by our College Data Analytics TeamIn the latest year, 372 U.S. colleges awarded 13,141 degrees and certificates in Sports Kinesiology and Physical Education/Fitness General. Bachelor’s degrees are the most popular award, at 69% of graduates. College Factual ranks 207 schools in its 2027 Best Sports Kinesiology and Physical Education/Fitness General 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 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].
Source: IPEDS 2025; College Scorecard July 2026; BLS; O*NET; College Factual rankings 2027. Data as of: July 2026.
Nationwide, sports kinesiology and physical education/fitness general draws strong interest, with 13,141 degrees awarded annually. 372 colleges award sports kinesiology and physical education/fitness general degrees, an average of 35 graduates per school; the largest program awarded 612.
By level, the 13,141 awards include 269 certificates, 2,336 associate degrees, 9,105 bachelor’s degrees, 1,390 master’s degrees and 23 doctorates.
Women earned 52% of sports kinesiology and physical education/fitness general degrees and certificates in the latest year (6,840 of 13,141). The largest groups of graduates by race and ethnicity are White (5,216) and Hispanic or Latino (3,864), and international students earned 347.
College Factual ranks 207 schools in its 2027 Best Sports Kinesiology and Physical Education/Fitness General Schools ranking, including 47 for associate degrees, 148 for bachelor’s degrees and 65 for master’s degrees. It also ranks sports kinesiology and physical education/fitness general schools within 41 states. In all, 372 colleges offer sports kinesiology and physical education/fitness general programs; compare them by degree level below or in the Best Value Sports Kinesiology and Physical Education/Fitness General Colleges ranking, which weighs quality against cost.
The most common sports kinesiology and physical education/fitness general credential is the bachelor’s degree: 9,105 of the 13,141 awarded in the latest year. Jobs related to sports kinesiology and physical education/fitness general call most for Speaking, Instructing and Active Listening, and for knowledge of Education and Training, English Language and Customer and Personal Service, according to O*NET. The most important abilities are Oral Expression, Oral Comprehension and Speech Clarity.
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How long a sports kinesiology and physical education/fitness general degree takes:
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Certificate | Varies | 269 |
| Associate Degree | 2 years | 2,336 |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 9,105 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 1,390 |
| Doctorate | At least 4 years | 23 |
Doctoral degree is the most common level of education among workers in jobs related to sports kinesiology and physical education/fitness general, at 35.5%.
| 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% |
Source: O*NET Online.
4 occupations are related to Sports Kinesiology and Physical Education/Fitness General, with an average median salary of $64,388; the strongest outlook belongs to Recreation and Fitness Studies Teachers, Postsecondary, at 11.6% projected job growth. Typical job titles include Athletic Instructor, Gymnasium Teacher, Physical Fitness Teacher and Fitness Instructor.
That occupation also has the most projected jobs of any related to sports kinesiology and physical education/fitness general, at 596,959.
| 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% |
Sports Kinesiology and Physical Education/Fitness General 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 sports kinesiology and physical education/fitness general, with a median salary of $84,688.
| 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 |
Sports Kinesiology and Physical Education/Fitness General has 5 similar majors in the Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness field, which together award 55,029 degrees a year; the largest are Exercise Science and Kinesiology (32,999), Sport and Fitness Administration/Management (18,948) and Physical Fitness Technician (1,451). Browse all Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness majors or the full list of college majors.
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Exercise Science and Kinesiology | 32,999 |
| Sport and Fitness Administration/Management | 18,948 |
| Physical Fitness Technician | 1,451 |
| Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness, Other | 1,059 |
| Sports Studies | 572 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.
