Research transparency
How this page was developed
Online, self-administered cross-sectional survey of current students and recent graduates of U.S. kinesiology bachelor's and master's programs, fielded June 15 through July 31, 2026.
Sample size: 412
Key findings
72% of master's respondents rated career prospects good or excellent, compared with 58% of bachelor's respondents.
77% of master's respondents were satisfied or very satisfied, compared with 68% of bachelor's respondents.
49% of bachelor's respondents planned additional education, compared with 34% 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 kinesiology 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 kinesiology student or as proof that one degree level creates a particular outcome.
Who was included in the 2026 Kinesiology Student Survey?
The final analytic sample was 412 respondents: 286 bachelor’s respondents (69.4%) and 126 master’s respondents (30.6%). 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 a kinesiology 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 kinesiology, people under 18, incomplete responses, and responses that failed quality-control checks.
Recruitment used university student groups, kinesiology department email lists, student organizations, Reddit, LinkedIn, 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. Because item-level nonresponse can vary, readers should not infer a raw respondent count for a percentage by multiplying it by 412.
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. A kinesiology-related field was defined as employment directly or substantially related to exercise, human movement, physical activity, fitness, rehabilitation, sport performance, health and wellness, or a related kinesiology occupation.
How did bachelor’s and master’s respondents rate career prospects?
| Reported result | Bachelor’s | Master’s |
|---|---|---|
| Good or excellent career prospects | 58% | 72% |
| Overall career prospects, average | 3.5 / 5 | 3.9 / 5 |
| Career confidence, average | 3.3 / 5 | 3.7 / 5 |
| Career readiness, average | 3.2 / 5 | 3.6 / 5 |
| Unsure about career path | 33% | 21% |
Master’s respondents in this sample were more likely to report good or excellent career prospects. That difference is a useful prompt for further research, not a claim that a master’s degree by itself produces 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 kinesiology degree?
| Reported result | Bachelor’s | Master’s |
|---|---|---|
| Satisfied or very satisfied | 68% | 77% |
| Overall satisfaction, average | 3.6 / 5 | 3.9 / 5 |
| Would choose kinesiology again | 62% | 73% |
| Would not choose kinesiology again | 20% | 14% |
| Likelihood to recommend, average | 6.9 / 10 | 7.7 / 10 |
These results are perceptions reported 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Believe the degree provides good return on investment | 52% | 63% |
| Degree value or ROI, average | 3.2 / 5 | 3.5 / 5 |
| Working in a kinesiology-related field | 43% | 62% |
| Plan to pursue additional education | 49% | 34% |
Kinesiology is a pathway field. Some respondents may intend to enter work immediately, while others may be completing prerequisites or preparing for graduate or professional education. A comparison of current employment or perceived value does not account for local labor markets, tuition paid, transfer credit, career stage, work hours, or whether a respondent’s chosen occupation requires a separate credential.
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.
For a source-led comparison of schools, use the online kinesiology program directory. For the questions to ask before enrolling, read the online-program vetting checklist. For a broader discussion of pathway cost and next credentials, see Kinesiology Degree ROI.
How should this survey be cited?
Li, Mark. 2026 Kinesiology 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-kinesiology-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. kinesiology 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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