CIP 31.0505 Parks, Recreation and Fitness

Exercise Science and Kinesiology

IPEDS Completions, US Department of Education · 2025

中文

Total graduates

32,840

2025 · 814 schools

International share

2.6%

845 international students

Bachelor's degrees

26,996

2.0% international

Master's degrees

2,778

7.5% international

Overview

Exercise Science and Kinesiology is an interdisciplinary field that focuses on the study of human movement and the physiological, biomechanical, and psychological principles that govern it. This major is designed to understand how physical activity affects health, fitness, and overall well-being. Students in this program typically explore various topics including anatomy, exercise physiology, biomechanics, motor learning, and sports nutrition.

The importance of Exercise Science and Kinesiology lies in its application to various professions, including fitness training, rehabilitation, sports coaching, and health promotion. Graduates can pursue careers as exercise physiologists, athletic trainers, fitness directors, or wellness coaches, working in settings such as gyms, rehabilitation centers, schools, and sports organizations.

Moreover, the field is essential for addressing public health issues related to sedentary lifestyles and chronic diseases, as it provides the knowledge and skills necessary to design effective exercise programs and interventions. Research in this area also contributes to the understanding of how physical activity influences mental health, cognitive function, and aging.

As society increasingly recognizes the importance of physical activity for a healthy lifestyle, the demand for professionals in Exercise Science and Kinesiology continues to grow. Students in this field are often encouraged to engage in hands-on experiences through internships, laboratory work, and community outreach programs, which further enhance their practical skills and employability. Overall, Exercise Science and Kinesiology is a dynamic and rewarding field that plays a crucial role in promoting health and fitness in today's society.

Graduates by year

Graduates by degree level (first and second majors)

5,375 02

6,170 03

6,513 04

7,004 05

7,974 06

9,031 07

10K 08

11K 09

14K 10

17K 11

19K 12

22K 13

24K 14

26K 15

28K 16

30K 17

30K 18

31K 19

31K 20

33K 21

32K 22

32K 23

32K 24

33K 25

AssociateBachelor'sMaster'sDoctoral

From 2002 to 2025, graduates grew 511% and the international share went from 2.3% to 2.6%.

International share (%)

2 02

3 03

3 04

3 05

3 06

3 07

3 08

2 09

2 10

2 11

2 12

2 13

2 14

2 15

2 16

2 17

2 18

2 19

2 20

2 21

2 22

2 23

2 24

3 25

Graduates by group, 2025

White

56.2%

Asian

4.9%

Hispanic

18.2%

Black

10.3%

Other

7.8%

Intl.

2.6%

Colleges that award this degree

In 2025, 814 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.

