by our College Data Analytics TeamA degree in Sports Kinesiology and Physical Education/Fitness General explores Sports, Kinesiology, And Physical Education/fitness, General. A General Program That Focuses On Activities And Principles That Promote Physical Fitness, Achieve And Maintain Athletic Prowess, And Accomplish Related Research And Service Goals. Includes Instruction In Human Movement Studies, Motivation Studies, Rules And Practice Of Specific Sports, Exercise And Fitness Principles And Techniques, Basic Athletic Injury Prevention And Treatment, And Organizing And Leading Fitness And Sports Programs. Examples: [Coaching]. Read on to learn the essential details every sports kinesiology and physical education/fitness general student should know — including career paths, salary data, the skills you will develop, and the best colleges offering sports kinesiology and physical education/fitness general programs.
Nationwide, sports kinesiology and physical education/fitness general draws strong interest, with 12,633 degrees awarded annually.
Our 2026 Best Sports Kinesiology and Physical Education/Fitness General Schools ranking analyzes these 387 schools to determine the best overall colleges for sports kinesiology and physical education/fitness general students. Continue reading to check out one of our many unbiased rankings of sports kinesiology and physical education/fitness general programs later in this article.
Programs in Sports Kinesiology and Physical Education/Fitness General develop a specific mix of skills, knowledge, and abilities — derived from O*NET surveys of workers in the occupations sports kinesiology and physical education/fitness general graduates commonly enter.
Skills developed in a sports kinesiology and physical education/fitness general program reflects the day-to-day work of related occupations:
Per O*NET surveys, a sports kinesiology and physical education/fitness general major emphasizes the following knowledge areas:
There are several sports kinesiology and physical education/fitness general degree levels. The table below shows the typical length of the most common levels, and how many graduates earn each one.
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Certificate | Varies | 53 |
| Associate Degree | 2 years | 2,243 |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 8,955 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 1,338 |
| Doctorate | At least 4 years | 26 |
People currently working in careers related to sports kinesiology and physical education/fitness general tend to have obtained the following education levels.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Doctoral degree | 35.5% |
| Bachelor’s degree | 22.0% |
| Master’s degree | 15.8% |
| Less than a high school diploma | 8.5% |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 7.6% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 6.9% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 2.3% |
| Some college courses | 0.7% |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 0.6% |
See the chart below to get an idea of what level of education most of those in sports kinesiology and physical education/fitness general careers hold.
Source: ONET Online education / training / experience requirements.*
Majoring in sports kinesiology and physical education/fitness general can lead to many career paths. Here are some of the most common occupations related to sports kinesiology and physical education/fitness general.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to sports kinesiology and physical education/fitness general.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Recreation and Fitness Studies Teachers, Postsecondary | 596,959 | 11.6% |
| Coaches and Scouts | 332,603 | -0.5% |
| Athletes and Sports Competitors | 244,456 | 7.1% |
| Exercise Trainers and Group Fitness Instructors | 35,993 | -1.5% |
Federal data tracks median earnings of sports kinesiology and physical education/fitness general graduates 1, 4, and 5 years after completion. Earnings tend to climb as graduates gain experience.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $34,425 |
| 4 years | $47,075 |
| 5 years | $55,516 |
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, field-of-study earnings tracker.
Salaries for sports kinesiology and physical education/fitness general graduates vary widely by occupation. The following table shows the top highest-paying careers sports kinesiology and physical education/fitness general grads often go into.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Recreation and Fitness Studies Teachers, Postsecondary | $84,688 |
| Coaches and Scouts | $78,709 |
| Exercise Trainers and Group Fitness Instructors | $54,441 |
| Athletes and Sports Competitors | $39,714 |
With 387 different sports kinesiology and physical education/fitness general programs to choose from, finding the best fit can be a challenge. We have analyzed these schools to produce unbiased sports kinesiology and physical education/fitness general school rankings to help you.
Those considering sports kinesiology and physical education/fitness general, you may also want to explore other closely related fields of study within the same broad area.
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Exercise Science and Kinesiology | 32,041 |
| Sport and Fitness Administration/Management | 17,472 |
| Physical Fitness Technician | 1,308 |
| Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness, Other | 1,200 |
| Sports Studies | 607 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.
