgers University-New Brunswick is a very large public university located in New Brunswick, NJ ranked 144th in the US. It has a total of 40,836 full-time undergraduate students and is not very competitive, accepting 61.22% of applicants. Rutgers University-New Brunswick offers 374 different majors and is best known for its Human Resources, Social Work, and Logistics, Materials, and Supply Chain Management programs (nationally ranked 2nd, 2nd, and 3rd respectively). With an annual tuition of $12,230 for students from New Jersey and $29,012 for those from out-of-state, Rutgers University-New Brunswick is somewhat moderately costly. 72.03% of students graduate beginning the next stage of their lives, employment. After college, alumni go on to draw more or less $57,900 per year, which is 39% above the national median.
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New Brunswick, NJ
https://newbrunswick.rutgers.edu
A
Rating
61%
Acceptance
57,162
Students
# 31
Ranking
$29,012
Tuition
#12 Best Colleges for Kinesiology and Exercise Science
University of Georgia is a very large public university located in Athens, GA ranked 127th in the nation. It has a total of 32,548 full-time undergraduate students and is not very competitive, with a 45.3% acceptance rate. University of Georgia offers 419 different majors and is best known for its Insurance, Landscape Architecture, and Mathematics Teacher Education programs, which are all nationally ranked 1st. With an annual tuition of $9,790 for in-state students and $28,830 for those from out-of-state, University of Georgia is reasonably expensive. 74.72% of students graduate moving on to the next chapter of their lives, employment. After finishing their studies, alumni go on to draw near $50,500 per year, which is 22% over the national median.
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Athens, GA
www.uga.edu
A
Rating
45%
Acceptance
42,708
Students
# 24
Ranking
$28,830
Tuition
#13 Best Colleges for Kinesiology and Exercise Science
The University of Texas at Austin is a very large public university located in Austin, TX ranked 81st in the US. It has a total of 43,132 full-time undergraduate students and is somewhat competitive, accepting approximately 1/3rd of applicants. The University of Texas at Austin offers 339 different majors and is best known for its Communication Sciences and Disorders, Writing, and Accounting programs (nationally ranked 1st, 1st, and 2nd respectively). With an annual tuition of $10,824 for students from Texas and $38,326 for those from out-of-state, The University of Texas at Austin is rather costly. 77.77% of students graduate starting the next phase of their lives, working. After finishing their studies, alumni go on to bring home around $58,200 per year, which is 40% greater than the national median.
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Austin, TX
www.utexas.edu
A+
Rating
32%
Acceptance
55,128
Students
# 10
Ranking
$38,326
Tuition
#14 Best Colleges for Kinesiology and Exercise Science
Wake Forest University is a mid-sized private university located in Winston-Salem, NC ranked 62nd in the US. It has a total of 5,399 full-time undergraduate students and is relatively competitive, accepting 29.6% of applicants. Wake Forest University offers 100 different majors and is best known for its French Studies, General Studies, and Elementary Education and Teaching programs (nationally ranked 1st, 7th, and 8th respectively). With an annual tuition of $54,430 per year, Wake Forest University is very costly. 85.68% of students graduate beginning the next stage of their lives, employment. After finishing their studies, alumni go on to bring in near $63,800 per year, which is 54% over the national median.
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Winston-Salem, NC
www.wfu.edu
A+
Rating
30%
Acceptance
9,032
Students
# 58
Ranking
$54,430
Tuition
#15 Best Colleges for Kinesiology and Exercise Science
University of Wisconsin-La Crosse is a large public institution located in La Crosse, WI ranked 7th in Wisconsin. It has a total of 10,395 full-time undergraduate students and is not very competitive, accepting 73% of applicants. University of Wisconsin-La Crosse offers 70 different majors and is best known for its Recreational Therapy, Nuclear Medical Technology, and Archeology programs (nationally ranked 1st, 2nd, and 3rd respectively). With an annual tuition of $7,585 for in-state students and $16,404 for those from out-of-state, University of Wisconsin-La Crosse is reasonably priced. 67.96% of students graduate moving on to the next stage of their lives, entering the labor market. After graduation, alumni go on to generate more or less $48,000 per year, which is 16% greater than the national median.
