20 Best Online Master’s in Fitness and Personal Training

The University of Florida combines great value with a national reputation to reach the top of our list. Money placed the Gainesville-based university at No. 21 on its list of the Best Colleges For Your Money 2019. Athletics programs have spread the Gator name across the country with national championships in seven sports over the past ten years. 

The online Master of Science in Sport Management allows students anywhere in the world to become a Gator alumnus. The College of Health and Human Performance asks MS applicants to show minimum GPAs of at least 3.0 on undergraduate work.

The statement of purpose is an important element of the application due to the program’s selectivity. Prospective students must also submit two copies of official transcripts, three letters of recommendation, and current resumes. 

A 36-credit degree path starts with courses in research methods and evaluation procedures. Five required courses allow the development of advanced skills like sports marketing, finance, and sociology. The remaining credits are spread across electives spanning from advanced sports law to sports mass media. MS candidates can add optional internships or practical experiences to bring their lessons to life. 

The Master of Science in Sport Coaching from West Virginia University builds on the school’s athletic reputation. The Mountaineers sports programs have brought many national titles back to Morgantown, including five consecutive NCAA Rifle Championships, from 2013 to 2017.

College Choice placed the university at No. 3 among the Most Affordable Online Master’s in Coaching Degrees. 

MS applicants need to demonstrate coaching experience before starting the program. The required personal statement provides up to two pages of space to detail long-term professional goals. No GRE scores are required, but prospective students should show a minimum 2.75 GPA on undergraduate work. Successful students also identify local schools and sports clubs as potential internship opportunities in their applications.  

The Sport Coaching program limits students to one course per 8-week session, for improved focus. WVU offers courses in the spring, summer, and fall terms, to expedite degree completion. The 10-course core includes explorations of coaching psychology, sport movement analysis, and sport management processes. A coaching internship is the last step toward the completion of the MS degree. 

Laramie, WY, became the home of the University of Wyoming in 1886 in the hope of attracting young workers to the frontier. Modern students at the university find top degrees, mountain ranges, and good job prospects after graduation. U.S. News & World Report ranks the University of Wyoming at No. 109 among Top Public Schools and No. 228 among National Universities. 

Future health educators need not head to Laramie, thanks to the online Master of Science in Kinesiology and Health. This non-thesis degree requires completion of 36 credits, including eight core courses and three electives. The Division of Kinesiology and Health asks students to select at least one graduate elective outside of their discipline to broaden their knowledge.

Online MS candidates focus on physical education teaching throughout their studies. 

Prospective students need to submit current GRE scores and show a minimum undergraduate GPA of 3.0. The University of Wyoming requires three letters of recommendation, a writing sample, and a two-page statement of intent for each application.

Applicants are also asked to indicate their interest in graduate assistantships to fund their education. The university offers additional funding options for graduate students, such as the McDonald Kinesiology and Health Graduate Award.  

The University of Southern Mississippi has produced world-class athletes like NFL legend Brett Favre and Olympic gold medalist Tori Bowie. U.S. News & World Report has recognized the university’s online programs with a No. 93 in Best Online Bachelor’s Programs. This track record translates to the classroom through programs like the online Master of Science in Kinesiology. 

The MS in Kinesiology focuses on physical education through 36 credits of courses and research. The University of Southern Mississippi allows admitted students to start courses in the summer, fall, or spring sessions.

Students learn lessons on topics like advanced motor development and the legal aspects of sports. Faculty advisors work with candidates to refine thesis research or to develop practical experiences for the non-thesis option. 

Program applicants should have a minimum undergraduate 3.0 GPA, as shown by official transcripts. The university asks prospective students to submit GRE scores and Praxis II scores or select professional certifications along with their applications. Completed applications include cover letters, resumes, and three letters of recommendation. The kinesiology program is intended for part-time students to complete within two years of enrollment. 

