Our Exercise Science program received initial accreditation from the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP) in July 2008. We are one of the first 14 institutions across the nation to have earned this distinction from CAAHEP.
The Committee of Accreditation for the Exercise Sciences (CoAES) under the auspices of the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP) is the accreditation agency. The primary role of the CoAES is to establish standards and guidelines for academic programs that facilitate the preparation of students seeking employment in the health, fitness, and exercise industry.
Why get accredited?
Seeking accreditation is a way to demonstrate the quality of our program as measured against agreed upon standards. These standards have been identified as being indicative of what a person needs to know and be able to do to function successfully in the health, fitness, and exercise industry.
Outcomes reported for CoAES accreditation include:
Retention Rates
Based on the Juniors and Seniors that started and finished the academic year in Exercise Physiology:
| Academic Year | Retention Rate |
| 2023-24 | 95% |
| 2022-23 | 96% |
| 2021-22 | 96% |
| 2020-21 | 97% |
| 2019-20 | 90% |
Graduation Rates
4-year and 5-year graduation rates:
| Academic Year | Cohort | 4-Year Graduation Rate | 5-Year Graduation Rate |
| 2023-24 | Fall 2022 | 83% | – |
| 2022-23 | Fall 2021 | 83% | 97% |
| 2021-22 | Fall 2020 | 90% | 95% |
| 2020-21 | Fall 2019 | 81% | 97% |
| 2019-20 | Fall 2018 | 92% | 92% |
Positive Placement Rates
Based on graduates employed full or part-time in a related field, attending graduate school in a higher-level degree program, or serving in the military within one year after graduating:
| Class | Positive Placement Rate |
| 2023 | 86% |
| 2022 | 80% |
| 2021 | 92% |
| 2020 | 87% |
| 2019 | 79% |
