by our College Data Analytics TeamIn 2020-2021, exercise physiology and kinesiology was the 143rd most popular major nationwide with 4,933 degrees awarded. This is a difference of 328 over the prior year, a growth of 6.6%.
Our 2023 Best Exercise Physiology and Kinesiology Schools ranking analyzes 80 of these schools to determine the best overall colleges for exercise physiology and kinesiology students. Continue reading to check out one of our many unbiased rankings of exercise physiology programs later in this article.
Exercise Physiology and Kinesiology majors are found most commonly in careers in which using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems is important. Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents and giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times are all required skills for careers related to this major.
A high school diploma or equivalent is typically required for most exercise physiology degree programs and many students will need a minimum GPA and SAT/ACT score depending on the school. In addition to these basic exercise physiology and kinesiology program qualifications, to serve in some exercise physiology careers, special certification may be required outside of your degree.
Exercise Physiology degree levels vary. You can spend many years getting as high as a in exercise physiology and kinesiology to something that takes less time like a . How long it takes to complete some common exercise physiology degree levels is shown below.
| Degree | Credit Requirements | Typical Program Length |
|---|---|---|
| Associate Degree | 60-70 credits | 2 years |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 120 credits | 4 years |
| Master’s Degree | 50-70 credits | 1-3 years |
| Doctorate | Program required coursework including thesis or dissertation | At least 4 years |
A master's degree is the most common level of education achieved by those in careers related to exercise physiology, with approximately 38.7% of workers getting one. People currently working in careers related to exercise physiology tend obtained the following education levels.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Master’s Degree | 37.6% |
| Post-Doctoral Training | 24.3% |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 17.3% |
| Doctoral Degree | 15.5% |
| Post-Baccalaureate Certificate | 5.7% |
About 75.9% of workers in careers related to exercise physiology obtain at least master's degrees. See the chart below for the most common degree level workers in exercise physiology and kinesiology have received.
The education level required is different depending on the exercise physiology career you are seeking.
Want a job when you graduate with your exercise physiology degree? Exercise Physiology and Kinesiology careers are expected to grow 13.4% between 2016 and 2026.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to exercise physiology and kinesiology.
| Occupation Name | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Medical Scientists | 136,100 | 13.4% |
| Exercise Physiologists | 17,100 | 13.2% |
As you might expect, salaries for exercise physiology graduates vary depending on the level of education that was acquired.
Salaries for exercise physiology and kinesiology graduates can vary widely by the occupation you choose as well. The following table shows the top highest paying careers exercise physiology grads often go into.
| Occupation Name | Median Average Salary |
|---|---|
| Medical Scientists | $96,420 |
| Exercise Physiologists | $54,760 |
With over 189 different exercise physiology degree programs to choose from, finding the best fit for you can be a challenge. Fortunately you have come to the right place. We have analyzed all of these schools to come up with hundreds of unbiased exercise physiology school rankings to help you with this.
Exercise Physiology and Kinesiology is one of 12 different types of Physiology & Pathology Sciences programs to choose from.
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| General Physiology | 2,993 |
| Pathology/Experimental Pathology | 264 |
| Vision Science/Physiological Optics | 155 |
| Oncology & Cancer Biology | 150 |
| Other Physiology, Pathology, & Related Sciences | 146 |
