2027 Online Exercise Science Master's Programs With University Scholarships: Awards, Eligibility & Tuition After Aid
Audited and Verified:
Our Editorial and Data Verification Process
Research.com uses government datasets, official education statistics and primary institutional information to support its career and degree guides. Our review process checks factual accuracy, occupational definitions, source dates and the requirements associated with the credentials discussed.
How This Article Was Fact-Checked
Our editorial team verifies salary estimates, employment projections, education requirements and program information against original data providers and official organizations. Salary figures are checked against the relevant occupational definitions and reporting periods. Information about licensure, accreditation and required in-person training is reviewed separately.
Fact-checked and verified on:
Co-Founder and Chief Data Scientist
Funding can materially change whether an online Exercise Science master's is a manageable investment or a long-term debt burden. College Board reported average 2024-25 graduate tuition and fees of $12,596 at public institutions and $29,931 at private nonprofit institutions, before living costs and program fees.
This guide is for prospective Exercise Science, kinesiology, and human performance graduate students who need to compare university scholarships, federal aid, employer support, and true net cost. Learn where to look, who qualifies, what awards may cover, and how to build a stronger funding plan.
Key Things to Know About Exercise Science Master's Programs with Scholarships
- Online Exercise Science master's students may qualify for university merit awards, need-based grants, federal Direct Unsubsidized Loans, employer tuition assistance, and outside scholarships, but eligibility often depends on degree-seeking status, enrollment level, residency, and program format.
- Average 2024-25 graduate tuition and fees were $12,596 at public institutions and $29,931 at private nonprofit institutions, according to College Board; compare each school's total program price, mandatory fees, and scholarship renewal terms rather than tuition alone.
- University awards are usually partial rather than full tuition funding, so the strongest strategy is to apply early, stack compatible aid sources, confirm online-student eligibility in writing, and calculate remaining borrowing before accepting admission.
What online Exercise Science master's programs offer university scholarships?
Online programs may be listed as Exercise Science, kinesiology, applied physiology, human performance, strength and conditioning, or sport and exercise science. Scholarship availability usually comes from the university graduate school or financial aid office rather than from the academic department, so an online program can have aid options even when the program page does not advertise them.
The schools below illustrate the types of institutions prospective students should contact. Availability, award value, deadlines, and online eligibility can change by term; applicants should obtain written confirmation before treating an award as part of their budget.
| University example | Relevant online graduate study | University funding route to investigate | Important verification question |
| California University of Pennsylvania, PennWest | Online exercise science and health-promotion-related graduate study | University foundation and graduate scholarship listings | Does the award permit fully online graduate enrollment? |
| Concordia University Chicago | Online applied exercise science graduate study | Graduate institutional scholarships and financial aid | Is the scholarship available to part-time students? |
| University of Mary | Online exercise science graduate study | Institutional scholarships and employer-partnership benefits | Are online tuition discounts treated as scholarships or pricing reductions? |
| Auburn University | Online exercise science graduate study | Graduate school, college, and external scholarship opportunities | Are departmental awards limited to campus-based or assistantship students? |
Do not select a school solely because it advertises a scholarship search page. A lower published tuition may be a better value than a higher-priced program with a small, nonrenewable award. Students also exploring nutrition-focused performance careers can compare related curricula through best dietetics masters programs, but should separately confirm professional credential requirements.
Ask each admissions and financial aid office for the program's cost per credit, total credits required, online fees, scholarship application deadline, renewal standard, and whether awards are available to students who start in spring or summer. Those answers make comparisons meaningful.
What is the average tuition for Exercise Science master's programs before aid?
There is no single national tuition average limited to Exercise Science master's programs because schools price programs by credit, residency category, delivery format, and required clinical or laboratory components. The most useful national benchmark is College Board's 2024-25 average graduate tuition and fees: $12,596 at public institutions and $29,931 at private nonprofit institutions.
These figures are broad institutional averages, not quotes for a particular online Exercise Science degree. Use them as a starting point, then request a program-specific estimate that includes every required charge.
| Cost category | What it can include | Why it matters after a scholarship |
| Tuition | Per-credit or flat-rate instructional charges | Most scholarships apply here, but not always to the full amount. |
| Mandatory fees | Technology, distance learning, graduation, recreation, or student-service fees | These charges may remain even if tuition is discounted. |
| Course materials | Texts, software, testing tools, anatomy resources, or certification preparation | Institutional aid may not cover them. |
| Travel and residency costs | Campus intensives, labs, practicum travel, lodging, and transportation | Online delivery does not always mean zero travel cost. |
| Living and opportunity costs | Reduced work hours, dependent care, and home-office expenses | These affect affordability but are rarely covered by merit awards. |
A practical comparison uses total program cost, not annual tuition. Multiply the current per-credit rate by required credits, add known fees and travel, then subtract only aid that has been confirmed in writing. If the remaining amount requires substantial borrowing, compare a slower part-time pace, employer reimbursement, or a lower-cost public option before enrolling.
