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CIP 31.0501 Parks, Recreation and Fitness

Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness, General

IPEDS Completions, US Department of Education · 2025

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Total graduates

12,435

2025 · 340 schools

International share

2.6%

329 international students

Bachelor's degrees

9,105

2.2% international

Master's degrees

971

8.2% international

Overview

The field of Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness encompasses a broad range of disciplines that focus on the study of human movement, physical activity, and the promotion of health and wellness through sports and fitness. This program is designed for individuals interested in understanding the physiological, biomechanical, and psychological aspects of exercise and physical education.

Students in this major typically explore topics such as exercise science, sports psychology, biomechanics, motor learning, and health promotion. Coursework often includes practical experiences, allowing students to apply theoretical knowledge in real-world settings, such as schools, gyms, and sports organizations. This hands-on approach prepares graduates for various careers in health, fitness, and sports management.

Career opportunities for graduates are diverse and can include roles as fitness trainers, athletic coaches, physical education teachers, sports administrators, and exercise physiologists. Additionally, graduates may find opportunities in rehabilitation centers, community health organizations, and corporate wellness programs, focusing on enhancing physical fitness and promoting healthy lifestyles.

In recent years, there has been an increasing emphasis on the importance of physical activity for overall well-being, making this field particularly relevant. Trends like the rise of technology in fitness, a growing awareness of mental health, and the importance of sports in youth development contribute to the evolving landscape of sports and kinesiology.

Overall, pursuing a degree in Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness prepares students to make a significant impact on individuals' health and fitness while promoting a culture of active living.

Graduates by year

Graduates by degree level (first and second majors)

AssociateBachelor'sMaster'sDoctoral

From 2002 to 2025, graduates grew 74% and the international share went from 2.0% to 2.6%.

International share (%)
Graduates by group, 2025
White
39.4%
Asian
8.7%
Hispanic
30.0%
Black
10.5%
Other
8.8%
Intl.
2.6%

Colleges that award this degree

In 2025, 340 schools awarded this degree as a first major. The table lists those in the 2027 U.S. News National or Liberal Arts rankings, plus the unranked schools with the most graduates.