Rank	School	State	Graduates	International
#12	Columbia University in the City of New York	New York	1	0
#25	University of Michigan-Ann Arbor	Michigan	157	4
#26	University of Virginia-Main Campus	Virginia	112	4
#27	University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill	North Carolina	38	2
#34	University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign	Illinois	222	11
#34	Wake Forest University	North Carolina	116	7
#34	The University of Texas at Austin	Texas	241	15
#34	University of Wisconsin-Madison	Wisconsin	144	2
#42	Northeastern University	Massachusetts	1	0
#44	Rutgers University-New Brunswick	New Jersey	190	2
#44	Ohio State University-Main Campus	Ohio	61	5
#49	University of Maryland-College Park	Maryland	228	6
#52	University of Georgia	Georgia	202	7
#55	The Pennsylvania State University	Pennsylvania	221	4
#59	Tulane University of Louisiana	Louisiana	17	0
#59	University of Pittsburgh-Pittsburgh Campus	Pennsylvania	61	0
#59	Texas A & M University-College Station	Texas	371	7
#69	Michigan State University	Michigan	363	6
#72	Syracuse University	New York	72	6
#73	University of Connecticut	Connecticut	42	7
#73	Indiana University-Bloomington	Indiana	577	12
#80	Pepperdine University	California	57	1
#85	University of Delaware	Delaware	157	1
#90	Baylor University	Texas	24	4
#90	Texas Christian University	Texas	6	2
#90	Marquette University	Wisconsin	5	0
#95	University of Illinois at Chicago	Illinois	118	5
#95	Rochester Institute of Technology	New York	9	1
#100	Florida International University	Florida	6	1
#100	University of South Florida-Main Campus	Florida	23	2
#100	University of Iowa	Iowa	431	8
#100	Saint Louis University	Missouri	83	1
#100	Elon University	North Carolina	59	1
#109	University of New Hampshire-Main Campus	New Hampshire	27	0
#109	Temple University	Pennsylvania	48	2
#109	The University of Tennessee-Knoxville	Tennessee	325	4
#116	University of San Francisco	California	55	2
#116	Iowa State University	Iowa	210	3
#116	University of Oklahoma-Norman Campus	Oklahoma	144	0
#116	Brigham Young University-Provo	Utah	4	0
#121	Arizona State University-Tempe	Arizona	77	6
#121	University of Central Florida	Florida	421	8
#121	Loyola University Chicago	Illinois	30	0
#121	George Mason University	Virginia	91	4
#133	Miami University-Oxford	Ohio	227	3
#133	Thomas Jefferson University	Pennsylvania	13	0
#133	University of Vermont	Vermont	40	0
#137	California State University--Long Beach	California	9	0
#137	San Diego State University	California	10	1
#137	Saint Joseph's University - Philadelphia	Pennsylvania	13	0
#137	University of Scranton	Pennsylvania	59	1
#137	University of Houston	Texas	281	4
#148	California State University-Los Angeles	California	11	0
#148	Mercer University	Georgia	36	0
#148	University of Kansas	Kansas	183	1
#148	University of Kentucky	Kentucky	29	0
#148	University of Massachusetts-Lowell	Massachusetts	65	2
#148	University of Tulsa	Oklahoma	58	7
#148	University of Rhode Island	Rhode Island	135	1
#156	The University of Alabama	Alabama	258	2
#156	University of St Thomas (MN)	Minnesota	39	2
#156	Montclair State University	New Jersey	144	0
#156	Oregon State University	Oregon	196	2
#169	Colorado State University-Fort Collins	Colorado	248	1
#169	DePaul University	Illinois	8	0
#169	Simmons University	Massachusetts	21	0
#169	Michigan Technological University	Michigan	26	1
#179	University of Louisville	Kentucky	7	0
#179	University of Mississippi	Mississippi	135	2
#179	University of Cincinnati-Main Campus	Ohio	62	1
#186	California Lutheran University	California	40	0
#186	University of Hawaii at Manoa	Hawaii	140	5
#186	Wayne State University	Michigan	116	1
#186	Texas Tech University	Texas	18	4
#191	Florida Atlantic University	Florida	196	5
#191	Georgia State University	Georgia	111	2
#191	Drake University	Iowa	11	0
#191	Adelphi University	New York	48	0
#191	Oklahoma State University-Main Campus	Oklahoma	150	1
#202	Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College	Louisiana	40	2
#202	East Carolina University	North Carolina	104	3
#208	California State University--Fresno	California	59	1
#208	University of La Verne	California	67	0
#208	University of Idaho	Idaho	17	1
#208	Mississippi State University	Mississippi	271	5
