Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education: Program Overview, Universities, Careers & Salaries

Q: Which universities have the largest Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education programs?

Currently 387 accredited institutions offer Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education degrees across the U.S. Programs with the highest enrollment include California State University (CSUF), Fullerton (633 graduates), San Diego State University (SDSU) (406 graduates), and Mt San Antonio College (Mt. SAC) (389 graduates).

Q: Is enrollment in Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education growing or declining?

Graduate numbers have increased over the past decade, rising from 10,975 in 2010 to a peak of 14,097 in 2020, before declining slightly to 12,633 in 2023-24. This represents a 15% increase overall from 2010.

Q: What career paths are available with a Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education degree?

This degree prepares you for roles such as Recreation and Fitness Studies Teachers, Postsecondary, Athletes and Sports Competitors, and Exercise Trainers and Group Fitness Instructors. Related occupations employ approximately 581,610 professionals nationwide.

Program Overview

Prepares students to understand and apply the science and practice of physical activity in diverse contexts. This interdisciplinary field emphasizes the development of physical competence, wellness promotion, and leadership in sports and fitness environments through evidence-based instruction and experiential learning.

Human Movement Studies: Explores the biomechanics, anatomy, and physiology underlying physical performance and motor skills across the lifespan.
Motivation and Behavior in Physical Activity: Investigates psychological factors that influence engagement, adherence, and performance in exercise and sport settings.
Sport-Specific Rules and Training Methodologies: Provides in-depth knowledge of competitive rules, tactical strategies, and effective training protocols for a range of athletic disciplines.
Exercise and Fitness Principles: Covers foundational concepts in cardiovascular conditioning, strength development, flexibility, and program design tailored to individual and group needs.
Injury Prevention and Basic Treatment: Equips learners with knowledge of common athletic injuries, risk reduction strategies, and immediate care techniques in physical activity contexts.
Program Development and Leadership: Focuses on planning, managing, and delivering effective fitness, wellness, and sport programs in educational, community, and professional environments.

Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education Graduate Trends (2010-2024)

12,633

Total Graduates (2023-2024)

387

Universities & Colleges

Career Pathways

Career & Salary Outlook Schools Offering This Program Related Programs

Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education Career Pathways & Salary Outlook

The following table presents salary data for occupations typically aligned with Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education degrees, including Recreation and Fitness Studies Teachers, Postsecondary, Athletes and Sports Competitors and Exercise Trainers and Group Fitness Instructors. These career paths represent common employment outcomes but are not guaranteed for all graduates. Salary ranges vary by location, employer, experience level, and specific role requirements. Nationally, these occupations employ approximately 581,610 professionals.

National Average Salaries

Occupation	Median Salary	Salary Range	Total Employment	Hourly Rate
Recreation and Fitness Studies Teachers, Postsecondary 25-1193	$75,890	$44,150 - $158,240	12,680	N/A
Athletes and Sports Competitors 27-2021	$62,360	$24,960 - $239,200	14,370	N/A
Exercise Trainers and Group Fitness Instructors 39-9031	$46,180	$27,580 - $82,050	303,620	$22.20
Coaches and Scouts 27-2022	$45,920	$27,490 - $93,980	250,940	N/A

Salary Comparison

Data Source: Salary and employment data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) program, May 2024 estimates, based on 4 related occupations. Career pathways mapped using CIP-SOC crosswalk from the National Center for Education Statistics.

*Salary Range Explanation: The salary range represents the 10th to 90th percentile, meaning 80% of workers in this occupation earn within this range. This excludes the lowest 10% and highest 10% of earners to provide a more realistic picture of typical compensation.

Important Disclaimer: Salary data represents national averages and varies by location, experience, employer, and market conditions. These statistics are estimates for general guidance and do not guarantee specific employment outcomes for graduates.

Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education Salary Map by State

Geographic location significantly impacts earning potential for these careers. Average salaries range from $38,080 in Montana to $101,288 in New Jersey—a 166% difference. The highest-paying states include New Jersey, Utah, and California. Nationwide, these occupations employ over 581,610 professionals across all states. Explore the interactive map below to compare regional compensation and identify optimal markets for your career goals.