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La Crosse, WI
www.uwlax.edu
B-
Rating
73%
Acceptance
11,500
Students
# 164
Ranking
$16,404
Tuition
#16 Best Colleges for Kinesiology and Exercise Science
Temple University is a very large public university located in Philadelphia, PA ranked 253rd in the nation. It has a total of 31,632 full-time undergraduate students and is not very competitive, with a 60.04% acceptance rate. Temple University offers 493 different majors and is best known for its Organizational Communication, Recreational Therapy, and Social Studies Teacher Education programs, which are all nationally ranked 2nd. With an annual tuition of $16,080 for in-state students and $28,992 for those from out-of-state, Temple University is somewhat moderately expensive. 69.66% of students graduate starting the next chapter of their lives, employment. After finishing college, alumni go on to take home roughly $50,500 per year, which is 22% greater than the national median.
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Philadelphia, PA
www.temple.edu
A-
Rating
60%
Acceptance
43,154
Students
# 67
Ranking
$28,992
Tuition
#17 Best Colleges for Kinesiology and Exercise Science
University of Utah is a very large public university located in Salt Lake City, UT ranked 263rd in the US. It has a total of 29,554 full-time undergraduate students and is not very competitive, accepting 62.12% of applicants. University of Utah offers 384 different majors and is best known for its Dance, Family and Consumer Economics, and Recreational Therapy programs (nationally ranked 6th, 10th, and 10th respectively). With an annual tuition of $7,412 for in-state students and $26,017 for those from out-of-state, University of Utah is reasonably costly. 56.98% of students graduate starting the next stage of their lives, joining the labor force. After finishing their studies, alumni go on to take in near $53,000 per year, which is 28% over the national median.
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Salt Lake City, UT
www.utah.edu
A-
Rating
62%
Acceptance
38,652
Students
# 71
Ranking
$26,017
Tuition
#18 Best Colleges for Kinesiology and Exercise Science
Texas Tech University is a very large public university located in Lubbock, TX ranked 18th in Texas. It has a total of 33,618 full-time undergraduate students and is not very competitive, with a 68.91% acceptance rate. Texas Tech University offers 215 different majors and is best known for its Agricultural Public Services, Human Sciences, and Rhetoric and Composition programs (nationally ranked 1st, 4th, and 6th respectively). With an annual tuition of $6,744 for students from Texas and $16,704 for those from out-of-state, Texas Tech University is moderately priced. 58.48% of students graduate starting the next phase of their lives, joining the labor market. Open graduating, alumni go on to draw around $51,400 per year, which is 24% greater than the national median.
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Lubbock, TX
www.ttu.edu
B
Rating
69%
Acceptance
41,153
Students
# 126
Ranking
$16,704
Tuition
#19 Best Colleges for Kinesiology and Exercise Science
University of Houston is a very large public university located in Houston, TX ranked 17th in Texas. It has a total of 42,723 full-time undergraduate students and is not very competitive, accepting 64.98% of applicants. University of Houston offers 225 different majors and is best known for its Construction Engineering Technology, Computer Engineering Technologies, and Biotechnology programs, which are all nationally ranked 2nd. With an annual tuition of $8,219 for students from Texas and $20,747 for those from out-of-state, University of Houston is reasonably costly. 54.69% of students graduate starting the next stage of their lives, entering the labor market. After graduation, alumni go on to earn more or less $51,600 per year, which is 24% over the national median.
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Houston, TX
www.uh.edu/
B+
Rating
65%
Acceptance
51,999
Students
# 95
Ranking
$20,747
Tuition
#20 Best Colleges for Kinesiology and Exercise Science
Miami University-Oxford is a large public university located in Oxford, OH ranked 11th in Ohio. It has a total of 18,631 full-time undergraduate students and is not competitive, accepting 80.39% of applicants. Miami University-Oxford offers 220 different majors and is best known for its Chemistry Teacher Education, Professional, Technical, Business, and Scientific Writing, and Gerontology programs (nationally ranked 1st, 2nd, and 2nd respectively). With an annual tuition of $12,879 for in-state students and $32,905 for those from out-of-state, Miami University-Oxford is reasonably high-priced. 48.98% of students graduate beginning the next stage of their lives, entering the labor market. After graduation, alumni go on to bring in around $47,100 per year, which is 13% greater than the national median.
