Kinesiology
Kinesiology graduates earn an average annual wage of $122,952, making it one of the higher-paying degree fields. With 50,000 professionals in the field earning competitive wages, this degree offers strong career prospects.
Key Statistics
Institutions
Information about the types of higher education institutions that grant degrees in Kinesiology and the types of students that study this field.
Tuition Costs for Common Institutions
$11,790 Median In-State Public
$15,700 Median Out of State Private
Tuition costs for Kinesiology majors are, on average, $11,790 for in-state public colleges, and $15,700 for out of state private colleges.
Tuition costs comparison for Kinesiology programs.
Degrees Awarded Over Time
10,000 Total Degrees Awarded in 2023
This chart shows the number of degrees awarded in Kinesiology from 2015 to 2023.
Historical trend of degrees awarded in Kinesiology.
Top 5 Schools by Enrollment
| # | School | State | Enrollment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Insufficient Data | |||
Schools with the largest enrollment offering Kinesiology programs.
Top 5 Most Affordable Tuition
| # | School | State | Tuition |
|---|---|---|---|
| Insufficient Data | |||
Schools with the lowest tuition costs for Kinesiology programs.
Top 5 Most Affordable Net Price
| # | School | State | Net Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Insufficient Data | |||
Schools with the lowest net price (after financial aid) for Kinesiology programs.
Graduation Rates
61.92% Median Graduation Rate (150% of normal time)
61.95% Average Graduation Rate
393 Institutions Reporting
50.12% - 74.58% Interquartile Range
Graduation/completion rates for Kinesiology programs across institutions.
Employment
Information on the businesses and industries that employ Kinesiology graduates and on wages and locations for those in the field.
Yearly Income for Common Jobs
$122,952 Average Wage in Workforce
The average salary for Kinesiology majors is $122,952.
Average annual salaries of the most common occupations for Kinesiology majors.
Occupations by Share
50,000 2023 Workforce
The number of Kinesiology graduates in the workforce has been growing.
Various jobs filled by those with a major in Kinesiology by share of the total number of graduates.
Return on Investment & Value
Financial analysis of Kinesiology degree including debt, earnings, and return on investment metrics.
Financial Value Analysis
$18,750 Median Student Debt
$50,000 Median Annual Earnings (10 years after enrollment)
37.50% Debt-to-Earnings Ratio
3.8 years Estimated Payback Period (assuming 10% of income)
683.99% Return on Investment (10-year earnings vs 4-year cost)
This degree shows strong ROI, with 10-year earnings significantly exceeding the cost of education.
$63,776 Estimated Total Cost (4 years at median net price)
Financial value comparison for Kinesiology degree.
Diversity
Demographic information for those who earn a degree in Kinesiology in the United States.
Workforce Age
40.0 Average Age in 2023
This chart shows distribution of ages for employees with a degree in Kinesiology.
Age distribution for Kinesiology degree holders in the workforce.
Gender Distribution
7,132 Total Degrees Awarded
2,857 Male (40.06%)
4,275 Female (59.94%)
Gender distribution of Kinesiology degree recipients.
Race and Ethnicity Distribution
4,621 White (64.79%)
820 Hispanic or Latino (11.50%)
505 Black or African American (7.08%)
306 Two or More Races (4.29%)
303 Asian (4.25%)
Racial and ethnic distribution of Kinesiology degree recipients.
Degrees Awarded
The most common degree types awarded to students graduating in Kinesiology are Bachelors Degree, Masters Degree, and Associates Degree.
Distribution of degree types awarded in Kinesiology.
Skills
Data on the critical and distinctive skills necessary for those working in the Kinesiology field from the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Required Skills
Kinesiology majors need many skills, but most especially Critical Thinking, Active Listening, and Reading Comprehension.
Rating of how necessary various skills are for Kinesiology majors.
Skills Bar Chart
This bar chart shows the same information as the radar chart, displaying the importance of each skill.
Skill importance ratings for Kinesiology majors.
About
Kinesiology
In 2023, 10,000 degrees were awarded across all undergraduate and graduate programs in Kinesiology.
CIP Code
26.0908 - Kinesiology
Insights and Analysis
Exceptional Return on Investment: Kinesiology offers an outstanding ROI of 684%, meaning graduates typically earn significantly more over 10 years than the total cost of their education. This makes it one of the most financially rewarding degree choices available.
High Earning Potential: Kinesiology graduates earn an average annual wage of $122,952, placing them among the top earners in the workforce. This strong earning potential reflects both the demand for skills in this field and the value employers place on this degree.
Data Sources
This page uses data from the following sources:
- College Scorecard - U.S. Department of Education
- Institutional characteristics, costs, completion rates, and earnings data
- Data years: 2015-2024
- Source: collegescorecard.ed.gov
- Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)
- Employment and wage data by occupation
- Latest data: May 2024
- Source: bls.gov/oes
- O*NET Online - U.S. Department of Labor
- Occupational skills, knowledge, abilities, and work activities
- Database version: 28.0 (August 2023)
- Source: onetcenter.org
- IPEDS (Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System) - National Center for Education Statistics
- Institutional data, completions, enrollment, and financial aid
- Data years: 2015-2024
- Source: nces.ed.gov/ipeds
- Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS)
- Demographic and workforce data
- Latest data: 2023 ACS 5-Year Estimates
- Source: census.gov/acs
Data Processing: All data has been processed, cleaned, and aggregated for presentation. Where specific data points are unavailable, estimates are based on available data and clearly marked.
Last Updated: Data reflects the most recent available information as of January 2025.
Methodology
Data for this profile is sourced from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard dataset, IPEDS completion data, and Bureau of Labor Statistics employment data.
All financial figures are adjusted for inflation and represent the most recent available data. Employment and wage data are from the most recent Census Bureau ACS PUMS estimates.