#208	University of North Carolina at Greensboro	North Carolina	182	4
#208	Ohio Northern University	Ohio	22	1
#208	Xavier University	Ohio	33	0
#208	Willamette University	Oregon	15	0
#208	Belmont University	Tennessee	51	1
#208	University of North Texas	Texas	226	7
#219	Illinois State University	Illinois	83	1
#219	Indiana University-Purdue University-Indianapolis	Indiana	91	2
#219	University of North Carolina--Wilmington	North Carolina	174	1
#219	Gannon University	Pennsylvania	17	0
#227	Ball State University	Indiana	61	2
#227	University of North Dakota	North Dakota	66	3
#227	West Chester University of Pennsylvania	Pennsylvania	20	0
#227	University of Texas-San Antonio	Texas	351	3
#227	West Virginia University	West Virginia	22	1
#236	Stetson University	Florida	1	0
#236	Bethel University	Minnesota	36	0
#236	University of Nevada--Las Vegas	Nevada	244	4
#236	North Dakota State University-Main Campus	North Dakota	37	0
#236	Kent State University at Kent	Ohio	72	0
#236	Pacific University	Oregon	51	0
#236	Chatham University	Pennsylvania	20	0
#236	University of Texas-Arlington	Texas	198	2
#250	Nova Southeastern University	Florida	54	3
#250	New Mexico State University-Main Campus	New Mexico	97	1
#250	South Dakota State University	South Dakota	57	0
#250	Lipscomb University	Tennessee	25	0
#250	University of Wyoming	Wyoming	92	3
#262	University of Alabama--Huntsville	Alabama	33	1
#262	Aurora University	Illinois	48	1
#262	University of New England	Maine	30	0
#262	Andrews University	Michigan	7	0
#262	Central Michigan University	Michigan	77	2
#262	George Fox University	Oregon	35	0
#262	DeSales University	Pennsylvania	19	0
#262	University of South Dakota	South Dakota	101	7
#262	University of Texas--El Paso	Texas	145	1
#276	Northern Arizona University	Arizona	93	0
#276	Harding University	Arkansas	50	2
#276	California Baptist University	California	168	12
#276	Regis University	Colorado	20	0
#276	University of New Haven	Connecticut	5	0
#276	Marian University (IN)	Indiana	24	2
#276	Western Michigan University	Michigan	56	2
#276	Bowling Green State University-Main Campus	Ohio	59	1
#288	Biola University	California	29	3
#288	University of Hartford	Connecticut	32	0
#288	Southern Illinois University-Carbondale	Illinois	51	2
#288	University of Indianapolis	Indiana	71	4
#288	University of Memphis	Tennessee	352	2
#288	Texas State University	Texas	351	3
#288	Shenandoah University	Virginia	1	0
#288	University of Wisconsin--Milwaukee	Wisconsin	66	4
#299	Azusa Pacific University	California	47	1
#299	University of Nebraska--Omaha	Nebraska	57	1
#308	Northern Illinois University	Illinois	1	0
#308	Oakland University	Michigan	37	3
#308	University of Southern Mississippi	Mississippi	130	4
#308	Maryville University of Saint Louis	Missouri	29	4
#308	Montana State University	Montana	103	1
#308	Abilene Christian University	Texas	50	0
#308	University of the Incarnate Word	Texas	20	0
#317	Kean University	New Jersey	76	3
#317	University of Mary	North Dakota	25	2
#317	Prairie View A&M University	Texas	139	0
#317	Emory & Henry University	Virginia	30	0
#317	Marshall University	West Virginia	36	1
#317	Augusta University	Georgia	87	1
#328	Georgia Southern University	Georgia	257	4
#328	East Tennessee State University	Tennessee	18	1
#328	Old Dominion University	Virginia	90	0
#332	Mercy University	New York	18	0
#332	Texas A&M University--Kingsville	Texas	58	4
#332	Texas Woman's University	Texas	130	4
#342	Concordia University -- Irvine	California	34	2
#342	University of Northern Colorado	Colorado	137	1
#342	Mississippi College	Mississippi	52	0
#342	Missouri State University	Missouri	103	2
#342	Campbell University	North Carolina	51	0
#342	Cleveland State University	Ohio	8	2
#342	Lincoln Memorial University	Tennessee	26	2
#342	University of Texas--Tyler	Texas	79	4
#353	Arkansas State University	Arkansas	66	0
#353	Southern Illinois University--Edwardsville	Illinois	56	0
#353	Plymouth State University	New Hampshire	29	0
#353	Youngstown State University	Ohio	52	0
#353	Trevecca Nazarene University	Tennessee	9	0
#353	University of Houston--Clear Lake	Texas	32	0
#353	University of Puerto Rico-Rio Piedras	Puerto Rico	11	0
#353	Pennsylvania Western University	Pennsylvania	150	2
