The University of Denver is the best school for sports psychology, with Florida State University at #2 and West Virginia University at #3. The ranking weighs program depth and research, the CMPC certification path, published outcomes like funding and pass rates, then cost and flexibility.
Working professionals who can't relocate and want the lowest-cost online option
Pick by what you want
Best overall
University of Denver
Best for a PhD
Florida State University
Best funding record
Georgia Southern University
Best online and affordable
Adams State University
Fastest finish
National University
The ranking
1
University of Denver
Photo: DenverLawGuy / CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons
Answrs VerdictThe deepest, most established dedicated MA program
Credit hours: 72 creditsProgram length: 2 yearsProgram: MA in Sport & Performance Psychology, Graduate School of Professional Psychology
Denver runs a dedicated MA in Sport & Performance Psychology: 72 credits over 2 years. That is the deepest credit load of any program on this list, built around applied practice.
Go ifStudents who want the most comprehensive, dedicated sport-psychology curriculum with heavy practicum access
Skip ifYou want the cheapest or fastest route in
Why #1 over #2: Its 72-credit MA is a full dedicated program, where Florida State splits its strength across an MS and a PhD track.
2
Florida State University
Photo: Ernie Stephens / CC0 via Wikimedia Commons
Answrs VerdictOldest, most research-heavy program in the field
Program: Sport Psychology (MS/PhD), Dept. of Educational Psychology and Learning SystemsDegrees offered: MS and PhDDirect athlete contact hours (MS): 40-120 hours over two yearsFall application deadlines: PhD Dec. 1 / MS Jan. 15
Florida State offers both an MS and a PhD in Sport Psychology. MS students log 40-120 hours of direct work with athletes over two years. PhD applications are due Dec. 1 and MS applications Jan. 15.
Go ifResearch-oriented students wanting an R1 lab and one of the field's oldest programs
Skip ifYou want to be called a licensed "sport psychologist" right after — the page notes CMPC is a certification, not a license
Why #2 over #3: It offers both an MS and a PhD, where West Virginia now requires a master’s degree before its PhD.
3
West Virginia University
Photo: Carol M. Highsmith / Public domain via Wikimedia Commons
Answrs VerdictA globally recognized PhD with a licensure track built in
Credit hours: 45 hours minimumConcurrent option: Master's in Clinical Mental Health Counseling available alongside the PhD2027 admissions change: No longer admits directly from a BA/BS starting Fall 2027 — master's requiredProgram: Sport, Exercise and Performance Psychology, Ph.D.
West Virginia’s Sport, Exercise and Performance Psychology PhD requires at least 45 hours and can be paired with a master’s in Clinical Mental Health Counseling. Starting Fall 2027 it no longer admits students straight from a bachelor’s degree.
Go ifDoctoral candidates who also want a path to counseling licensure
Skip ifYou only have a bachelor's and are applying for Fall 2027 or later
Why #3 over #4: Its doctoral track goes further than UNC Greensboro’s 36-credit master’s.
4
UNC Greensboro
Answrs VerdictNC's only program built specifically for CMPC certification
Credit hours: 36 credit hoursProgram length: 2 academic years, on-campusMentored hours: 400 hours in year two (200 direct client-contact)Program: Kinesiology, M.S. — Applied Sport Psychology concentration
UNC Greensboro’s on-campus MS takes 36 credit hours over 2 academic years. Year two includes 400 mentored hours, 200 of them in direct client contact.
Go ifStudents who want a public-university price with a CMPC-built curriculum
Skip ifYou want a thesis/research track instead of an applied-only degree
Why #4 over #5: Its 400 mentored hours are the most hands-on practice listed by any master’s program here.
5
Georgia Southern University
Photo: The original uploader was Dawg1279 at English Wikipedia. / Public domain via Wikimedia Commons
Answrs VerdictFully funded, 100% CMPC pass rate — hard to beat on outcomes
Credit hours: 36 credit hoursStudent-faculty ratio: 10:1CMPC exam pass rate: 100%Funding: All students received fully-funded graduate assistantships over the past 12 yearsProgram: M.S. in Kinesiology — Sport and Exercise Psychology concentration
Georgia Southern’s 36-credit MS has a 10:1 student-faculty ratio and a 100% pass rate on the CMPC exam. Every student has received a fully funded graduate assistantship over the past 12 years.
Go ifStudents who want funded grad assistantships and a proven CMPC pass rate
Skip ifYou need a large city/campus setting
Why #5 over #6: Its 100% CMPC pass rate and full funding record are published outcomes North Texas does not list.
