by our College Data Analytics TeamA degree in Performance and Sport Psychology explores A Program That Focuses On The Motor, Physiological, And Psychosocial Aspects Of Sport Behavior. Includes Instruction In Applied Sport Psychology, Clinical Mental Health Counseling, Coaching, Exercise Physiology, Ethical Performance Enhancement; Human Development, Leadership And Team Building, Mind-Body Practices, Neuroscience, And Personality And Health. Examples: [Sport And Exercise Psychology]. Continue reading for the essential details every performance and sport psychology major should know — including career paths, salary data, the skills you will develop, and the best colleges offering performance and sport psychology programs.
Nationwide, performance and sport psychology draws strong interest, with 270 degrees awarded annually.
Our 2026 Best Performance and Sport Psychology Schools ranking analyzes these 17 schools to determine the best overall colleges for performance and sport psychology students. Continue reading to check out one of our many unbiased rankings of performance and sport psychology programs later in this article.
Studies in Performance and Sport Psychology develop a specific mix of skills, knowledge, and abilities — derived from O*NET surveys of workers in the occupations performance and sport psychology graduates commonly enter.
Skills emphasized by a performance and sport psychology program reflects the day-to-day work of related occupations:
According to O*NET, a performance and sport psychology major emphasizes the following knowledge areas:
There are several performance and sport psychology 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 | 9 |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 14 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 194 |
| Doctorate | At least 4 years | 53 |
People currently working in careers related to performance and sport psychology tend to have obtained the following education levels.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Post-doctoral training | 39.7% |
| Doctoral degree | 27.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree | 13.2% |
| Master’s degree | 11.5% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 4.7% |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 2.4% |
| Less than a high school diploma | 1.0% |
View the chart below to get an idea of what level of education most of those in performance and sport psychology careers hold.
Source: ONET Online education / training / experience requirements.*
Studying performance and sport psychology opens doors to numerous career paths. These are some of the most common occupations related to performance and sport psychology.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to performance and sport psychology.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Psychology Teachers, Postsecondary | 513,614 | -3.0% |
| Coaches and Scouts | 332,603 | -0.5% |
| Clinical Neuropsychologists | 216,013 | 8.9% |
| Neuropsychologists | 186,493 | 6.5% |
| Psychologists, All Other | 30,286 | 4.1% |
College Scorecard reports median earnings of performance and sport psychology graduates 1, 4, and 5 years after completion. Earnings tend to climb as graduates gain experience.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $54,756 |
| 4 years | $59,892 |
| 5 years | $67,036 |
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, field-of-study earnings tracker.
Salaries for performance and sport psychology graduates vary widely by occupation. The following table shows the top highest-paying careers performance and sport psychology grads often go into.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Psychology Teachers, Postsecondary | $98,479 |
| Neuropsychologists | $83,690 |
| Coaches and Scouts | $78,709 |
| Psychologists, All Other | $73,521 |
| Clinical Neuropsychologists | $57,643 |
With 17 different performance and sport psychology programs to choose from, finding the best fit can be a challenge. We have analyzed these schools to produce unbiased performance and sport psychology school rankings to help you.
Those considering performance and sport psychology, you may also want to explore other closely related fields of study within the same broad area.
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Counseling Psychology | 11,691 |
| Applied Behavior Analysis | 6,914 |
| Clinical Psychology | 6,059 |
| School Psychology | 3,685 |
| Applied Psychology | 2,998 |
| Industrial and Organizational Psychology | 2,898 |
| Forensic Psychology | 2,667 |
| Educational Psychology | 1,979 |
| Clinical, Counseling and Applied Psychology, Other | 577 |
| Community Psychology | 520 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.
