Exercise Science and Kinesiology: Program Overview, Universities, Careers & Salaries
Program Overview
Exercise Science and Kinesiology is a rigorous, research-driven discipline dedicated to understanding the biological and mechanical principles underlying human movement. This field integrates scientific inquiry with practical application to enhance physical performance, support injury recovery, and promote lifelong health and wellness.
- Biomechanics: The study of forces and their effects on the human body during motion, applying physics to analyze movement efficiency and injury prevention.
- Motor Behavior: Examines how individuals learn, control, and adapt movements through cognitive and sensory processes in various environments.
- Motor Development and Coordination: Focuses on the progression of movement skills across the lifespan, from infancy through aging, and the neurological foundations of skilled performance.
- Motor Neurophysiology: Investigates the nervous system’s role in initiating, regulating, and coordinating voluntary movement at the cellular and systemic levels.
- Performance Research: Involves systematic analysis of athletic and physical performance using data-driven methods to optimize training, endurance, and recovery strategies.
- Rehabilitative Therapies: Applies evidence-based techniques to restore function and mobility following injury, illness, or surgical intervention.
- Diagnostic and Rehabilitative Method Development: Centers on creating and refining tools, protocols, and technologies to assess movement impairments and guide effective recovery.
- Analytical Methods in Applied Exercise: Emphasizes quantitative and qualitative assessment techniques used to evaluate physical performance, movement patterns, and therapeutic outcomes.
Exercise Science and Kinesiology Graduate Trends (2010-2024)
Exercise Science and Kinesiology Career Pathways & Salary Outlook
The following table presents salary data for occupations typically aligned with Exercise Science and Kinesiology degrees, including Exercise Physiologists. 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 8,110 professionals.
National Average Salaries
| Occupation | Median Salary | Salary Range | Total Employment | Hourly Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Exercise Physiologists 29-1128 | $58,160 | $40,930 - $79,830 | 8,110 | $27.96 |
Exercise Science and Kinesiology Salary Map by State
Geographic location significantly impacts earning potential for these careers. Average salaries range from $33,540 in Utah to $87,300 in Maine—a 160% difference. The highest-paying states include Maine, Washington, and New York. Nationwide, these occupations employ over 8,110 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 Exercise Science and Kinesiology by Graduate Enrollment
Below are the top 100 institutions offering Exercise Science and Kinesiology 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 Exercise Science and Kinesiology is found at University of Central Florida (UCF) (448 graduates), Indiana University (IUB), Bloomington (422 graduates), University of Iowa (407 graduates), University of Memphis (UofM) (402 graduates), and Texas State University (TXST) (397 graduates). Combined, these colleges produced 17,218 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 | Location | Control | Website |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| University of Central Florida (UCF) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
448 | Orlando, Florida | Public | ucf.edu |
| Indiana University (IUB) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
422 | Bloomington, Indiana | Public | indiana.edu |
| University of Iowa |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
407 | Iowa City, Iowa | Public | uiowa.edu |
| University of Memphis (UofM) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
402 | Memphis, Tennessee | Public | memphis.edu |
| Texas State University (TXST) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
397 | San Marcos, Texas | Public | txst.edu |
| The University of Texas (UTSA) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
393 | San Antonio, Texas | Public | utsa.edu |
| American Public University System (APUS) |
Bachelor's
|
386 | Charles Town, West Virginia | Private | apus.edu |
| Texas A & M University |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
377 | College Station, Texas | Public | tamu.edu |
| University of Houston (UH) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
313 | Houston, Texas | Public | uh.edu |
| Tarleton State University (TSU) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
311 | Stephenville, Texas | Public | tarleton.edu |
| Michigan State University (MSU) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
309 | East Lansing, Michigan | Public | msu.edu |
| Concordia University (CUC) |
Bachelor's
Postbac Cert.