Ball State University’s connections to the Hoosier State go beyond its location in Muncie, IN. Athletic teams play under the Cardinals name, with mascot Charlie Cardinal created in the likeness of the state bird. The school’s Master of Arts in Athletic Coaching Education trains graduates to carry on the Indiana tradition of sports excellence. 

This 100% online MA program does not require GRE scores for admission. Applicants do need a minimum 2.75 GPA in their undergraduate work to make the cut. Ball State also requires a current resume, three letters of recommendation, and a 1,000-word statement of purpose from each applicant.

Prospective students with bachelor’s degrees, certifications, or coaching experience in related fields are prioritized in the review process. 

MA candidates start with seven required courses covering subjects such as sports safety, coaching tactics, and physical conditioning. Each student selects from an internship, research project, or thesis to complete their degree. Ball State offers spring and summer intake dates for the online MA to accommodate students’ work schedules. Programs like the MA in Athletic Coaching Education have helped the school reach No. 192 among National Universities, according to U.S. News & World Report. 

The University of Texas at El Paso attracts a diverse student body thanks to its location along the U.S./Mexico border. Eighty percent of UTEP’s students identify as Hispanic. Forbes has identified another reason for the school’s popularity, with a No. 188 rank among America’s Best Value Colleges 2019. 

The Master of Science in Kinesiology can be pursued as an in-person or online degree. The online MS option allows access to courses at other University of Texas campuses. Applicants show their academic prowess with GRE scores and transcripts showing a minimum GPA of 3.0. UTEP requires MS candidates to complete bachelor’s degrees in kinesiology prior to admission.

The College of Health Sciences also reviews statements of purpose to determine how graduate students will use their UTEP degree. 

Required courses in kinesiology develop understanding in areas such as motor learning and the biomechanical basis of sports. MS candidates select between Exercise Science and Pedagogy concentrations, depending on their long-term career goals. The department allows students to complete their degrees through thesis or research project options.

Current kinesiology undergraduates at UTEP can use the Fast Track option to complete up to three graduate courses prior to gaining master’s program admission. 

Florida Atlantic University’s Boca Raton campus is not the only way that the school reaches students. Florida Atlantic maintains five satellite campuses in southern Florida, including Fort Lauderdale and Jupiter.

The Master of Science in Exercise Science and Health Promotion shows the school’s distance learning capabilities. U.S. News & World Report recognized the school with a No. 140 place among its Top Public Schools for 2019-2020. 

The Charles E. Schmidt College of Science balances applicants’ GPAs and GRE scores when making admission decisions. For applicants whose GPA is 3.0 or higher, the combined GRE score needs to be 285. The GRE threshold is 296 for prospective students with GPAs under 3.0. Admitted students are selected from specializations in exercise physiology, health promotion, and strength and conditioning. 

The health promotion track is completely online, while the other specializations require some attendance at traditional classes. Health Promotion students start with core courses in research and evaluation, educational research, and educational statistics.

Five required courses delve into topics like community health and epidemiology. MS candidates choose between thesis research or taking four additional electives to complete their degrees. 

Xavier University’s athletic achievements include a 2019 national title in women’s boxing, and three Elite Eight runs for the men’s basketball team from 2004 to 2017. The university received a No. 118 ranking among the Best Colleges for Sports Management in America and a No. 154 in Best College Athletics in America from Niche.

Students around the world benefit from this reputation through Xavier’s online Master of Education in Coaching Education and Athlete Development.

The M.Ed. application process requires the submission of scores from the GRE or the Miller Analogies Test. Test scores are not required from students whose undergraduate GPA was 3.2 or higher. Applicants demonstrate their professional potential through their resumes and letters of recommendation. Xavier University also requires a one-page statement about the applicant’s coaching experience and long-term goals. 

Admitted students are placed into groups that share the same classes and residency requirements. The 33-credit curriculum covers subjects like the science of performance and long-term athlete development.

After the first year, M.Ed. candidates are expected to visit the North American Coach Development Summit, which is held each June. Second-year students present their research projects to faculty and staff at the school’s Cincinnati campus prior to graduation. 