Average Salary Range:

Top Universities for Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education by Graduate Enrollment

Below are the top 100 institutions offering Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education programs for the 2023-2024 academic year (the most recent data reported as of 2025), ranked by the number of graduates. The highest graduate enrollment in Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education is found at California State University (CSUF), Fullerton (633 graduates), San Diego State University (SDSU) (406 graduates), Mt San Antonio College (Mt. SAC) (389 graduates), University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill (382 graduates), and California State University (CSUN), Northridge (351 graduates). Combined, these colleges produced 10,314 graduates across all degree levels. Program availability varies by award level, including Associate, Bachelor's, Master's, and Doctoral degrees at participating universities and schools.

College Name	Award Levels	Graduates	Admissions	Location	Control	Website
California State University (CSUF)	Bachelor's Master's	633	N/A	Fullerton, California	Public	fullerton.edu
San Diego State University (SDSU)	Bachelor's	406	N/A	San Diego, California	Public	sdsu.edu
Mt San Antonio College (Mt. SAC)	Associate's Other Award	389	N/A	Walnut, California	Public	mtsac.edu
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill	Bachelor's	382	SAT: 1370-1530 ACT: 30-34	Chapel Hill, North Carolina	Public	unc.edu
California State University (CSUN)	Bachelor's Master's	351	N/A	Northridge, California	Public	csun.edu
College of the Canyons	Associate's	323	N/A	Santa Clarita, California	Public	canyons.edu
California State University	Bachelor's Master's	317	N/A	Fresno, California	Public	fresnostate.edu
California State University	Bachelor's Master's	300	N/A	Sacramento, California	Public	csus.edu
San Jose State University (SJSU)	Bachelor's Master's	281	N/A	San Jose, California	Public	sjsu.edu
California State University (CSULB)	Bachelor's Master's	278	N/A	Long Beach, California	Public	csulb.edu
California State University (CSUSB)	Bachelor's	258	N/A	San Bernardino, California	Public	csusb.edu
California State University	Bachelor's Master's	212	N/A	Los Angeles, California	Public	calstatela.edu
California State Polytechnic University (CPP)	Bachelor's Master's	193	N/A	Pomona, California	Public	cpp.edu
Cabrillo College	Associate's	183	N/A	Aptos, California	Public	cabrillo.edu
California State University (CSUSM)	Bachelor's Master's	173	N/A	San Marcos, California	Public	csusm.edu
West Chester University of Pennsylvania (WCU)	Bachelor's	172	SAT: 1100-1270 ACT: 24-28	West Chester, Pennsylvania	Public	wcupa.edu
Shasta College	Associate's	163	N/A	Redding, California	Public	shastacollege.edu
West Virginia University (WVU)	Bachelor's	162	SAT: 1010-1240 ACT: 20-26	Morgantown, West Virginia	Public	wvu.edu
San Francisco State University (SFSU)	Bachelor's Master's	157	N/A	San Francisco, California	Public	sfsu.edu
James Madison University (JMU)	Bachelor's Master's	153	SAT: 1170-1320 ACT: 25-29	Harrisonburg, Virginia	Public	jmu.edu
California State University (CSUMB)	Bachelor's	145	N/A	Seaside, California	Public	csumb.edu
Brigham Young University (BYU)	Bachelor's Doctorate (R)	139	SAT: 1290-1450 ACT: 28-32	Provo, Utah	Private	byu.edu
California State University (CSUEB)	Bachelor's Master's	136	N/A	Hayward, California	Public	csueastbay.edu
California State University (CSUDH)	Bachelor's	135	N/A	Carson, California	Public	csudh.edu
Tennessee Technological University (TTU)	Bachelor's Master's	127	SAT: 1020-1250 ACT: 20-27	Cookeville, Tennessee	Public	tntech.edu
William & Mary (W&M)	Bachelor's	122	SAT: 1365-1510 ACT: 32-34	Williamsburg, Virginia	Public	wm.edu
