Research transparency
How this page was developed
Online, self-administered cross-sectional survey of current students and recent graduates of U.S. exercise science bachelor's and master's programs, fielded June 15 through July 31, 2026.
Sample size: 408
Key findings
70% of master's respondents rated career prospects good or excellent, compared with 55% of bachelor's respondents.
76% of master's respondents were satisfied or very satisfied, compared with 66% of bachelor's respondents.
55% of bachelor's respondents planned additional education, compared with 38% of master's respondents.
What does this survey measure?
This report presents results from Study Kinesiology’s 2026 survey of current students and recent graduates of bachelor’s and master’s exercise science programs. It measures perceived career prospects, degree satisfaction, career confidence and readiness, perceived value relative to cost, current employment, further-education plans, and whether respondents would choose or recommend the degree again.
It is primary survey research, not a school ranking, job-placement report, or causal study. The findings describe answers from an opt-in sample. They should not be read as a population estimate for every exercise science student or as proof that one degree level creates a particular outcome.
Who was included in the 2026 Exercise Science Student Survey?
The final analytic sample was 408 respondents: 284 bachelor’s respondents (69.6%) and 124 master’s respondents (30.4%). The survey ran online from June 15 through July 31, 2026, with an estimated completion time of five to seven minutes.
Eligible respondents were at least 18 years old, currently enrolled in or recently graduated from an exercise science program, and completed the required questions. A recent graduate was defined as someone who had graduated within the preceding five years. The study excluded people outside exercise science, people under 18, incomplete responses, duplicate submissions, and responses that failed quality-control checks.
Recruitment used university student groups, exercise science department and program mailing lists, student organizations, LinkedIn, Reddit, and other social-media channels. This was not a probability sample. People who chose to respond may differ from students who did not see or choose to complete the survey.
How were responses checked and reported?
The survey was online and self-administered. Duplicate submissions were identified through response metadata and or identical response patterns; only the first valid submission was retained. Responses with substantial missing data, implausibly short completion times, or patterned or inattentive responses were excluded.
Percentages use the valid responses to the individual question as the denominator. For five-point items, 1 represented very poor or very dissatisfied and 5 represented excellent or very satisfied. “Good or excellent” and “satisfied or very satisfied” mean responses of 4 or 5. An exercise science-related field was defined as employment involving exercise physiology, fitness, strength and conditioning, sport performance, personal training, wellness, rehabilitation or exercise rehabilitation, health promotion, clinical exercise, or closely related work.
How did bachelor’s and master’s respondents rate career prospects?
| Reported result | Bachelor’s | Master’s |
|---|---|---|
| Good or excellent career prospects | 55% (156/284) | 70% (87/124) |
| Career prospects, average | 3.4 / 5 | 3.8 / 5 |
| Good or excellent career confidence | 52% (148/284) | 68% (84/124) |
| Career confidence, average | 3.2 / 5 | 3.7 / 5 |
| Career readiness, average | 3.1 / 5 | 3.6 / 5 |
| Unsure about career path | 36% (102/284) | 23% (29/124) |
Master’s respondents in this sample were more likely to report good or excellent career prospects. That difference is a prompt for further research, not evidence that a master’s degree itself creates better employment. Graduate students can differ from bachelor’s students in prior work experience, specialization, financial circumstances, career clarity, and access to professional networks.
How satisfied were respondents with their exercise science degree?
| Reported result | Bachelor’s | Master’s |
|---|---|---|
| Satisfied or very satisfied | 66% (187/284) | 76% (94/124) |
| Overall satisfaction, average | 3.5 / 5 | 3.9 / 5 |
| Would choose exercise science again | 60% (170/284) | 72% (89/124) |
| Would not choose exercise science again | 22% (62/284) | 15% (19/124) |
| Would recommend the degree | 65% (185/284) | 75% (93/124) |
| Likelihood to recommend, average | 6.7 / 10 | 7.6 / 10 |
These are reported perceptions at one point in time. They do not verify a program’s academic quality, licensing eligibility, graduation rate, debt burden, or school-specific outcomes. Prospective students should still check those details directly with each program.
What did respondents report about value, employment, and next steps?
| Reported result | Bachelor’s | Master’s |
|---|---|---|
| Feel prepared for desired career | 51% (145/284) | 67% (83/124) |
| Believe degree provides good ROI | 49% (139/284) | 61% (76/124) |
| Degree value or ROI, average | 3.1 / 5 | 3.5 / 5 |
| Working in an exercise science-related field | 41% (116/284) | 59% (73/124) |
| Plan additional education | 55% (156/284) | 38% (47/124) |
In this sample, master’s respondents reported stronger employment alignment and perceived value, while bachelor’s respondents more often planned additional education. That pattern is consistent with exercise science functioning as preparation for multiple routes, including immediate work, specialized graduate study, and professional programs. It does not determine the right path for a specific person.
What should prospective students do with these results?
Use the survey as one student-experience input alongside program-level facts. Ask the program advisor for current tuition, required credits, applied-learning requirements, accreditation, certification alignment, and any job-placement or graduate-school outcomes the school tracks. Compare the curriculum with the concentration and career path you actually want.
Start with the online exercise science degree guide, compare a graduate option in the online exercise science master’s guide, and use the online-program vetting checklist before applying.
How should this survey be cited?
Li, Mark. 2026 Exercise Science Student Survey: Career Outlook, Satisfaction, and Degree-Level Differences. Study Kinesiology. Fielded June 15 to July 31, 2026. Accessed August 13, 2026. https://studykinesiology.com/insights/2026-exercise-science-student-survey/
What are the limits of this survey?
This is a self-reported, opt-in, cross-sectional survey. It cannot establish causation, predict an individual student’s outcome, or represent all U.S. exercise science students and graduates. It does not replace institution-level outcome reporting or independently verified employment records. The published report contains aggregated findings and methodological definitions; respondent-level data are not published because survey responses may contain identifying information.
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