Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education Fitness: Program Overview, Universities, Careers & Salaries
Program Overview
Designed for individuals passionate about human movement, health, and physical performance, this interdisciplinary program offers a comprehensive exploration of the science and practice behind athletic development, physical wellness, and fitness education. Students engage with foundational and advanced concepts across kinesiology, exercise science, and physical education, preparing for careers that promote lifelong health and active lifestyles.
- Exercise Physiology: Investigates how the body responds to physical activity, focusing on metabolic, cardiovascular, and neuromuscular adaptations during exercise and training.
- Musculoskeletal Biomechanics: Examines the mechanical principles underlying human movement, including joint mechanics, force production, and injury prevention strategies.
- Motor Learning and Control: Explores how individuals acquire, refine, and retain movement skills, with applications in coaching, rehabilitation, and performance enhancement.
- Physical Activity and Health Promotion: Focuses on designing and implementing evidence-based programs that encourage physical activity across diverse populations and settings.
- Adapted Physical Education: Addresses the development of inclusive physical activity programs for individuals with disabilities, emphasizing accessibility and equitable participation.
- Fitness Assessment and Program Design: Teaches methods for evaluating physical fitness components and creating personalized, safe, and effective exercise regimens.
- Teaching Methods in Physical Education: Prepares students to deliver engaging, standards-aligned instruction in school and community-based physical education environments.
Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education Fitness Graduate Trends (2010-2024)
Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education Fitness Career Pathways & Salary Outlook
The following table presents salary data for occupations typically aligned with Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education Fitness degrees, including . 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.
Career salary data is not available for this program.
Top Universities for Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education Fitness by Graduate Enrollment
Below are the top 67 institutions offering Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education Fitness 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 Fitness is found at University of North Georgia (UNG) (170 graduates), NUC University (NUC) (144 graduates), University of Wisconsin-Madison (98 graduates), University of La Verne (68 graduates), and Arizona State University Campus Immersion (ASU) (66 graduates). Combined, these colleges produced 1,200 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 North Georgia (UNG) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
170 | Dahlonega, Georgia | Public | ung.edu |
| NUC University (NUC) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
144 | Bayamon, Puerto Rico | Private | nuc.edu |
| University of Wisconsin-Madison |
Bachelor's
|
98 | Madison, Wisconsin | Public | wisc.edu |
| University of La Verne |
Bachelor's
|
68 | La Verne, California | Private | laverne.edu |
| Arizona State University Campus Immersion (ASU) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
66 | Tempe, Arizona | Public | asu.edu |
| Commonwealth University of Pennsylvania (CU) |
Bachelor's
|
50 | Bloomsburg, Pennsylvania | Public | commonwealthu.edu |
| Brunswick Community College (BCC) |
Associate's
Other Award
|
48 | Bolivia, North Carolina | Public | brunswickcc.edu |
| Gustavus Adolphus College |
Bachelor's
|
33 | Saint Peter, Minnesota | Private | gustavus.edu |
| Benedictine College |
Bachelor's
|
30 | Atchison, Kansas | Private | benedictine.edu |
| University of Evansville (UE) |
Bachelor's
|
29 | Evansville, Indiana | Private | evansville.edu |
| Wake Technical Community College (Wake Tech) |
Associate's
Other Award
|
28 | Raleigh, North Carolina | Public | waketech.edu |
| Mount Marty University (MMU) |
Bachelor's
|
25 | Yankton, South Dakota | Private | mountmarty.edu |
| Valdosta State University (VSU) |
Bachelor's
|
23 | Valdosta, Georgia | Public | valdosta.edu |
| Saint Ambrose University (SAU) |
Bachelor's
|
19 | Davenport, Iowa | Private | sau.edu |
| Canisius University |
Bachelor's
|
19 | Buffalo, New York | Private | canisius.edu |
| Universidad del Sagrado Corazon |
Bachelor's
|
19 | Santurce, Puerto Rico | Private | sagrado.edu |
| Missouri Southern State University (MSSU) |
Bachelor's
|
18 | Joplin, Missouri | Public | mssu.edu |
| Gaston College |
Associate's
Other Award
|
16 | Dallas, North Carolina | Public | gaston.edu |
| University of Minnesota (UMN) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
15 | Minneapolis, Minnesota | Public | twin-cities.umn.edu |
| Howard University (HU) |
Bachelor's
|
14 | Washington, District of Columbia | Private | howard.edu |
| Judson University |
Bachelor's
|
14 | Elgin, Illinois | Private | judsonu.edu |
| Otterbein University |
Bachelor's
|
14 | Westerville, Ohio | Private | otterbein.edu |
| Bowling Green State University (BGSU) |
Master's
|
13 | Bowling Green, Ohio | Public | bgsu.edu |
| Tougaloo College |
Bachelor's
|
12 | Tougaloo, Mississippi | Private | tougaloo.edu |
| Fayetteville Technical Community College (FTCC) |