6
University of North Texas
Photo: Michael Barera / CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons
Answrs VerdictFlexible MS-to-PhD pipeline through counseling psychology
Credit hours: 36 total hours (15 core kinesiology hours)Related doctoral path: APA-accredited PhD in Counseling Psychology with a sport & performance psychology elective clusterProgram: M.S. in Kinesiology — Psychosocial Aspects of Sport and Exercise emphasis
North Texas offers a 36-hour MS in Kinesiology with a sport and exercise psychology emphasis, and a related APA-accredited PhD in Counseling Psychology with a sport and performance elective cluster.
Go ifStudents who want both an MS entry point and an APA-accredited doctoral path at the same university
Skip ifYou want one single, clearly-branded "sport psychology" degree rather than two linked paths
Why #6 over #7: Its APA-accredited doctoral path is a step Springfield’s counseling master’s does not include.
7
Springfield College
Answrs VerdictRare combo of CACREP counseling license plus CMPC pathway
Program: MEd/MS in Clinical Mental Health Counseling: Athletic CounselingAccreditation: CACREP-accreditedCertification path: Graduates eligible for CMPC certification through AASPProgram length: 2-3 years, fall start
Springfield College’s Athletic Counseling degree is CACREP-accredited and takes 2-3 years with a fall start. Graduates are eligible for CMPC certification through AASP.
Go ifStudents who want a licensed-counselor credential plus sport-performance training in one degree
Skip ifYou don't want clinical counseling coursework mixed into your sport psychology training
Why #7 over #8: Its CACREP accreditation opens a counseling license path that National University’s MA does not list.
8
National University
Answrs VerdictFastest, most accessible no-GRE path to CMPC coursework
Credit hours: 39 credits (Theoretical) or 51 credits (Applied)Tuition per credit: $683Program length: As little as 14 months (Theoretical) to 22 months (Applied)Admissions test: GRE not requiredProgram: MA in Sport and Performance Psychology
National University’s MA is 39 credits on the theoretical track or 51 on the applied track, at $683 per credit. It can be done in as little as 14 months, and the GRE is not required.
Go ifWorking adults who want a fast, mostly-online, no-GRE path aligned to AASP coursework
Skip ifYou want a traditional cohort/campus research experience
Why #8 over #9: Its $683 per credit is lower than Barry’s $1,050.
9
Barry University
Answrs VerdictSmall cohort, all-CMPC faculty, real NCAA DII access
Program: Sport, Exercise, and Performance Psychology, M.S.Tuition per credit (2025-26): $1,050 (Master's-level rate)Cohort size: 15 seats annually, fall startFaculty: All faculty are Certified Mental Performance Consultants (CMPC)
Barry University keeps its Sport, Exercise, and Performance Psychology MS small: 15 seats each fall. All of its faculty are Certified Mental Performance Consultants. Tuition was $1,050 per credit in 2025-26.
Go ifStudents who want hands-on work with an NCAA Division II athletics department and an all-CMPC faculty
Skip ifYou're budget-conscious — it's the priciest per-credit pick here
Why #9 over #10: Its small 15-seat cohort and all-CMPC faculty give more mentoring than an online program.
10
Adams State University
Answrs VerdictThe budget, fully-online pick for working professionals
Credit hours: 36-credit programProgram length: About 2 years, fully onlineRanking claim: Ranked #1 nationally by OnlineU for most affordable online sport psychology master's (May 2023)Program: Online M.S. in Applied Sport Psychology
Adams State’s online MS in Applied Sport Psychology is a 36-credit program that takes about 2 years, fully online. OnlineU ranked it #1 for the most affordable online sport psychology master’s in May 2023.
Go ifWorking professionals who can't relocate and want the lowest-cost online option
Skip ifYou want in-person practicum hours or a research-heavy pedigree
How we ranked these
We ranked each school on program depth and research, the CMPC certification path, and published outcomes like funding and pass rates, then on cost and flexibility. Facts are taken from each maker's own published information; check the official site before you buy.
Questions people ask
What is the best school for sports psychology?
The University of Denver's MA in Sport & Performance Psychology is the most comprehensive dedicated program, running 72 credits over two years with extensive practicum placements.
Does a sports psychology degree make you a licensed sport psychologist?
Not automatically — Florida State's program notes that CMPC (Certified Mental Performance Consultant) is a certification, not a license, so graduates can't use the title "sport psychologist" on that basis alone.
Can I study sports psychology fully online?
Yes — Adams State's MS in Applied Sport Psychology (36 credits) and National University's MA in Sport and Performance Psychology (39-51 credits) are both designed to be completed online.
Total credit hours required at a glance
UNC Greensboro36 credits
Georgia Southern University36 credits
University of North Texas36 credits
Adams State University36 credits
National University39 credits
West Virginia University45 credits
University of Denver72 credits
Total credit hours required, as published by each maker. Picks without a published figure are left off.
