Sports & Fitness
What you'll do in college
Sports and fitness majors study the science of human movement and performance—how the body responds to training and how to help people move, perform, and stay healthy. The cluster spans exercise science, kinesiology, exercise physiology, sports studies, and fitness, recreation, and outdoor education. Coursework centers on anatomy, physiology, biomechanics, motor control, nutrition, and strength and conditioning, usually paired with lab work measuring fitness, movement, and athletic performance.
Many programs include practicums in fitness centers, strength-and-conditioning rooms, or with athletic teams, and the degree serves as a science-heavy foundation for graduate study in the health professions, medicine, or sports performance.
What you'll do after college
Graduates work as strength and conditioning coaches, exercise physiologists, personal trainers and fitness directors, recreation and wellness coordinators, and performance specialists for teams, gyms, hospitals, corporate wellness programs, and the military. Many continue to graduate or professional programs in physical therapy, occupational therapy, or medicine.
The work is active and hands-on, built around helping people get fitter, move better, and perform at their best. Pay varies widely by setting and credential—clinical and performance roles and advanced degrees pay more—but the field keeps growing as interest in fitness, preventive health, and human performance expands.
Famous graduates
- Bob Anderson — America's foremost stretching expert and author of the best-selling 'Stretching'; B.S. in Physical Education from California State University, Long Beach
- Misty May-Treanor — Three-time Olympic gold medalist in beach volleyball; B.S. in Kinesiology from California State University, Long Beach
Selectivity vs. earnings
By acceptance rate
By SAT median
Earnings vs. selectivity rank
Majors in this category
| Major | Colleges | Degrees ▼ | Male/Female | Intl | Earnings | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sports & Fitness | 752 | 39,896 | 44% / 56% | 2% | $53,880 | 96% |
| Kinesiology | 253 | 14,841 | 44% / 56% | 2% | $53,411 | 96% |
| Exercise Science | 433 | 13,991 | 44% / 56% | 2% | $52,646 | 97% |
| Exercise Science and Kinesiology | 53 | 4,544 | 39% / 61% | 1% | $55,185 | 96% |
| Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness | 24 | 1,877 | 48% / 52% | 1% | $55,910 | 94% |
| Exercise Physiology and Kinesiology | 11 | 1,079 | 35% / 65% | 2% | $61,426 | 97% |
| Exercise Physiology | 25 | 697 | 40% / 60% | 1% | $56,195 | 97% |
| Exercise and Sport Science | 7 | 628 | 43% / 57% | 1% | $53,780 | 94% |
| Physical Fitness Parks Recreation and Leisure | 5 | 262 | 71% / 29% | 2% | $50,937 | 95% |
| Sports Studies | 22 | 252 | 71% / 29% | 2% | $52,160 | 98% |
| Exercise and Wellness | 1 | 213 | 51% / 49% | 1% | $53,897 | 94% |
| Applied Physiology and Kinesiology | 1 | 206 | 37% / 63% | 1% | $66,875 | 95% |
| Health and Exercise Science | 1 | 175 | 31% / 69% | 2% | $57,646 | 91% |
| Exercise Science and Health Promotion | 1 | 157 | 46% / 54% | 1% | $53,460 | 93% |
| Physical Fitness Technician | 7 | 121 | 50% / 50% | 0% | $50,464 | 97% |
| Movement Science | 1 | 121 | 34% / 66% | 2% | $73,196 | 96% |
| Outdoor Education | 17 | 105 | 50% / 50% | 0% | $48,012 | 100% |
| Health and Human Performance | 2 | 88 | 32% / 68% | 0% | $49,380 | 98% |
| Kinesiology and Health | 1 | 67 | 43% / 57% | 1% | $64,443 | 92% |
| Recreation and Sport Science | 1 | 64 | 73% / 27% | 2% | $47,933 | 98% |
| Exercise and Health Sciences | 1 | 60 | 53% / 47% | 0% | $53,687 | 90% |
| Sport Sciences | 1 | 49 | 35% / 65% | 2% | $78,198 | 94% |
| Movement and Exercise Science | 1 | 45 | 49% / 51% | 2% | $52,215 | 96% |
| Kinesiology and Exercise Science | 13 | 44 | 50% / 50% | 7% | $54,010 | 100% |
| Recreation Studies | 4 | 41 | 37% / 63% | 0% | $44,541 | 96% |
| Kinesiology - Exercise Science | 1 | 36 | 44% / 56% | 6% | $75,253 | 100% |
| Biomechanics | 2 | 28 | 29% / 71% | 0% | $51,690 | |
| Exercise and Movement Science | 1 | 28 | 82% / 18% | 0% | $61,432 | 93% |
| Fitness Specialist | 1 | 19 | 68% / 32% | 5% | $61,501 | 98% |
| Health, Human Performance, and Leisure Studies | 1 | 16 | 62% / 38% | 0% | $44,197 | |
| Physical Fitness | 3 | 11 | 73% / 27% | 0% | $53,963 | 98% |
| Recreation and Fitness | 1 | 9 | 78% / 22% | 22% | $48,431 | 92% |
| Fitness Management | 2 | 7 | 100% / 0% | 0% | $48,888 | 97% |
| Teacher Education: Physical Education | 1 | 4 | 75% / 25% | 0% | $53,836 | 91% |
| Parks and Recreation | 2 | 3 | 33% / 67% | 0% | $42,638 | |
| Personal Fitness Training | 1 | 3 | 33% / 67% | 0% | $41,630 | 100% |
| Kinesiology Education/Fitness | 1 | 2 | 50% / 50% | 0% | $60,114 | 96% |
| Exercise Biology | 1 | 1 | 0% / 100% | 0% | $74,551 | 91% |
| Fitness and Wellness Technology | 1 | 1 | 0% / 100% | 0% | $45,496 | 96% |
| Sport Studies | 1 | 1 | 0% / 100% | 0% | $45,506 | 94% |