RankSchoolStateGraduatesInternational
#23 Emory University Georgia 66 1
#25 University of Michigan-Ann Arbor Michigan 41 2
#27 University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill North Carolina 294 8
#34 The University of Texas at Austin Texas 51 0
#44 Ohio State University-Main Campus Ohio 46 3
#52 University of Georgia Georgia 19 0
#52 College of William and Mary Virginia 110 2
#72 Syracuse University New York 2 0
#73 Howard University D.C. 73 0
#73 Indiana University-Bloomington Indiana 21 0
#90 Baylor University Texas 121 6
#90 Texas Christian University Texas 21 1
#90 Gonzaga University Washington 15 1
#95 University of Missouri-Columbia Missouri 2 1
#109 University of New Hampshire-Main Campus New Hampshire 8 0
#116 Brigham Young University-Provo Utah 136 1
#121 University of the Pacific California 58 3
#121 University of Denver Colorado 10 0
#133 Miami University-Oxford Ohio 4 1
#133 University of Vermont Vermont 10 3
#137 California State University--Long Beach California 292 9
#137 San Diego State University California 381 6
#137 San Jose State University California 259 4
#137 James Madison University Virginia 141 1
#148 California State University-Los Angeles California 209 2
#148 University of Rhode Island Rhode Island 19 0
#156 California State University-Fullerton California 610 5
#156 Florida A&M University Florida 27 0
#169 Monmouth University New Jersey 28 2
#169 University of North Carolina at Charlotte North Carolina 15 1
#179 Gallaudet University D.C. 14 0
#179 University of Louisville Kentucky 81 2
#179 University of Utah Utah 1 0
#186 University of Hawaii at Manoa Hawaii 4 0
#191 University of Arkansas Arkansas 1 0
#191 Adelphi University New York 1 0
#191 Oklahoma State University-Main Campus Oklahoma 19 1
#202 University of Massachusetts-Boston Massachusetts 126 5
#202 Ohio University-Main Campus Ohio 105 11
#208 California State University--Fresno California 240 4
#208 California State University-Sacramento California 285 4
#219 Illinois State University Illinois 52 5
#219 University of North Carolina--Wilmington North Carolina 16 0
#227 San Francisco State University California 170 2
#227 West Chester University of Pennsylvania Pennsylvania 148 1
#227 West Virginia University West Virginia 147 4
#236 Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania Pennsylvania 48 1
#250 Oakland City University Indiana 8 1
#262 Central Michigan University Michigan 2 0
#262 Seattle Pacific University Washington 2 0
#276 Marian University (IN) Indiana 1 1
#276 Western Michigan University Michigan 4 0
#299 University of Nebraska--Omaha Nebraska 10 4
#299 Utica University New York 6 0
#299 Tennessee Technological University Tennessee 100 1
#308 Northern Illinois University Illinois 55 2
#308 University of Southern Mississippi Mississippi 28 0
#308 Montana State University Montana 20 2
#308 North Carolina Central University North Carolina 66 1
#308 University of the Incarnate Word Texas 7 2
#317 University of Mary North Dakota 1 0
#317 Indiana University of Pennsylvania-Main Campus Pennsylvania 124 8
#317 Emory & Henry University Virginia 5 0
#328 East Tennessee State University Tennessee 67 0
#332 Jacksonville University Florida 35 5
#332 University of Findlay Ohio 6 0
#332 University of Lynchburg Virginia 2 0
#342 Missouri State University Missouri 13 4
#342 Campbell University North Carolina 1 0
#353 Arkansas State University Arkansas 5 0
#353 Southern Illinois University--Edwardsville Illinois 51 6
#353 Plymouth State University New Hampshire 23 0
#365 William Carey University Mississippi 13 1
#365 Gardner-Webb University North Carolina 6 0
#365 Liberty University Virginia 10 0
#365 Eastern Washington University Washington 8 0
#376 Tennessee State University Tennessee 51 1
#382 Palm Beach Atlantic University Florida 6 0
#382 Life University Georgia 25 7
#382 University of New Orleans Louisiana 18 0
#382 Wright State University-Main Campus Ohio 4 0
#382 Dallas Baptist University Texas 4 0
#382 Texas Southern University Texas 21 0
#382 Universidad Ana G. Mendez-Gurabo Campus Puerto Rico 4 0
LAC #49 DePauw University Indiana 22 2
LAC #62 Berea College Kentucky 10 0
LAC #83 Morehouse College Georgia 26 0
LAC #97 Austin College Texas 9 0
LAC #106 Pacific Lutheran University Washington 1 0
LAC #109 Hanover College Indiana 10 0
LAC #116 Ohio Wesleyan University Ohio 9 0
LAC #119 Meredith College North Carolina 17 0
LAC #119 Ripon College Wisconsin 10 0
LAC #128 Cornell College Iowa 7 0
LAC #146 Claflin University South Carolina 18 0
LAC #157 Randolph College Virginia 9 0
LAC #165 Bridgewater College Virginia 51 0
LAC #172 Guilford College North Carolina 15 0
LAC #178 University of Science and Arts of Oklahoma Oklahoma 27 4
LAC #184 Williams Baptist University Arkansas 14 3
LAC #184 Glenville State University West Virginia 21 0
LAC #184 West Virginia State University West Virginia 40 3
— California State University-Northridge California 370 8
— Mt San Antonio College California 339 3
— College of the Canyons California 320 4
— California State University--San Bernardino California 252 1
— California State University-San Marcos California 248 1
— Utah Valley University Utah 235 0
— California State Polytechnic University-Pomona California 216 5
— Cabrillo College California 197 1
— California State University-Dominguez Hills California 128 1
— University of the Cumberlands Kentucky 127 7
— California State University-Bakersfield California 111 3
— Shasta College California 110 0
— California State University-Monterey Bay California 106 0
— California State University--East Bay California 105 1
— American Public University System West Virginia 96 0
— Austin Peay State University Tennessee 91 0
— Blinn College District Texas 90 3
— University of Northern Iowa Iowa 89 0
— Sonoma State University California 85 0
— East Central University Oklahoma 84 3
— Riverside City College California 83 0
— Eastern Oregon University Oregon 82 1
— The University of Tennessee-Martin Tennessee 81 1
— California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo California 76 0
— University of North Carolina at Pembroke North Carolina 72 0
— California State University-Chico California 69 0
— Minnesota State University-Mankato Minnesota 65 1
— Northwestern State University of Louisiana Louisiana 55 6
— California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt California 51 0
— El Paso Community College Texas 51 1

Purple: international students are 25% or more of the school's graduates.

Related jobs and pay

OccupationUS employmentMean hourly wageMean annual wage
Exercise Trainers and Group Fitness Instructors 322,930 $25.20 $52,420
Coaches and Scouts 248,950 — $60,160
Athletes and Sports Competitors 15,070 — $206,180
Recreation and Fitness Studies Teachers, Postsecondary 12,630 — $86,620

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025.

Graduate counts: IPEDS Completions, US Department of Education, 2002–2025. Rankings: 2027 U.S. News.