Tennessee Tech University lives up to its name by housing research centers and innovative degree programs. The Cookeville, TN campus encourages academic research through its Center for Energy Systems Research and Center for Manufacturing Research.

Niche’s 2020 grades recognized the school with a No. 167 placement among the Top Public Universities in America and a No. 389 rank in Colleges with the Best Academics in America. 

The Master of Science in Exercise Science is a 30-credit program with all courses available online. Prospective MS students are required to answer one of three essay questions as part of their applications. First-year students can apply for graduate assistantships (GAs) to offset tuition costs and fees. Tennessee Tech maintains instructional, coaching, and event administration opportunities for GAs. 

Core courses explore subjects like applied motor development and wellness assessment. MS candidates pursue their specialties through elective internships and perspectives courses. Tennessee Tech features MS concentrations in Adapted Physical Education, Fitness and Lifetime Wellness, and Sport Management.

Master’s degree holders can continue their studies through the school’s online Ed.S. and Ph.D. programs.

Georgia Southern University has excelled in multiple levels of NCAA athletic competitions. The Eagles football team won six national championships at the Division I-AA level between 1985 and 2000. Notable professional athletes, like former MLB catcher Todd Greene and NFL running back Jerick McKinnon, are GUS graduates.

The Master of Science in Kinesiology draws on this athletic history and contributes to the school’s No. 293 rank among National Universities by U.S. News & World Report. 

Aspiring MS students should hold current teaching licenses before seeking admission to the program. The Department of Health Sciences and Kinesiology offers a Master of Arts in Teaching for qualified applicants without active licenses. Each application needs a statement of goals and a K-12 physical education lesson plan. Applicants must also show an undergraduate GPA of at least 2.75, though provisional admission is possible with a GPA of at least 2.5. 

This online program features a 36-credit path that can be completed in four semesters. The physical education-focused curriculum includes courses on trends in school health and advanced techniques in health education. Two elective courses help teachers seek new ideas in K-12 learning. Georgia Southern University’s action research project requirement emphasizes the need for real-world competency prior to graduation. 

Founded in 1879, Sam Houston State University was the first university in Texas focused solely on teacher education. This Huntsville, TX school continues the tradition through programs like its online Master of Science in Kinesiology.

Niche’s 2020 grades recognized the program with a No. 171 rank among the Best Colleges for Kinesiology and Physical Therapy in America. 

The College of Health Sciences requires GRE scores from all applicants except those with undergraduate GPAs of at least 3.0. Prospective students should hold a bachelor’s degree in kinesiology by the time of their enrollment. A degree in a similar field is acceptable as long as 12 credits in upper-level kinesiology or human performance are completed. Every application should include two letters of recommendation and a statement of interest. 

The MS in Kinesiology offers three tracks for candidates: non-thesis, practicum, and thesis. Every student completes eight required courses, such as Youth Fitness and Advanced Biomechanics. Non-thesis candidates complete 12 credits of electives including clinical exercise physiology and lab practicums.

Practicum students complete six credits of electives and six credits of internships, while thesis students swap out electives for research courses. 

The University of Idaho was the state’s only four-year school from 1889 through 1963. New competitors in Idaho have not diminished the university’s reputation with U.S. News & World Report, which ranked the school No. 79 among Best Value Schools.

The Moscow, ID campus acts as a launchpad for fitness and personal training careers through its Master of Education in Physical Activity Pedagogy. 

This 30-credit online program is designed for K-12 physical education teachers, coaches, and community activity leaders. Participants complete courses in health teaching methods, quantitative or qualitative research, and assessment in physical activity. A final project evaluated by the Department of Movement Sciences faculty shows competency in teaching children to pursue healthy lives. 

Incoming students can complete their work full-time over one year or spread out over at least two years. The University of Idaho features three student intakes for this M.Ed. program.

