2026 Scholary 10 Award
Best online exercise science degrees: the Scholary 10
The Scholary 10 is a source-led editorial selection for students comparing online exercise science degrees. We look for disclosed science and applied-learning structure, not a generic promise that an online degree will create a job on its own.
The useful contrarian check
An exercise science label is not proof of hands-on preparation.
Online lecture quality can be excellent. The real decision is whether a school makes its field experience, practicum, internship, lab expectations, and professional support clear enough for the next step you want. That is why the Scholary 10 publishes format details rather than calling every listed option fully remote.
How we evaluate
How do we evaluate online kinesiology programs?
Study Kinesiology combines public institutional data with movement-science-specific review. We use the same public records a generalist directory can access, then assess whether a program's curriculum and applied structure fit the credential or graduate pathway it claims to support.
- Career and pathway fitWhether the published curriculum gives a student a credible foundation for a stated next step, without treating the degree as a license or job guarantee.30%
- Curriculum and applied learningScience depth, visible applied-learning expectations, and clarity about internships, labs, or field experience.25%
- Cost and value transparencyPublished tuition information, required credits, fees, and the limits of any cost estimate.20%
- Student experience and flexibilityDelivery clarity, scheduling information, and the support questions a working student should ask.15%
- Accreditation and legitimacyPrimary-source institutional or programmatic accreditation information and honest delivery claims.10%
Every comparison shows a last-verified date and links each program record to its source set. We do not estimate tuition, format, or accreditation when the institution has not stated it.
Read the full ranking methodology and compare related records in the program directory.
Which programs received the 2026 Scholary 10 online exercise science selection?
How to read the Scholary 10: These are unranked editorial selections. The award identifies ten programs with enough source-linked evidence for a serious comparison. It does not predict admission, licensure, employment, or individual earnings.
| Scholary 10 selection | Program | Why it is here | Published structure | Format to confirm |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Maryville University | BS in Exercise Science | Named concentrations, a 400-hour practicum, and a published 120-credit structure make the applied expectations concrete. | 120 credits | 100% online coursework |
| Abilene Christian University | BS in Exercise Science | A 120-credit online exercise science degree with published tuition and a clearly disclosed faith-integrated curriculum. | 120 hours: 56 university + 64 major | Online |
| Franklin University | BS in Exercise Science | Online coursework is paired with a required on-site field experience, a distinction many search results bury. | 120 credits | 100% online coursework + required on-site field experience |
| University of Wisconsin-Superior | BS in Physical Education, Exercise Science concentration | A published 120-credit plan with a required internship, useful for students who want an experience requirement on the record. | 120 credits; 36 in the major | Offered through Universities of Wisconsin Online; required internship |
| St. Francis College | BS in Exercise and Movement Science | A fully online movement-science route with an exercise physiology and biomechanics foundation identified on the school page. | Confirm current credits with the institution | 100% online |
| New Mexico State University | BS in Kinesiology, Applied Exercise Science concentration | An applied exercise science concentration with published credit and rate information, subject to direct confirmation of lab delivery. | 120 credits; 48 upper-division credits | NMSU Global Campus states 100% online |
| East Central University | BS in Kinesiology | Its stated hands-on training hours make it a useful choice for students who do not want a theory-only comparison. | 120 credits | 100% online with 80 hands-on training hours |
| University of North Dakota | BS in Kinesiology | An asynchronous online program with a clear bachelor’s structure for students balancing employment or location constraints. | 120 credits | 100% online, asynchronous |
| Concordia University Chicago | BS in Kinesiology | A fully online movement-science option with visible credit and tuition figures for an apples-to-apples starting comparison. | 120 credits; 36-credit core | 100% online |
| Oregon State University Ecampus | BS in Kinesiology | A fully online program whose positioning helps students distinguish wellness-and-fitness preparation from clinical preparation. | 180 quarter credits; 60 upper-division | 100% online |
How do you choose the best online exercise science degree for your goal?
Start with the job, credential, or graduate program you intend to pursue, then work backward to science prerequisites and experience. The online exercise science degree guide explains the bachelor’s decision, while the exercise physiology concentration guide and strength and conditioning guide show how nearby paths differ.
What common mistakes should you avoid?
- Equating a fully online course catalog with a fully remote professional preparation path.
- Choosing a concentration before checking the target credential’s eligibility rules.
- Assuming a practicum is arranged for you without asking who finds and supervises the site.
- Ignoring a program’s network and reference-building opportunities.
- Choosing only by sticker tuition instead of total cost, time, and opportunity value.
What does the Scholary 10 not show?
The selection does not establish individual earnings, job placement, certification eligibility, transfer-credit acceptance, or a school’s authority to enroll you in every state. Confirm these details directly before applying.
Common questions
Frequently asked questions
What is the Scholary 10 Award for online exercise science?
It is Study Kinesiology’s 2026 editorial selection of ten online exercise science or closely aligned movement-science programs with source-linked evidence for a meaningful comparison. It is not a paid placement.
Is an online exercise science degree respected?
The format alone does not determine respect. The practical questions are institutional legitimacy, curriculum depth, applied learning, faculty access, and whether the degree supports the credential or next program you actually need.
Can an online exercise science degree be fully remote?
Coursework may be online, but an internship, field experience, practicum, lab, or local placement can still be required. Read the school’s current program page and ask the program to explain every applied requirement.
Does a Scholary 10 selection mean a program is best for every career?
No. Exercise science has different paths, including wellness, performance, clinical-exercise-adjacent roles, graduate study, and education. A program should be chosen for its match to your specific next step.
Which sources support the Scholary 10?
Each selection links to an official program page. See the ranking methodology for the evaluation lens and the online kinesiology Scholary 10 for the adjacent degree category.