#365	Troy University	Alabama	48	1
#365	University of Central Arkansas	Arkansas	94	1
#365	Indiana State University	Indiana	44	0
#365	Northern Kentucky University	Kentucky	6	0
#365	University of Louisiana--Monroe	Louisiana	91	5
#365	Liberty University	Virginia	163	5
#376	Concordia University-Saint Paul	Minnesota	114	2
#376	Belhaven University	Mississippi	19	0
#382	Grand Canyon University	Arizona	139	3
#382	Palm Beach Atlantic University	Florida	20	2
#382	St. Thomas University (FL)	Florida	3	0
#382	Southeastern University	Florida	51	8
#382	Columbus State University	Georgia	57	0
#382	Concordia University-Chicago	Illinois	303	7
#382	University of Southern Maine	Maine	21	2
#382	Wright State University-Main Campus	Ohio	32	0
#382	Northeastern State University	Oklahoma	87	4
#382	Southwestern Oklahoma State University	Oklahoma	32	1
#382	Angelo State University	Texas	71	1
#382	Texas A&M University--Corpus Christi	Texas	66	2
#382	East Texas A&M University	Texas	89	4
#382	Houston Christian University	Texas	38	3
#382	Lamar University	Texas	14	3
#382	Tarleton State University	Texas	298	4
#382	Texas Southern University	Texas	40	0
#382	Texas Wesleyan University	Texas	10	0
LAC #9	The United States Military Academy at West Point	New York	13	0
LAC #22	Smith College	Massachusetts	14	4
LAC #38	Occidental College	California	12	1
LAC #47	Hillsdale College	Michigan	21	0
LAC #49	St. Olaf College	Minnesota	32	0
LAC #57	Furman University	South Carolina	41	0
LAC #78	Hope College	Michigan	43	1
LAC #91	Southwestern University	Texas	28	0
LAC #97	Austin College	Texas	5	0
LAC #100	Whittier College	California	27	2
LAC #100	University of Puget Sound	Washington	17	0
LAC #106	Transylvania University	Kentucky	30	0
LAC #106	Pacific Lutheran University	Washington	46	0
LAC #109	Westmont College	California	45	1
LAC #109	Hanover College	Indiana	33	1
LAC #111	Luther College	Iowa	11	0
LAC #111	Whitworth University	Washington	13	0
LAC #116	Ohio Wesleyan University	Ohio	13	0
LAC #116	Roanoke College	Virginia	31	1
LAC #119	Coe College	Iowa	33	0
LAC #119	Albion College	Michigan	49	0
LAC #119	Ripon College	Wisconsin	9	0
LAC #128	Cornell College	Iowa	29	0
LAC #132	Centenary College of Louisiana	Louisiana	2	0
LAC #138	Truman State University	Missouri	41	1
LAC #142	Houghton University	New York	7	0
LAC #153	University of Hawaii--Hilo	Hawaii	38	0
LAC #160	Salem College	North Carolina	1	0
LAC #160	Wittenberg University	Ohio	23	0
LAC #168	Lyon College	Arkansas	11	1
LAC #170	Western Oregon University	Oregon	57	0
LAC #175	Mitchell College	Connecticut	2	0
LAC #181	Bethune-Cookman University	Florida	21	0
LAC #184	Fort Lewis College	Colorado	41	0
LAC #184	Louisiana State University at Alexandria	Louisiana	17	0
LAC #184	Texas A&M University-Texarkana	Texas	23	1
LAC #184	Utah Tech University	Utah	71	4
—	American Public University System	West Virginia	385	4
—	University of Wisconsin--La Crosse	Wisconsin	262	2
—	University of Tennessee--Chattanooga	Tennessee	184	0
—	Grand Valley State University	Michigan	158	0
—	Coastal Carolina University	South Carolina	150	2
—	State University of New York at Cortland	New York	136	1
—	Towson University	Maryland	130	1
—	Logan University	Missouri	122	0
—	Sam Houston State University	Texas	122	0
—	Colorado Mesa University	Colorado	111	1
—	Stephen F. Austin State University	Texas	110	1
—	Fresno City College	California	109	1
—	SUNY Brockport	New York	105	2
—	Southeastern Louisiana University	Louisiana	103	2
—	Southern Utah University	Utah	102	2
—	Point Loma Nazarene University	California	94	1
—	Middle Tennessee State University	Tennessee	92	1
—	Carroll University	Wisconsin	91	0
—	Western Kentucky University	Kentucky	83	0
—	Salisbury University	Maryland	83	1
—	East Stroudsburg University of Pennsylvania	Pennsylvania	83	4
—	Georgia College & State University	Georgia	82	1
—	Mt San Antonio College	California	81	0
—	McNeese State University	Louisiana	80	4
—	Texas A & M International University	Texas	78	6
—	Texas A&M University-San Antonio	Texas	78	0
—	California State University-Chico	California	77	0
—	Pasadena City College	California	75	0
—	University of Minnesota-Duluth	Minnesota	75	0
—	Long Beach City College	California	71	0