by our College Data Analytics TeamStudying Sports Studies explores Sports Studies. A Program That Focuses On The Psychological, Sociological, And Historical Aspects Of Sport And Physical Activity. Includes Instruction In Theory Of Sport, Sport Psychology, Sport In American Society, Gender And Race/ethnicity And Sport, And Sports History. Examples: [Psychosocial Aspects Of Sport]. Read on to learn the key facts every sports studies student should know — including career paths, salary data, the skills you will develop, and the best colleges offering sports studies programs.
Nationwide, sports studies draws strong interest, with 607 degrees awarded annually.
Our 2026 Best Sports Studies Schools ranking analyzes these 47 schools to determine the best overall colleges for sports studies students. Continue reading to check out one of our many unbiased rankings of sports studies programs later in this article.
Coursework for Sports Studies build a specific mix of skills, knowledge, and abilities — derived from O*NET surveys of workers in the occupations sports studies graduates commonly enter.
The skill set built by a sports studies program reflects the day-to-day work of related occupations:
Per O*NET surveys, a sports studies major emphasizes the following knowledge areas:
There are several sports studies 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Associate Degree | 2 years | 25 |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 362 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 220 |
People currently working in careers related to sports studies tend to have obtained the following education levels.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Doctoral degree | 74.2% |
| Master’s degree | 20.8% |
| Bachelor’s degree | 5.0% |
See the chart below to get an idea of what level of education most of those in sports studies careers hold.
Source: ONET Online education / training / experience requirements.*
Majoring in sports studies opens doors to a variety of career paths. Here are some of the most common occupations related to sports studies.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to sports studies.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Recreation and Fitness Studies Teachers, Postsecondary | 596,959 | 11.6% |
The U.S. Department of Education tracks median earnings of sports studies graduates 1, 4, and 5 years after completion. Wages typically rise 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 studies graduates vary widely by occupation. The following table shows the top highest-paying careers sports studies grads often go into.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Recreation and Fitness Studies Teachers, Postsecondary | $84,688 |
With 47 different sports studies programs to choose from, finding the best fit can be a challenge. We have analyzed these schools to produce unbiased sports studies school rankings to help you.
If you are interested in sports studies, 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 |
| Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness, General | 12,633 |
| Physical Fitness Technician | 1,308 |
| Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness, Other | 1,200 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.