What types of financial aid and scholarships are available for Exercise Science master's programs?
Graduate funding generally falls into institutional aid, federal aid, employment-related support, and private awards. Each source has different rules, and a student can be academically strong yet ineligible for an award because of enrollment status, campus residency, citizenship requirements, or program format.
The options below help explain which sources are most useful in different situations.
| Funding type | Typical basis | Best fit | Key limitation |
| University merit scholarship | Academic record, leadership, professional experience, or application strength | Applicants with strong grades and clear career goals | Often limited in number and may require a separate application. |
| Need-based institutional grant | Demonstrated financial need | Students with documented unmet financial need | Graduate need-based grants can be limited and may not be available to all online programs. |
| Departmental or donor scholarship | Field of study, service, research interest, or donor criteria | Students whose profile closely matches the award purpose | May favor a specific population, location, or academic focus. |
| Federal Direct Unsubsidized Loan | FAFSA eligibility and degree-seeking enrollment | Students who need predictable federal borrowing | Graduate students accrue interest; borrowing should be limited to the amount needed. |
| Employer tuition assistance | Employment and employer policy | Working professionals whose degree supports their role | May require continued employment, a grade threshold, or repayment if the employee leaves. |
| External professional scholarship | Membership, specialty interest, community service, or identity-based criteria | Students willing to apply across multiple smaller opportunities | Deadlines and documentation vary widely. |
For many working professionals, employer reimbursement should be evaluated before loans because it may reduce borrowing without competing with university merit aid. If your intended path overlaps with a clinical career change, explore the separate timelines and prerequisites involved in the quickest way to become a nurse practitioner; Exercise Science coursework alone does not replace nursing education or licensure requirements.
Graduate assistantships can be valuable because they may include a stipend or tuition support, but they are commonly tied to on-campus teaching, research, or service. Fully online students should not assume assistantship eligibility.
Most university scholarships for master's students are partial awards that reduce tuition rather than cover the entire program. Full tuition scholarships and assistantships exist, but they are more competitive and may require full-time, campus-based participation, research work, or teaching responsibilities that are not compatible with a fully online schedule.
The federal borrowing benchmark helps put partial awards in context. For eligible graduate students, the annual Direct Unsubsidized Loan limit is $20,500; a scholarship that covers only part of tuition can still reduce interest-bearing borrowing and improve the program's total cost.
| Award pattern | What it generally pays | Decision implication |
| One-time scholarship | A fixed amount for one term or academic year | Useful for first-year costs, but do not assume it continues through graduation. |
| Renewable merit award | A fixed annual or term-based tuition reduction | Can improve predictability if renewal requirements are realistic for your work schedule. |
| Tuition discount | A stated reduction in tuition charges | Compare the discounted total price with competing schools, including fees. |
| Graduate assistantship | May include tuition support and a stipend | Potentially high value, but workload and residency requirements can outweigh the benefit for remote students. |
| External scholarship stack | Several smaller awards applied to educational expenses | Can close a funding gap when no large institutional award is available. |
Calculate net tuition by subtracting grants and scholarships that are confirmed, then identify whether the balance must be paid from savings, employer support, payment plans, or loans. Do not count a scholarship as guaranteed until the award letter states the amount, period covered, conditions, and whether it can be renewed.
Eligibility depends on the scholarship rather than the degree title alone. Most university awards require admission to a degree-seeking program, while some also require FAFSA completion, a minimum enrollment level, a specified cumulative GPA, state residency, professional affiliation, or evidence of leadership and service.
Applicants should separate requirements they can document now from requirements that depend on future enrollment. The following categories show where eligibility commonly differs.
- Merit scholarships: Usually review undergraduate GPA, prerequisite performance, recommendation letters, leadership, professional certifications, coaching or clinical experience, and the quality of the personal statement.
- Need-based awards: May require the FAFSA and may consider financial need, citizenship or eligible noncitizen status, and satisfactory academic progress.
- Departmental awards: Can require an Exercise Science, kinesiology, athletic training, health promotion, or related academic background and may prioritize particular career interests.
- Online-program awards: May require fully online enrollment, while other scholarships specifically exclude distance learners or students outside the university's home state.