University of the Cumberlands	Associate's Bachelor's	115	N/A	Williamsburg, Kentucky	Private	ucumberlands.edu
Ohio University (OHIO)	Bachelor's Master's	114	SAT: 1100-1290 ACT: 22-28	Athens, Ohio	Public	ohio.edu
Victor Valley College (VVC)	Other Award	113	N/A	Victorville, California	Public	vvc.edu
University of Massachusetts	Bachelor's Master's	112	SAT: 1080-1290 ACT: 24-30	Boston, Massachusetts	Public	umb.edu
California State University (CSUB)	Bachelor's Master's	109	N/A	Bakersfield, California	Public	csub.edu
Indiana University of Pennsylvania (IUP)	Bachelor's Master's	106	SAT: 940-1170 ACT: 17-24	Indiana, Pennsylvania	Public	iup.edu
Austin Peay State University (APSU)	Bachelor's Master's	105	SAT: 943-1165 ACT: 18-23	Clarksville, Tennessee	Public	apsu.edu
Baylor University	Bachelor's	102	SAT: 1210-1400 ACT: 27-32	Waco, Texas	Private	baylor.edu
American Public University System (APUS)	Master's	100	N/A	Charles Town, West Virginia	Private	apus.edu
East Tennessee State University (ETSU)	Bachelor's	98	SAT: 950-1170 ACT: 19-26	Johnson City, Tennessee	Public	etsu.edu
Sonoma State University (SSU)	Bachelor's	97	N/A	Rohnert Park, California	Public	sonoma.edu
University of Louisville (UofL)	Bachelor's	90	SAT: 1020-1250 ACT: 19-27	Louisville, Kentucky	Public	louisville.edu
Riverside City College (RCC)	Associate's	88	N/A	Riverside, California	Public	rcc.edu
Blinn College District	Associate's	84	N/A	Brenham, Texas	Public	blinn.edu
California State University	Bachelor's Master's	79	N/A	Chico, California	Public	csuchico.edu
Bryan University	Associate's	77	N/A	Tempe, Arizona	Private	bryanuniversity.edu
California Polytechnic State University (Cal Poly)	Bachelor's	76	N/A	San Luis Obispo, California	Public	calpoly.edu
University of North Carolina (UNCP)	Bachelor's	76	N/A	Pembroke, North Carolina	Public	uncp.edu
Eastern Oregon University (EOU)	Bachelor's	76	N/A	La Grande, Oregon	Public	eou.edu
The University of Tennessee	Bachelor's	75	SAT: 1000-1210 ACT: 19-24	Martin, Tennessee	Public	utm.edu
Southern Illinois University (SIUE)	Master's	73	SAT: 900-1160 ACT: 20-26	Edwardsville, Illinois	Public	siue.edu
North Carolina Central University (NCCU)	Bachelor's Master's	70	SAT: 980-1100 ACT: 17-18	Durham, North Carolina	Public	nccu.edu
Emory University	Bachelor's	69	SAT: 1460-1550 ACT: 32-34	Atlanta, Georgia	Private	emory.edu
East Central University (ECU)	Bachelor's	69	SAT: 935-1055 ACT: 16-22	Ada, Oklahoma	Public	ecok.edu
California State Polytechnic University (Cal Poly Humboldt)	Bachelor's Master's	67	N/A	Arcata, California	Public	humboldt.edu
Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania (SRU)	Bachelor's	64	SAT: 980-1190 ACT: 19-25	Slippery Rock, Pennsylvania	Public	sru.edu
Ohio State University	Bachelor's Postbac Cert. Master's Doctorate (R)	63	SAT: 1330-1480 ACT: 29-32	Columbus, Ohio	Public	osu.edu
Illinois State University (ISU)	Master's	61	SAT: 1010-1230 ACT: 22-27	Normal, Illinois	Public	illinoisstate.edu
Northern Illinois University (NIU)	Bachelor's	58	N/A	Dekalb, Illinois	Public	niu.edu
Utah Valley University (UVU)	Associate's Bachelor's	55	N/A	Orem, Utah	Public	uvu.edu
Minnesota State University	Bachelor's Postbac Cert. Master's	54	ACT: 22-25	Mankato, Minnesota	Public	mnsu.edu
El Paso Community College (EPCC)	Associate's	54	N/A	El Paso, Texas	Public	epcc.edu
University of the Pacific (UOP)	Bachelor's Master's	52	SAT: 1160-1420 ACT: 23-31	Stockton, California	Private	pacific.edu
Bridgewater College (BC)	Bachelor's	52	SAT: 1070-1375 ACT: 28-29	Bridgewater, Virginia	Private	bridgewater.edu
University of Northern Iowa (UNI)	Bachelor's	48	SAT: 860-1210 ACT: 20-26	Cedar Falls, Iowa	Public	uni.edu
Howard University (HU)	Bachelor's	46	SAT: 1100-1298 ACT: 22-28	Washington, District of Columbia	Private	howard.edu