Master's
|
303 | River Forest, Illinois | Private | cuchicago.edu |
| The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (UTRGV) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
291 | Edinburg, Texas | Public | utrgv.edu |
| The University of Tennessee |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
273 | Knoxville, Tennessee | Public | utk.edu |
| University of Nevada (UNLV) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
263 | Las Vegas, Nevada | Public | unlv.edu |
| Mississippi State University (MSU) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
260 | Mississippi State, Mississippi | Public | msstate.edu |
| Georgia Southern University |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
257 | Statesboro, Georgia | Public | georgiasouthern.edu |
| The University of Alabama (UA) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
245 | Tuscaloosa, Alabama | Public | ua.edu |
| Iowa State University (ISU) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
240 | Ames, Iowa | Public | iastate.edu |
| Pennsylvania Western University (PennWest) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
233 | California, Pennsylvania | Public | pennwest.edu |
| Pennsylvania State University |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
232 | University Park, Pennsylvania | Public | psu.edu |
| University of North Texas (UNT) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
230 | Denton, Texas | Public | unt.edu |
| University of Wisconsin (UWL) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
229 | La Crosse, Wisconsin | Public | uwlax.edu |
| Rutgers University |
Bachelor's
Doctorate (Research)
|
225 | New Brunswick, New Jersey | Public | newbrunswick.rutgers.edu |
| The University of Texas |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
224 | Austin, Texas | Public | utexas.edu |
| Arizona State University Campus Immersion (ASU) |
Bachelor's
|
213 | Tempe, Arizona | Public | asu.edu |
| University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (UIUC) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
208 | Champaign, Illinois | Public | illinois.edu |
| Colorado State University (CSU) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
204 | Fort Collins, Colorado | Public | colostate.edu |
| The University of Texas |
Bachelor's
Doctorate (Research)
|
197 | Arlington, Texas | Public | uta.edu |
| The University of Tennessee (UTC) |
Bachelor's
|
196 | Chattanooga, Tennessee | Public | utc.edu |
| California Baptist University (CBU) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
194 | Riverside, California | Private | calbaptist.edu |
| University of Maryland (UMCP) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
189 | College Park, Maryland | Public | umd.edu |
| Florida Atlantic University (FAU) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
186 | Boca Raton, Florida | Public | fau.edu |
| The University of Texas (UTEP) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
185 | El Paso, Texas | Public | utep.edu |
| Kennesaw State University (KSU) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
183 | Kennesaw, Georgia | Public | kennesaw.edu |
| University of Georgia (UGA) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
182 | Athens, Georgia | Public | uga.edu |
| Oregon State University (OSU) |
Bachelor's
|
182 | Corvallis, Oregon | Public | oregonstate.edu |
| University of North Carolina at Greensboro (UNCG) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
181 | Greensboro, North Carolina | Public | uncg.edu |
| University of Oklahoma (OU) |
Bachelor's
|
175 | Norman, Oklahoma | Public | ou.edu |
| Grand Valley State University (GVSU) |
Bachelor's
|
174 | Allendale, Michigan | Public | gvsu.edu |
| University of North Carolina Wilmington (UNCW) |
Bachelor's
|
173 | Wilmington, North Carolina | Public | uncw.edu |
| Utah State University (USU) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
169 | Logan, Utah | Public | usu.edu |
| Liberty University |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
164 | Lynchburg, Virginia | Private | liberty.edu |
| Montclair State University |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
159 | Montclair, New Jersey | Public | montclair.edu |
| Sam Houston State University (SHSU) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
157 | Huntsville, Texas | Public | shsu.edu |
| University of Michigan (U‑M) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
151 | Ann Arbor, Michigan | Public | umich.edu |
| University of Illinois Chicago (UIC) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Professional)
|
150 | Chicago, Illinois | Public | uic.edu |
| University of Southern Mississippi (USM) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
149 | Hattiesburg, Mississippi | Public | usm.edu |
| Miami University |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
147 | Oxford, Ohio | Public | miamioh.edu |
| Towson University (TU) |
Bachelor's
|
146 | Towson, Maryland | Public | towson.edu |
| Prairie View A & M University (PVAMU) |
Bachelor's
|
144 | Prairie View, Texas | Public | pvamu.edu |
| State University of New York |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
143 | Cortland, New York | Public | www2.cortland.edu |
| Middle Tennessee State University (MTSU) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
143 | Murfreesboro, Tennessee | Public | mtsu.edu |
| Texas Woman's University (TWU) |
Bachelor's
Postbac Cert.