Associate's
Other Award
|
12 | Fayetteville, North Carolina | Public | faytechcc.edu |
| Dickinson State University (DSU) |
Residency
|
10 | Dickinson, North Dakota | Public | dickinsonstate.edu |
| Limestone University |
Bachelor's
|
10 | Gaffney, South Carolina | Private | limestone.edu |
| Emmanuel University |
Bachelor's
|
9 | Franklin Springs, Georgia | Private | ec.edu |
| William Penn University (WPU) |
Bachelor's
|
9 | Oskaloosa, Iowa | Private | wmpenn.edu |
| Northwest Missouri State University |
Master's
|
9 | Maryville, Missouri | Public | nwmissouri.edu |
| College of the Albemarle (COA) |
Associate's
Other Award
|
9 | Elizabeth City, North Carolina | Public | albemarle.edu |
| Sandhills Community College (SCC) |
Associate's
Other Award
|
9 | Pinehurst, North Carolina | Public | sandhills.edu |
| Pennsylvania College of Technology |
Associate's
|
9 | Williamsport, Pennsylvania | Public | pct.edu |
| Emory University |
Bachelor's
|
8 | Atlanta, Georgia | Private | emory.edu |
| Coastal Carolina Community College |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
Other Award
|
8 | Jacksonville, North Carolina | Public | coastalcarolina.edu |
| Western Illinois University (WIU) |
Master's
|
7 | Macomb, Illinois | Public | wiu.edu |
| College of Southern Maryland (CSM) |
Associate's
|
7 | La Plata, Maryland | Public | csmd.edu |
| Lasell University |
Master's
|
7 | Newton, Massachusetts | Private | lasell.edu |
| Methodist University |
Bachelor's
|
6 | Fayetteville, North Carolina | Private | methodist.edu |
| Pennsylvania Western University (PennWest) |
Bachelor's
|
6 | California, Pennsylvania | Public | pennwest.edu |
| University of Alabama (UAB) |
Doctorate (Research)
|
5 | Birmingham, Alabama | Public | uab.edu |
| The University of Alabama (UA) |
Doctorate (Research)
|
5 | Tuscaloosa, Alabama | Public | ua.edu |
| Arkansas Tech University (ATU) |
Master's
|
5 | Russellville, Arkansas | Public | atu.edu |
| Chesapeake College |
Associate's
|
5 | Wye Mills, Maryland | Public | chesapeake.edu |
| Montana State University |
Bachelor's
|
5 | Havre, Montana | Public | msun.edu |
| Central Carolina Community College (CCCC) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
Other Award
|
5 | Sanford, North Carolina | Public | cccc.edu |
| United Tribes Technical College (UTTC) |
Associate's
|
5 | Bismarck, North Dakota | Private | uttc.edu |
| Coker University |
Bachelor's
|
5 | Hartsville, South Carolina | Private | coker.edu |
| Grace College and Theological Seminary |
Bachelor's
|
4 | Winona Lake, Indiana | Private | grace.edu |
| Butler Community College |
Associate's
|
4 | El Dorado, Kansas | Public | butlercc.edu |
| Saint Peter's University (SPU) |
Bachelor's
|
4 | Jersey City, New Jersey | Private | saintpeters.edu |
| Catawba Valley Community College (CVCC) |
Associate's
Other Award
|
4 | Hickory, North Carolina | Public | cvcc.edu |
| Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community College (A-B Tech) |
Associate's
|
3 | Asheville, North Carolina | Public | abtech.edu |
| Johnston Community College (JCC) |
Associate's
|
3 | Smithfield, North Carolina | Public | johnstoncc.edu |
| Tennessee Wesleyan University (TWU) |
Bachelor's
|
3 | Athens, Tennessee | Private | tnwesleyan.edu |
| Lewis-Clark State College (LC State) |
Other Award
|
2 | Lewiston, Idaho | Public | lcsc.edu |
| Greensboro College |
Bachelor's
|
2 | Greensboro, North Carolina | Private | greensboro.edu |
| Weber State University (WSU) |
Bachelor's
|
2 | Ogden, Utah | Public | weber.edu |
| Shelton State Community College (SSCC) |
Other Award
|
1 | Tuscaloosa, Alabama | Public | sheltonstate.edu |
| University of Alaska (UAA) |
Bachelor's
|
1 | Anchorage, Alaska | Public | uaa.alaska.edu |
| Naropa University |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
1 | Boulder, Colorado | Private | naropa.edu |
| Dordt University |
Bachelor's
|
1 | Sioux Center, Iowa | Private | dordt.edu |
| Washington Adventist University (WAU) |
Bachelor's
|
1 | Takoma Park, Maryland | Private | wau.edu |
| Montgomery College (MC) |
Other Award
|
1 | Rockville, Maryland | Public | montgomerycollege.edu |
| St Catherine University (St. Kate’s) |
Bachelor's
|
1 | Saint Paul, Minnesota | Private | stkate.edu |
| Campbell University |
Bachelor's
|
1 | Buies Creek, North Carolina | Private | campbell.edu |
| Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania (SRU) |
Other Award
|
1 | Slippery Rock, Pennsylvania | Public | sru.edu |
Frequently Asked Questions
Find answers to the most common questions about Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education Fitness programs
Which universities have the largest Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education Fitness programs?
Currently 67 accredited institutions offer Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education Fitness degrees across the U.S. Programs with the highest enrollment include University of North Georgia (UNG) (170 graduates), NUC University (NUC) (144 graduates), and University of Wisconsin-Madison (98 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 Fitness growing or declining?
Graduate numbers have decreased over the past decade, rising from 1,855 in 2010 to a peak of 1,330 in 2020, before declining slightly to 1,200 in 2023-24. This represents a 35% decrease overall from 2010.
The field remains specialized with consistent demand, 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.
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