- Donor-funded awards: Often use highly specific criteria, such as military affiliation, community service, geographic ties, first-generation status, or work with an identified population.
Students with a lower undergraduate GPA should still apply broadly. Employer support, need-based aid, field-specific donor awards, and a persuasive record of relevant work can be more attainable than a highly selective academic merit scholarship. Applicants changing from nursing can also compare prerequisite expectations through RN to BSN no clinicals, while recognizing that nursing and Exercise Science scholarships are administered separately.
Scholarship application processes often run earlier than graduate admission deadlines. Some institutions automatically consider admitted students, but many require a separate portal application, FAFSA, or departmental nomination. Missing one required item can remove an otherwise qualified applicant from consideration.
A disciplined sequence helps prevent deadline and documentation errors.
- Apply for admission early enough to receive the student identification number or portal access required for scholarship applications.
- Submit the FAFSA if you are eligible and the institution uses it for need-based awards, federal loans, or scholarship screening.
- Read every scholarship's eligibility rules, covered term, enrollment requirement, and whether online students can apply.
- Prepare a current résumé, unofficial or official transcripts, targeted personal statement, and recommendation requests well before the deadline.
- Complete each application with examples that connect your Exercise Science goals to the scholarship's mission or donor purpose.
- Track submission confirmations, award notices, acceptance deadlines, and any verification requests in one calendar or spreadsheet.
- Compare final offers using renewable aid and total remaining program cost, then ask for reconsideration if a competing offer materially changes your options.
When requesting reconsideration, be factual rather than demanding. Explain the remaining funding gap, include documentation if requested, and ask whether additional institutional awards, payment plans, or future-cycle opportunities are available. Financial aid offices cannot always increase aid, but a complete request gives them the information needed to review options.
A common mistake is submitting a generic essay to every fund. Tailoring each statement to the award criteria is more effective than repeating a broad career narrative.
Online students can often qualify for federal aid and some university scholarships if they are enrolled in an eligible, degree-seeking program, but they do not automatically receive every award available to campus-based students. Format-specific exclusions are common for assistantships, residence-hall-linked scholarships, activity-fee-funded awards, and awards requiring in-person research or teaching.
The comparison below identifies what to confirm before relying on an aid estimate.
| Aid source | Typical online-student outlook | What to confirm |
| Federal student aid | Often available to eligible students in approved degree programs | Program eligibility, enrollment level, FAFSA requirements, and distance-learning participation rules. |
| University-wide merit scholarships | Varies by institution and award | Whether distance students, part-time students, and out-of-state students are included. |
| Department scholarships | May be available, but can favor campus engagement | Whether a faculty nomination, lab participation, or local presence is required. |
| Graduate assistantships | Less commonly available to fully online students | Work location, hours, tuition waiver terms, and required enrollment status. |
| Employer reimbursement | Usually independent of delivery format | Approved-school rules, grade minimum, payment timing, and service commitment. |
Online students should ask whether they are coded as distance learners for scholarship purposes, not merely whether the degree is online. That distinction can affect eligibility. If flexibility is central to your decision, it can also be useful to compare funding policies in other helping-profession graduate formats, such as MFT master's programs online. Never infer eligibility from a school's general scholarship webpage. Request the applicable policy in writing and retain it with your financial aid records.
Yes, students can often combine university scholarships, outside scholarships, employer benefits, grants, savings, and federal aid, provided each award's terms allow it. This practice is sometimes called stacking. It can lower loan reliance, but total aid may be adjusted when it exceeds the school's cost of attendance or when one award requires reduction of another resource.
Combining awards is usually beneficial when the sources pay different allowable costs or do not reduce one another. Before accepting funds, review these trade-offs.
- Potential advantage: Several smaller awards can cover tuition, books, fees, or required travel that one partial scholarship leaves behind.
- Potential advantage: Employer reimbursement can preserve university scholarship funds for tuition if the employer permits the arrangement.
- Potential drawback: An outside scholarship may trigger a financial aid recalculation that reduces institutional need-based aid or loan eligibility.
- Potential drawback: Employer payments may arrive after the tuition due date, requiring a payment plan or temporary cash flow solution.
- Potential drawback: Some scholarships prohibit duplication with another institutional discount, assistantship, or tuition remission benefit.
Report outside scholarships to the financial aid office as required, then ask exactly which part of your package would change. The best stack is not necessarily the one with the largest headline amount; it is the combination that produces the lowest confirmed out-of-pocket cost with manageable renewal conditions.