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
141 | Denton, Texas | Public | twu.edu |
| University of Kansas (KU) |
Bachelor's
Other Award
|
139 | Lawrence, Kansas | Public | ku.edu |
| University of Hawaii (UHM) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
137 | Honolulu, Hawaii | Public | manoa.hawaii.edu |
| Grand Canyon University (GCU) |
Bachelor's
|
131 | Phoenix, Arizona | Private | gcu.edu |
| University of Northern Colorado (UNCO) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
129 | Greeley, Colorado | Public | unco.edu |
| University of Delaware (UD) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
127 | Newark, Delaware | Public | udel.edu |
| University of Rhode Island (URI) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
124 | Kingston, Rhode Island | Public | web.uri.edu |
| University of Wisconsin-Madison |
Bachelor's
Doctorate (Research)
|
124 | Madison, Wisconsin | Public | wisc.edu |
| Coastal Carolina University (CCU) |
Bachelor's
|
122 | Conway, South Carolina | Public | coastal.edu |
| University of Central Arkansas (UCA) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
112 | Conway, Arkansas | Public | uca.edu |
| Logan University |
Master's
|
112 | Chesterfield, Missouri | Private | logan.edu |
| University of Mississippi (Ole Miss) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
110 | University, Mississippi | Public | olemiss.edu |
| Oklahoma State University (OSU) |
Bachelor's
|
110 | Stillwater, Oklahoma | Public | okstate.edu |
| Wake Forest University (WFC) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
107 | Winston-Salem, North Carolina | Private | wfu.edu |
| Northern Arizona University (NAU) |
Bachelor's
|
106 | Flagstaff, Arizona | Public | nau.edu |
| Utah Tech University (UT) |
Bachelor's
|
104 | Saint George, Utah | Public | utahtech.edu |
| University of Virginia (UVA) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
102 | Charlottesville, Virginia | Public | virginia.edu |
| Concordia University |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
101 | Saint Paul, Minnesota | Private | csp.edu |
| University of Louisiana (ULM) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
99 | Monroe, Louisiana | Public | ulm.edu |
| Stephen F Austin State University (SFASU) |
Bachelor's
|
98 | Nacogdoches, Texas | Public | sfasu.edu |
| Wayne State University (WSU) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
96 | Detroit, Michigan | Public | wayne.edu |
| Illinois State University (ISU) |
Bachelor's
|
94 | Normal, Illinois | Public | illinoisstate.edu |
| Saint Louis University (SLU) |
Bachelor's
|
94 | Saint Louis, Missouri | Private | slu.edu |
| Salisbury University (SU) |
Bachelor's
|
93 | Salisbury, Maryland | Public | salisbury.edu |
| Carroll University |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
93 | Waukesha, Wisconsin | Private | carrollu.edu |
| California State University |
Bachelor's
|
92 | Chico, California | Public | csuchico.edu |
| Southern Utah University (SUU) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
92 | Cedar City, Utah | Public | suu.edu |
| Pasadena City College (PCC) |
Associate's
|
91 | Pasadena, California | Public | pasadena.edu |
| SUNY Brockport |
Bachelor's
|
91 | Brockport, New York | Public | brockport.edu |
| Kent State University |
Bachelor's
|
90 | Kent, Ohio | Public | kent.edu |
| Texas A&M University |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
90 | San Antonio, Texas | Public | tamusa.edu |
| Colorado Mesa University (CMU) |
Bachelor's
|
89 | Grand Junction, Colorado | Public | coloradomesa.edu |
| Indiana University (IU Indianapolis) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
88 | Indianapolis, Indiana | Public | indianapolis.iu.edu |
| University of South Dakota (USD) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
88 | Vermillion, South Dakota | Public | usd.edu |
| University of West Florida (UWF) |
Bachelor's
|
87 | Pensacola, Florida | Public | uwf.edu |
| Southeastern Louisiana University (SLU) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
87 | Hammond, Louisiana | Public | southeastern.edu |
| Augusta University (AU) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
87 | Augusta, Georgia | Public | augusta.edu |
| Missouri State University |
Bachelor's
|
85 | Springfield, Missouri | Public | missouristate.edu |
| University of Wyoming (UW) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
85 | Laramie, Wyoming | Public | uwyo.edu |
| Fresno City College (FCC) |
Associate's
|
84 | Fresno, California | Public | fresnocitycollege.edu |
| Central Michigan University (CMU) |
Bachelor's
|
84 | Mount Pleasant, Michigan | Public | cmich.edu |
| McNeese State University |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
83 | Lake Charles, Louisiana | Public | mcneese.edu |
| Springfield College |
Bachelor's
|
83 | Springfield, Massachusetts | Private | springfield.edu |
| West Texas A & M University (WTAMU) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
82 | Canyon, Texas | Public | wtamu.edu |
| Texas A & M International University (TAMIU) |
Bachelor's
|
81 | Laredo, Texas | Public | tamiu.edu |
| Mt San Antonio College (Mt. SAC) |
Associate's
|
80 | Walnut, California | Public | mtsac.edu |
| University of Wisconsin (UWEC) |
Bachelor's
|
80 | Eau Claire, Wisconsin | Public | uwec.edu |
Frequently Asked Questions
Find answers to the most common questions about Exercise Science and Kinesiology programs
How much can I earn with a Exercise Science and Kinesiology degree?
Salaries for Exercise Science and Kinesiology graduates vary by role and location. Exercise Physiologists earn a median of $58,160 annually. Geographic location significantly impacts earnings—professionals in Maine average $87,300 compared to $33,540 in Utah. Approximately 8,110 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 Exercise Science and Kinesiology programs?
Currently 804 accredited institutions offer Exercise Science and Kinesiology degrees across the U.S. Programs with the highest enrollment include University of Central Florida (UCF) (448 graduates), Indiana University (IUB), Bloomington (422 graduates), and University of Iowa (407 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 Exercise Science and Kinesiology growing or declining?
Graduate numbers have increased over the past decade, rising from 13,803 in 2010 to 32,041 in 2023-24. This represents a 132% 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 Exercise Science and Kinesiology degree?
This degree prepares you for roles such as Exercise Physiologists. Related occupations employ approximately 8,110 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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