Graduate students are eligible for teaching assistantships that exchange full tuition coverage and stipends for instructional work in undergraduate courses. Additional funding opportunities include the Leon Green Scholarship and the Samuel Jenkins Scholarship.

Drexel University has been pushing the boundaries of distance education since introducing its first online degree in 1996. The university created National Distance Learning Week in 2007 to promote online options for students of all ages.

The 45-credit Master of Science in Sport Coaching Leadership is a 100% online degree that epitomizes Drexel University’s continued leadership in distance learning. 

Applicants to the Sport Coaching Leadership program should demonstrate an undergraduate GPA of at least 3.0 through official transcripts. Holding a bachelor’s degree in a field related to coaching is helpful for boosting an applicant’s admission odds. The university looks for MS applicants with coaching, teaching, or management experience as building blocks for advanced learning. 

MS candidates divide their time between 35 credits of required courses and 12 credits in their selected specialization. The core course requirements examine subjects like coaching psychology, athletic recruiting, and sports performance.

The School of Education allows MS students to select Rowing and Lacrosse concentrations or develop their own track. Each student is required to complete three coaching practicums prior to graduation. 

The University of Northern Colorado opened in Greeley, CO in 1889 to educate future teachers. As the university has expanded into other subjects, programs like the Master of Arts in Teaching in Physical Education and Physical Activity Leadership continue its pedagogical origins.

Niche ranked the school No. 132 among the Best Colleges for Education in America, thanks to its grounding in teacher education. 

This MAT program combines online courses with a required summer visit to the Greeley campus after the first year. Current teachers and coaches can complete their work in as little as 18 months. Ten core courses span topics like assessment in sport pedagogy, theories of health behavior, and school-based nutrition. MAT candidates synthesize these lessons through school-based projects developed with departmental faculty. 

Applicants to the MAT program do not need to submit GRE scores to gain admission. The University of Northern Colorado requires a minimum GPA of 3.0 from prospective students.

A student can detail their teaching experience and educational goals through a statement of purpose. Completed applications also include two letters of recommendation and updated resumes. 

Emporia State University dates to the early years of Kansas’ statehood; its first courses were held in 1865. U.S. News & World Report highlighted the school’s reputation with a No. 95 rank among Regional Universities Midwest for 2019-2020.

The Master of Science in Health, Physical Education, & Recreation attracts students to Emporia, KS, via the school’s online learning platform. 

The university has presented this MS program through distance learning since 1996. Teachers and coaches interested in the MS program submit official transcripts as part of their applications. The university requires a minimum 2.5 GPA on undergraduate work to advance through to an admission review. HPER applicants also need to complete a bachelor’s degree in physical education before starting the program. 

Graduate students complete 18 credits of required courses, including statistics in HPER and advanced exercise physiology. Elective options range from the history of politics in sport to assessment in K-12 physical education. Emporia State University allows MS candidates to complete thesis research or non-thesis combinations of electives and projects.

Graduates of the program can expand their subject expertise with the university’s online health education licensing track. 

Western Michigan University extends beyond its Kalamazoo campus with regional campuses from Detroit to Benton Harbor. The school excels in online education, with a No. 100 rank among the Best Online Graduate Education Programs from U.S. News & World Report.

The Broncos athletics teams also dominated at the conference level, including football, soccer, and tennis championships over the past decade. 

The Master of Arts in Coaching Sports Performance is an entirely online program that can be completed in 18 months. This 36-credit program features courses like the Sociology of Sport and Theories of Strength and Conditioning.

MA candidates continue with courses in research procedures and analytical techniques in human performance. Every student finishes the degree with an internship or coaching position that demonstrates advanced knowledge. 

MA applicants are not required to submit GRE scores or writing samples to the Graduate College; however, a written statement of up to 1,500 words helps applicants detail their professional and academic performance.

Faculty and staff also review three letters of recommendation and resumes from each applicant to determine their readiness for the program. Promising students can pursue funding opportunities such as the Thurgood Marshall Fellowship during the application process. 