University of West Florida (UWF)	Bachelor's Master's	42	SAT: 1020-1230 ACT: 20-27	Pensacola, Florida	Public	uwf.edu
McDaniel College	Bachelor's	41	N/A	Westminster, Maryland	Private	mcdaniel.edu
University of Guam (UOG)	Bachelor's	41	N/A	Mangilao, Guam	Public	uog.edu
Northwestern State University of Louisiana (NSULA)	Bachelor's Master's	40	SAT: 925-1243 ACT: 18-24	Natchitoches, Louisiana	Public	nsula.edu
Tennessee State University (TSU)	Bachelor's Master's	40	SAT: 856-1068 ACT: 16-21	Nashville, Tennessee	Public	tnstate.edu
Jacksonville University (JU)	Bachelor's Master's	39	SAT: 1110-1260 ACT: 24-28	Jacksonville, Florida	Private	ju.edu
Clovis Community College (CCC)	Associate's	39	N/A	Fresno, California	Public	cloviscollege.edu
Southern Oregon University (SOU)	Bachelor's	38	N/A	Ashland, Oregon	Public	sou.edu
Weber State University (WSU)	Bachelor's	36	N/A	Ogden, Utah	Public	weber.edu
South Texas College (STC)	Associate's	36	N/A	McAllen, Texas	Public	southtexascollege.edu
Westfield State University (WSU)	Bachelor's Postbac Cert. Master's	35	N/A	Westfield, Massachusetts	Public	westfield.ma.edu
University of Missouri (Mizzou)	Master's Other Award	34	SAT: 1150-1330 ACT: 23-29	Columbia, Missouri	Public	missouri.edu
Central Texas College (CTC)	Associate's	33	N/A	Killeen, Texas	Public	ctcd.edu
Missouri Western State University (MWSU)	Bachelor's	32	N/A	Saint Joseph, Missouri	Public	missouriwestern.edu
Cameron University	Bachelor's Other Award	32	N/A	Lawton, Oklahoma	Public	cameron.edu
Commonwealth University of Pennsylvania (CU)	Master's	32	SAT: 970-1180 ACT: 18-25	Bloomsburg, Pennsylvania	Public	commonwealthu.edu
University of Michigan (U‑M)	Bachelor's	31	SAT: 1350-1530 ACT: 31-34	Ann Arbor, Michigan	Public	umich.edu
The University of Texas	Bachelor's	31	SAT: 1230-1490 ACT: 27-33	Austin, Texas	Public	utexas.edu
Central Washington University (CWU)	Master's Post-Master's	31	N/A	Ellensburg, Washington	Public	cwu.edu
Washburn University (WU)	Bachelor's	29	N/A	Topeka, Kansas	Public	washburn.edu
Lubbock Christian University (LCU)	Bachelor's	29	SAT: 900-1160 ACT: 19-25	Lubbock, Texas	Private	lcu.edu
West Virginia State University (WVSU)	Bachelor's Master's	29	SAT: 830-1073 ACT: 16-22	Institute, West Virginia	Public	wvstateu.edu
Life University	Master's	27	SAT: 900-1120 ACT: 15-19	Marietta, Georgia	Private	life.edu
Anne Arundel Community College (AACC)	Associate's Other Award	27	N/A	Arnold, Maryland	Public	aacc.edu
University of Wisconsin-Platteville	Bachelor's	27	ACT: 21-27	Platteville, Wisconsin	Public	uwplatt.edu
Norco College	Associate's	27	N/A	Norco, California	Public	norcocollege.edu
North Park University	Bachelor's	26	N/A	Chicago, Illinois	Private	northpark.edu
Calvin University	Bachelor's	26	SAT: 1070-1340 ACT: 22-30	Grand Rapids, Michigan	Private	calvin.edu
Western Oklahoma State College (WOSC)	Associate's	26	N/A	Altus, Oklahoma	Public	wosc.edu
Moreno Valley College (MVC)	Associate's	26	N/A	Moreno Valley, California	Public	mvc.edu
Monmouth University	Bachelor's	25	SAT: 1125-1270 ACT: 24-28	West Long Branch, New Jersey	Private	monmouth.edu
Canisius University	Bachelor's Master's	25	N/A	Buffalo, New York	Private	canisius.edu
Portland Community College (PCC)	Associate's Other Award	25	N/A	Portland, Oregon	Public	pcc.edu
California State University	Bachelor's	24	N/A	Turlock, California	Public	csustan.edu
Morehouse College	Bachelor's	24	ACT: 19-23	Atlanta, Georgia	Private	morehouse.edu
Oklahoma State University (OSU)	Master's Doctorate (R)	24	SAT: 1030-1240 ACT: 20-27	Stillwater, Oklahoma	Public	okstate.edu
Navarro College	Associate's	24	N/A	Corsicana, Texas	Public	navarrocollege.edu
Milligan University	Bachelor's	24	SAT: 1120-1290 ACT: 21-27	Milligan, Tennessee	Private	milligan.edu

