Best Online Kinesiology Programs in Columbia, MO (2026)

Updated August 10, 2026 BLS data College Scorecard On this page

Columbia, Missouri has 5 accredited schools offering kinesiology programs, with tuition ranging from $25,826 to $43,635 per year for indexed programs. Columbia has a population of about 127,200. Median household income is $64,488 (Census ACS 2023, 5-year). About 56.5% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor’s degree or higher. In the Columbia, MO metro area, the top-earning kinesiology-related role is Athletic Trainer at a median $61,540 annually (BLS OEWS, May 2025).

Closest Kinesiology Schools to Columbia

The accredited institutions listed below are the closest in our directory that offer kinesiology programs near Columbia, ranked by BOC Score and straight-line distance from Columbia city center. The list is rebuilt from federal IPEDS data on every site update.

How We Rank Schools

Every school list on this site is ordered by the BOC Score, computed from the most recent school-level data published by the U.S. Department of Education (College Scorecard and IPEDS). To qualify, a school must be currently operating and accredited by an agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. Each eligible school is then scored on five measures, percentile-ranked against schools at the same credential level:

  • Graduation rate 30%
  • Median earnings, 10 years after entry 25%
  • Average net price (lower is better) 20%
  • Retention rate 15%
  • Fully online availability 10%

Schools without enough outcome data appear after ranked schools, without a score. On this page, schools are ordered by distance from Columbia. Advertising never affects these rankings. Read the full methodology.

Ranked by BOC Score — U.S. Dept. of Education outcome data. Advertising never affects rankings.

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#1

Central Methodist University-College of Liberal Arts and Sciences

Fayette, MO 23.9 miles from Columbia
  • 4 year
  • Accredited
31.0 BOC Score
Acceptance rate 57%
Graduation rate 52%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $48,991
Avg net price $22,766/yr
Tuition
In‑state$28,260
Out‑of‑state$28,260
Contact
Key stats
  • Retention rate: 63%
  • Programs offered: 8

Source:Accreditor: Higher Learning CommissionIPEDSCollege Scorecard

#2

Park University

Parkville, MO 127.4 miles from Columbia
  • 4 year
  • Campus + Online
41.2 BOC Score
Graduation rate 43%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $56,309
Avg net price $21,032/yr
TuitionContact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Retention rate: 58%
  • Programs offered: 18

Source:IPEDSCollege Scorecard

Source: IPEDS / College Scorecard (2023 cohort). Browse all Missouri schools on the Missouri kinesiology page.

Kinesiology Wages Near Columbia

Columbia is part of the Columbia, MO metro area (BLS area code 17860). Where MSA-level wages are published, the table below shows MSA medians; otherwise it falls back to Missouri statewide.

OccupationMedian WageSourceCOL-Adjusted (US=100)
Exercise Physiologist$52,570MO statewide$58,803
Exercise Trainer and Group Fitness Instructor$35,090Columbia, MO$39,251
Athletic Trainer$61,540Columbia, MO$68,837
Coach and Scout$48,290Columbia, MO$54,016

Source: BLS, May 2025 Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics publishes wage data at the metro (MSA) and state level – not by individual city.

Columbia at a Glance

MetricValueSource
Population127,200Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B01003)
Median household income$64,488Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B19013)
Adults 25+ with bachelor’s+56.5%Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B15003)
Regional Price Parity (US=100)89.4 (below U.S. average)BEA RPP 2024

Other Columbia-Area Cities With Kinesiology Programs

Frequently Asked Questions

How many accredited kinesiology schools are near Columbia, MO?

Our directory has 5 accredited schools offering kinesiology programs near Columbia. The closest is Columbia College in Columbia, MO (0.7 miles), and the farthest of the schools shown is Central Methodist University-College of Liberal Arts and Sciences (23.9 miles). 4 of the highlighted schools are flagged as offering distance education.

What are the highest-paying kinesiology roles near Columbia?

Based on BLS OEWS May 2025 wage data, the top-paying kinesiology-related roles near Columbia are: Athletic Trainer ($61,540), Exercise Physiologist ($52,570), Coach and Scout ($48,290). These reflect MSA-level medians where published, with Missouri statewide fallback for occupations not reported at the metro level.

Should I look at programs in Jefferson City instead of Columbia?

Jefferson City, MO is 27.5 miles from Columbia and has its own set of local kinesiology programs – see the city’s page. For online programs, distance matters less; for hybrid or in-person formats, comparing both can help.

Is Columbia an affordable place to study kinesiology?

Columbia’s median household income of $64,488 (Census ACS 2023) is one input. Online programs let students stay in Columbia while attending lower-cost out-of-state schools, and Missouri public universities often offer reduced in-state online tuition.

How do I verify a program is accredited?

Confirm institutional accreditation via the U.S. Department of Education database (U.S. Dept. of Education database), and check for any program-specific accreditation listed by the school.

Learn More About Kinesiology Programs

Other Programs Available in Columbia

Compare every accredited online degree program with city-level data for Columbia:

Data verified: August 10, 2026. Salary, employment, and tuition figures on this page are sourced from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (OEWS May 2025; Employment Projections 2024–2034) and the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (2023 cohort). The source agency and data year are cited inline with every statistic.

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