by our College Data Analytics TeamIn the latest year, 823 U.S. colleges awarded 32,999 degrees and certificates in Exercise Science and Kinesiology. Bachelor’s degrees are the most popular award, at 82% of graduates. College Factual ranks 612 schools in its 2027 Best Exercise Science and Kinesiology Schools ranking and compares their cost in a Best Value ranking. Graduates earn a median $34,357 one year after completing, rising to $56,191 after four years.
A degree in Exercise Science and Kinesiology explores Exercise Science And Kinesiology. A Scientific Program That Focuses On The Anatomy, Physiology, Biochemistry, And Biophysics Of Human Movement, And Applications To Exercise And Therapeutic Rehabilitation. Includes Instruction In Biomechanics, Motor Behavior, Motor Development And Coordination, Motor Neurophysiology, Performance Research, Rehabilitative Therapies, The Development Of Diagnostic And Rehabilitative Methods And Equipment, And Related Analytical Methods And Procedures In Applied Exercise And Therapeutic Rehabilitation.
Source: IPEDS 2025; College Scorecard July 2026; BLS; O*NET; College Factual rankings 2027. Data as of: July 2026.
Across the country, exercise science and kinesiology draws strong interest, with 32,999 degrees awarded annually. 823 colleges award exercise science and kinesiology degrees, an average of 40 graduates per school; the largest program awarded 579.
By level, the 32,999 awards include 16 certificates, 2,818 associate degrees, 26,996 bachelor’s degrees, 2,914 master’s degrees and 248 doctorates.
Women earned 54% of exercise science and kinesiology degrees and certificates in the latest year (17,955 of 32,999). The largest groups of graduates by race and ethnicity are White (18,545) and Hispanic or Latino (6,001), and international students earned 849.
College Factual ranks 612 schools in its 2027 Best Exercise Science and Kinesiology Schools ranking, including 101 for associate degrees, 492 for bachelor’s degrees, 131 for master’s degrees and 5 for doctorates. It also ranks exercise science and kinesiology schools within 48 states. In all, 823 colleges offer exercise science and kinesiology programs; compare them by degree level below or in the Best Value Exercise Science and Kinesiology Colleges ranking, which weighs quality against cost.
The most common exercise science and kinesiology credential is the bachelor’s degree: 26,996 of the 32,999 awarded in the latest year. Jobs related to exercise science and kinesiology call most for Reading Comprehension, Instructing and Speaking, and for knowledge of Customer and Personal Service, Medicine and Dentistry and Education and Training, according to O*NET. The most important abilities are Problem Sensitivity, Oral Expression and Speech Recognition.
Top skills, rated 0–5:
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How long an exercise science and kinesiology degree takes:
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Certificate | Varies | 16 |
| Associate Degree | 2 years | 2,818 |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 26,996 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 2,914 |
| Doctorate | At least 4 years | 248 |
Bachelor’s degree is the most common level of education among workers in jobs related to exercise science and kinesiology, at 59.1%.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Bachelor’s degree | 59.1% |
| Master’s degree | 31.8% |
| Doctoral degree | 9.1% |
Source: O*NET Online.
1 occupations are related to Exercise Science and Kinesiology, with an average median salary of $144,072; the strongest outlook belongs to Exercise Physiologists, at 1.7% projected job growth. Typical job titles include Cardiac Rehabilitation Exercise Physiologist, Cardiac Exercise Physiologist, Fitness Specialist and Exercise Physiologist.
That occupation also has the most projected jobs of any related to exercise science and kinesiology, at 1,771,772.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Exercise Physiologists | 1,771,772 | 1.7% |
Exercise Science and Kinesiology graduates earn a median $34,357 one year after completing their program, $56,191 after four years and $55,953 after five years, according to the U.S. Department of Education’s College Scorecard.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $34,357 |
| 4 years | $56,191 |
| 5 years | $55,953 |
Source: College Scorecard.
The same occupation is also the highest-paying one related to exercise science and kinesiology, with a median salary of $144,072.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Exercise Physiologists | $144,072 |
Exercise Science and Kinesiology has 5 similar majors in the Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness field, which together award 35,171 degrees a year; the largest are Sport and Fitness Administration/Management (18,948), Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness, General (13,141) and Physical Fitness Technician (1,451). Browse all Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness majors or the full list of college majors.
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Sport and Fitness Administration/Management | 18,948 |
| Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness, General | 13,141 |
| Physical Fitness Technician | 1,451 |
| Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness, Other | 1,059 |
| Sports Studies | 572 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.