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Oxford, OH
miamioh.edu
B+
Rating
80%
Acceptance
22,010
Students
# 109
Ranking
$32,905
Tuition
#21 Best Colleges for Kinesiology and Exercise Science
Ottawa University-Ottawa is a very small private institution located in Ottawa, KS ranked 2nd in Kansas. It has a total of 744 full-time undergraduate students and is quite competitive, with a 14.54% acceptance rate. Ottawa University-Ottawa offers 38 different majors and is best known for its Kinesiology and Exercise Science program, which is ranked 21st in the US. With an annual tuition of $28,980 per year, Ottawa University-Ottawa is somewhat moderately expensive. 29.28% of students graduate beginning the next phase of their lives, employment. Open graduating, alumni go on to generate approximately $41,500 per year, which is 0% under the national median.
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Ottawa, KS
www.ottawa.edu
B
Rating
15%
Acceptance
829
Students
# 357
Ranking
$28,980
Tuition
#22 Best Colleges for Kinesiology and Exercise Science
Iowa State University is a very large public university located in Ames, IA ranked 5th in Iowa. It has a total of 31,555 full-time undergraduate students and is not competitive, accepting 92.05% of applicants. Iowa State University offers 345 different majors and is best known for its Plant Sciences, Agronomy and Crop Science, and Agricultural Mechanization programs, which are all nationally ranked 1st. With an annual tuition of $8,042 for in-state students and $23,230 for those from out-of-state, Iowa State University is somewhat moderately high-priced. 68.35% of students graduate starting the next phase of their lives, entering the labor market. After graduation, alumni go on to earn close to $50,700 per year, which is 22% greater than the national median.
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Ames, IA
www.iastate.edu
B+
Rating
92%
Acceptance
37,944
Students
# 111
Ranking
$23,230
Tuition
#23 Best Colleges for Kinesiology and Exercise Science
The University of Tennessee-Knoxville is a very large public university located in Knoxville, TN ranked 4th in Tennessee. It has a total of 24,447 full-time undergraduate students and is not very competitive, accepting barely north of 77.7% of applicants. The University of Tennessee-Knoxville offers 312 different majors and is best known for its Logistics, Materials, and Supply Chain Management, Business Statistics, and Soil Sciences programs (nationally ranked 2nd, 2nd, and 3rd respectively). With an annual tuition of $11,332 for students from Tennessee and $29,522 for those from out-of-state, The University of Tennessee-Knoxville is reasonably pricey. 62.8% of students graduate moving on to the next stage of their lives, working. After finishing their studies, alumni go on to draw near $45,100 per year, which is 9% over the national median.
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Knoxville, TN
www.utk.edu
B+
Rating
79%
Acceptance
31,477
Students
# 107
Ranking
$29,522
Tuition
#24 Best Colleges for Kinesiology and Exercise Science
Oregon State University is a very large public university located in Corvallis, OR ranked 9th in Oregon. It has a total of 31,233 full-time undergraduate students and is not competitive, accepting 82.33% of applicants. Oregon State University offers 265 different majors and is best known for its Natural Resources Management and Policy, Construction Engineering, and Fishing and Fisheries Sciences and Management programs, which are all nationally ranked 1st. With an annual tuition of $9,846 for students from Oregon and $29,346 for those from out-of-state, Oregon State University is reasonably expensive. 56.12% of students graduate starting the next stage of their lives, entering the workforce. After finishing college, alumni go on to make more or less $49,600 per year, which is 19% greater than the national median.
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Corvallis, OR
https://oregonstate.edu
B
Rating
82%
Acceptance
38,110
Students
# 131
Ranking
$29,346
Tuition
#25 Best Colleges for Kinesiology and Exercise Science
University of Delaware is a very large public university located in Newark, DE ranked 159th in the nation. It has a total of 21,190 full-time undergraduate students and is not very competitive, accepting just north of 7 out of 10 applicants. University of Delaware offers 235 different majors and is best known for its Educational Administration and Supervision, Pre-Veterinary Studies, and History Teacher Education programs (nationally ranked 1st, 2nd, and 3rd respectively). With an annual tuition of $12,730 for students from Delaware and $34,160 for those from out-of-state, University of Delaware is somewhat moderately costly. 78.43% of students graduate moving on to the next stage of their lives, entering the labor force. After finishing their studies, alumni go on to take home more or less $57,000 per year, which is 37% over the national median.
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Newark, DE
www.udel.edu/
A
Rating
71%
Acceptance
25,885
Students
# 38
Ranking
$34,160
Tuition