Frequently Asked Questions

Find answers to the most common questions about Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education programs

How much can I earn with a Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education degree?

Salaries for Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education graduates vary by role and location. Recreation and Fitness Studies Teachers, Postsecondary earn a median of $75,890 annually, while Athletes and Sports Competitors earn around $62,360. Geographic location significantly impacts earnings—professionals in New Jersey average $101,288 compared to $38,080 in Montana. Approximately 581,610 professionals work in related occupations nationwide.

Salary data from U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS program, May 2024. Earnings vary by experience, employer, and market conditions.

Which universities have the largest Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education programs?

Currently 387 accredited institutions offer Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education degrees across the U.S. Programs with the highest enrollment include California State University (CSUF), Fullerton (633 graduates), San Diego State University (SDSU) (406 graduates), and Mt San Antonio College (Mt. SAC) (389 graduates).

Program size doesn't necessarily indicate quality—consider factors like faculty expertise, production opportunities, location, and available degree levels when choosing a school.

Data based on IPEDS program completions for 2023-2024 academic year. Numbers reflect programs where students graduated.

Is enrollment in Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education growing or declining?

Graduate numbers have increased over the past decade, rising from 10,975 in 2010 to a peak of 14,097 in 2020, before declining slightly to 12,633 in 2023-24. This represents a 15% increase overall from 2010.

The field remains specialized with steady interest, though opportunities are most concentrated in major metropolitan areas with active arts scenes like New York, California, and Illinois.

Graduate enrollment data from IPEDS, 2010-2024 academic years. Trends reflect reported completions at participating institutions.

What career paths are available with a Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education degree?

This degree prepares you for roles such as Recreation and Fitness Studies Teachers, Postsecondary, Athletes and Sports Competitors, and Exercise Trainers and Group Fitness Instructors. Related occupations employ approximately 581,610 professionals nationwide.

Skills in project management, creative leadership, and collaboration also transfer to event planning, arts administration, marketing, and corporate training roles. Many professionals work freelance or on a project basis across theatre, film, and live events.

Career pathways mapped using CIP-SOC crosswalk from the National Center for Education Statistics. Employment data from BLS OEWS May 2024.

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