Rowan University assumed its current name in 1992, though it began as the Glassboro Normal School in 1923. This New Jersey-based public university now serves students at campuses in Camden, Glassboro, and Stratford.

U.S. News & World Report recognized the school’s reputation for online graduate programs with a No. 186 ranking among the Best Online Graduate Education Programs. 

The Master of Arts in Wellness and Lifestyle Management shows Rowan University’s commitment to global learning. MA candidates complete 30 credits of coursework entirely online in as little as two years of part-time work.

The degree path features ten required classes on subjects like wellness through the lifecycle and positive perceptions and performance. Graduate students complete their studies with capstone projects or internships rather than thesis research. 

Rowan University asks for official transcripts from previous undergraduate to show completion of a bachelor’s degree. The transcript review also determines if prerequisite courses in nutrition and anatomy have been completed prior to admission.

Wellness and Lifestyle Management applicants submit statements of professional goals and updated resumes. The Rowan Global Scholarship is a $1,500 award given to graduate students with exceptional academic records. 

The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley is the youngest school on this list, with its first courses held in 2015. UTRGV was created by a merger of three regional universities and maintains campuses in six cities across southern Texas. The combined powers of UTRGV’s campuses led to a No. 210 rank in Public Colleges from Forbes in 2019.  

The Master of Science in Kinesiology offers flexibility to students with in-person and online tracks. After completing four core courses, MS candidates pursue their interests through electives like Sports Psychology, Motor Learning, and Physical Activities for Young Children.

This 36-credit graduate program can be completed through a master’s thesis or a research project. 

UTRGV maintains high standards for the program, with a minimum 3.0  GPA for all incoming students. Prospective students should have bachelor’s degrees in kinesiology prior to gaining admission. The online application must also include two letters of recommendation, a current resume, and a statement of purpose.

Financial aid options for MS students range from the $1,000 Graduate Dean’s Scholarship to the Presidential Graduate Research Assistantship, which covers tuition and fees. 

Denver has been ranked No. 5 in America’s Top 20 Healthiest Cities from Forbes. The city’s abundant parks, foothills, and outdoor activities make it a haven for fitness lovers. Denver is also a major league sports city with NBA, NFL, MLB, NHL, and MLS teams.

The University of Denver allows students throughout the world to access this reputation through its online Master of Arts in Sport Coaching.  

The Graduate School of Professional Psychology expects MA candidates to enter with a GPA of at least 2.75 on previous work. A 600-word essay provides a blank canvas for applicants to explain why the University of Denver is the right fit for their goals. Additional application requirements include two letters of recommendation and a resume. Incoming students can start their studies during the fall, winter, spring, or summer sessions. 

The 36-credit MA in Sports Coaching features nine required courses, like the Psychology of Athletic Performance and Biomechanics. Two electives are selected from options, including kinesiology, exercise physiology, and sports technology.

Every candidate completes at least 50 hours of field experience each quarter as part of the coaching practicum. Aspiring and current coaches show off their skills through a capstone research project prior to graduation. 

Pittsburg State University in Pittsburg, KS, spent the first 56 years of its existence as a teachers’ college. Since 1959, the school has broadened its programs and reached No. 95 among Regional Universities in the Midwest, according to U.S. News & World Report.

The online Master of Science in Health, Human Performance & Recreation shows Pittsburg State’s commitment to innovative degree programs. 

MS candidates select from general, human performance and wellness, and sport and leisure service management tracks. Depending on the track, available courses range from finance and marketing in sports to instrumentation in human performance.

Prospective doctoral candidates and academics complete the program’s thesis option. The non-thesis option allows a combination of practical experiences, exams, and research projects to show advanced competency. 

A minimum GPA of 2.70 on undergraduate work is required of every MS applicant. The Pittsburg State application for this program also requires the delivery of two recommendation letters and a statement of goals. Finalists are asked to interview with the department chair or the graduate coordinator to complete the application process.

The university lists a tuition rate of $390 per credit, and the MS program requires completion of 32 credits.