Renewable awards normally require satisfactory academic progress, continued enrollment in an eligible program, and compliance with the scholarship's individual conditions. A scholarship can be lost even when a student remains enrolled if they drop below the required credit load, miss a renewal form, change to a noneligible concentration, or fall below the stated GPA.
Before accepting an award, review the renewal language for the following requirements and save a copy of the agreement.
- Minimum cumulative and, where applicable, term GPA.
- Full-time, half-time, or minimum-credit enrollment requirement.
- Deadline for annual renewal forms, FAFSA submission, or donor thank-you letters.
- Continued enrollment in the named Exercise Science or related graduate program.
- Satisfactory academic progress standards, including limits on withdrawals, incompletes, and repeated courses.
- Professional conduct, service, research, work, or participation obligations attached to the award.
- Maximum number of semesters, academic years, or credits funded.
Working online students should pay particular attention to enrollment requirements. A part-time schedule may be the right academic and financial choice, but it can make a student ineligible for an award designed for full-time graduate study. Ask whether an exception, prorated award, or reinstatement process exists before reducing credits.
If an academic or personal issue threatens renewal, contact the financial aid office and program advisor immediately. Documentation and early communication may be necessary for an appeal, although approval is never guaranteed.
What tips can help Exercise Science master's students secure more scholarship funding?
The most effective funding strategy is targeted and early rather than limited to one school's general scholarship form. Prioritize programs where your academic profile, professional background, delivery preference, and realistic net cost align. Students pursuing health-care transitions should also distinguish degree funding from separate nursing admissions pathways, including LPN programs that don't require TEAS test.
Use the following actions to improve both application quality and financial decision-making.
- Create a scholarship calendar that includes university, department, employer, professional association, and community-foundation deadlines.
- Apply for admission before priority scholarship deadlines, even if the general admission deadline is later.
- Build a reusable evidence file with transcripts, résumé, certifications, service records, work accomplishments, and a list of recommenders.
- Write separate, specific statements that explain how the degree supports your intended work in fitness, rehabilitation support, performance, wellness, research, or health promotion.
- Ask recommenders for examples of academic discipline, ethical practice, leadership, and ability to complete graduate study while working.
- Request a written total-cost estimate and compare award letters on renewable value, fees, enrollment conditions, and expected borrowing.
- Ask your employer about reimbursement, professional-development funds, direct billing, and any required length of service before committing to a school.
- Apply to multiple compatible awards rather than waiting for one large scholarship outcome.
Common mistakes include assuming an advertised tuition discount is renewable, overlooking fees that aid does not cover, applying after priority deadlines, and accepting loans before asking about employer support. A careful net-cost comparison can prevent a seemingly generous scholarship from masking a more expensive overall program.
Other Things You Should Know About Exercise Science
Some university and donor-funded scholarships are open to international students, while most U.S. federal student aid requires eligible citizenship or noncitizen status. Check each award's residency and immigration eligibility language directly with the university.
Most university scholarship committees require a minimum 3.0 GPA on a 4.0 scale, and many competitive awards ask for 3.25 or higher. Applicants usually must also submit official transcripts, a completed admission application, and sometimes two recommendation letters before the scholarship deadline.
Not automatically. Compare the scholarship's renewal terms, total program tuition, mandatory fees, length of study, employer support, and estimated remaining borrowing. A smaller award at a lower-cost school can produce a better overall net price.
Sometimes, but deferral is not automatic. Ask before declining or delaying admission because many awards are tied to a specific entry term, funding cycle, and enrollment level.
- Exploring Careers in Health and Exercise Sciences: From Personal Training to Public Health - UNCF https://uncf.org/the-latest/a-gym-centered-career-apply-your-knowledge-with-health-and-exercise-sciences
- 2025 Most Affordable Online Master's Degrees in Exercise Science https://www.onlineu.com/most-affordable-colleges/exercise-science-masters-degrees
- Scholarship and Grants for Women, Minorities and Other Groups https://www.debt.org/students/scholarships-and-grants/aid-for-women-minorities-and-other-groups/
- Master's Degree Scholarships and Resources for Minority Students https://www.onlinemastersdegrees.org/financial-aid/scholarships/minority-students/
- Scholarships https://onlinephysicaltherapyprograms.com/scholarships/
- Scholarships for Marginalized College Students | EduMed.org https://www.edumed.org/financial-aid/scholarships/marginalized-college-students/
- College Funding Resources for Individuals with Disabilities https://amputee-coalition.org/college-funding-resources-for-individuals-with-disabilities/
- Financing Your Degree https://aspph.org/student-journey/financing-your-degree/
