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Kinesiologist education requirements
Updated January 8, 2025
3 min read
There are several educational requirements to become a kinesiologist. Kinesiologists usually study kinesiology, nursing, or business. 79% of kinesiologists hold a bachelor's degree, and 13% hold an master's degree. We analyzed 54 real kinesiologist resumes to see exactly what kinesiologist education sections show.
The most common colleges for kinesiologists are the Western Illinois University and the Western Illinois University.
There are also many online kinesiologist courses to help get the education required to be a kinesiologist.
What education do you need to become a kinesiologist?
What degree do you need to be a kinesiologist?
- Bachelor's, 79%
- Master's, 13%
- High School Diploma, 3%
- Doctorate, 3%
- Other Degrees, 2%
What should I major in to become a kinesiologist?
- Kinesiology, 59%
- Nursing, 5%
- Business, 5%
- Sociology, 3%
- Other Majors, 28%
Most common colleges for kinesiologists
| Kinesiologist common college | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Western Illinois University | 5.00% |
| New York University | 5.00% |
| University of California - Los Angeles | 5.00% |
| San Francisco State University | 5.00% |
| Plymouth State University | 5.00% |
Best majors for kinesiologists
| Rank | Major | Percentages |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kinesiology | 59.5% |
| 2 | Nursing | 5.4% |
| 3 | Business | 5.4% |
| 4 | Sociology | 2.7% |
| 5 | Chiropractic | 2.7% |
Best colleges for kinesiologists
The best colleges for kinesiologists are Northeastern University, Columbia University in the City of New York, and Emory University.
A kinesiologist with advanced education typically earns a higher salary and has access to better jobs. That's why Zippia looked into the best colleges for kinesiologists. We based this list on several metrics: admissions rate, retention rate, mean earnings of graduates, the ratio of working vs. non-working students ten years after admission, the average cost of attendance, and median debt for graduates who become kinesiologists.
1. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Chapel Hill, NC • Private
In-state tuition
$8,987
Enrollment
18,946
2. Columbia University in the City of New York
New York, NY • Private
In-state tuition
$59,430
Enrollment
8,216
3. University of Florida
Gainesville, FL • Private
In-state tuition
$6,381
Enrollment
34,564
4. University of Southern California
Los Angeles, CA • Private
In-state tuition
$56,225
Enrollment
19,548
5. Emory University
Atlanta, GA • Private
In-state tuition
$51,306
Enrollment
6,975
6. California State University - Long Beach
Long Beach, CA • Private
In-state tuition
$6,798
Enrollment
31,503
7. Northeastern University
Boston, MA • Private
In-state tuition
$51,522
Enrollment
13,760
8. San Diego State University
San Diego, CA • Private
In-state tuition
$7,488
Enrollment
30,018
9. Florida State University
Tallahassee, FL • Private
In-state tuition
$5,656
Enrollment
32,072
10. University of Wisconsin - Madison
Madison, WI • Private
In-state tuition
$10,555
Enrollment
30,360
20 best online courses for kinesiologists
Advertising disclosure
1. Pain Management: Easing Pain in Palliative Care
In this course, you will be able to develop a systems view for assessing and managing pain in the palliative care setting. By the end of the course, you will be able to: 1) Describe the pain problem in the palliative care setting; 2) Assess a person’s pain, 3) Explain the benefits of integrative therapies and pharmacologic strategies to manage pain...
2. Medical Emergencies: Airway, Breathing, and Circulation
In this course, you will develop the knowledge and skills to assess and stabilize certain types of patients for transport. By the end of this course, you will be able to: 1) assess a basic medical patient 2) describe general pharmacologic principles and the skills associated with medication administration, 3) explain airway physiology, the assessment of the airway and available interventions for airway management, 4) identify, assess and formulate a plan to stabilize a patient with a...
3. Strategic Planning Skills
Strategic Planning Skills...
4. Financial Planning & Analysis: Building a Company's Budget
Learn the Fundamentals of Financial Planning and Position Your Career for Success!...
5. Value-Based Care: Managing Processes to Improve Outcomes
COURSE 3 of 7. This course is designed to introduce you to critical office-based processes that a value-based practice must manage in the drive towards improved patient outcomes. In Module 2, we’ll focus on office-based and clinical patient-based supporting functions. At every level in healthcare, guidelines, processes, and functions exist to improve outcomes, and following a consistent process will return the best effect. Refine your understanding of value and learn strategies to provide real...
6. Addiction Treatment: Clinical Skills for Healthcare Providers
This course is designed with a singular goal: to improve the care you provide to your patients with substance use disorders. By delving into a model case performed by actors, seven Yale instructors from various fields provide techniques to screen your patients for substance use disorder risk, diagnose patients to gauge the severity of their use, directly manage treatment plans, refer out to treatment services, and navigate the various conditions that may limit your patient’s access to treatment...
7. Basic of Clinical Data Management
Clinical Data Management...
8. Strong & Effective Marketing Plan (Plan Template & Example)
Innovative approach for a winning offline and digital marketing plan (important part of your business plan)...
9. Clinical Kidney, Pancreas and Islet Transplantation
Kidney transplantation is a major advance of modern medicine which provides high-quality of life for patients with end-stage renal disease. What used to be an experimental, risky, and very limited treatment option more than 50 years ago is now routinely performed in many countries worldwide. The number of renal transplants is expected to rise sharply in the next decade since the proportion of patients with end stage renal disease is increasing. Are you interested in clinical kidney, pancreas...
10. Prehospital care of acute stroke and patient selection for endovascular treatment using the RACE scale
Acute stroke is a time-dependent medical emergency. In acute ischemic stroke, the first objective is to restore brain flow using sistemic thrombolytic treatment and, in patients with large vessel occlusion, by endovascular treatment. In hemorrhagic stroke there are also specific treatments that can improve the clinical outcome. The sooner the initiation of all these therapies the higher the clinical benefit. Thus, the organization of Stroke Code systems coordinated between emergency medical...
11. Financial Planning Coaching Certification Holistic Coaching
Financial Planning Coaching Practitioner Course Graduates Prepared Professionals in Holistic Financial Planning Coaching...
12. Sports Management: The Essentials Course
A Comprehensive Overview at How the Sports Industry Operates and the Challenges Facing the Modern Sports Industry Today...
13. Health After Cancer: Cancer Survivorship for Primary Care
This course presents basic principles of cancer survivorship to primary-care physicians. Developed by a team of experts in caring for cancer survivors, and narrated by a primary-care physician, this course provides practical tips and tools that can be easily integrated into medical practice. You will learn about the complex physical and psychosocial needs and concerns of the growing number of cancer survivors, along with the key role that primary care physicians have in guiding these patients...
14. Motivational Enhancement Techniques: Working with Patients with Opioid & Substance Use Disorders or High Risk Use MAT Waiver Training S...
WORKING WITH PATIENTS WITH SUBSTANCE USE DISORDERS OR HIGH RISK This optional online course opportunity is made possible through a joint partnership with University of Virginia School of Medicine (UVASOM) and Nursing (SON) and the American Academy of Addiction Psychiatry (AAAP), DATA 2000 sponsor. This content was created by the AAAP and has been used with permission. The course consists of one 1-hour session for healthcare providers who wish to enhance their effectiveness in treating high-risk...
15. The Ultimate Guide to Professional Event Planning Management
Learn techniques to become an amazing event planner. You'll get all the skills you need for event management & planning...
16. Investment Analysis & Portfolio Management - Core Finance
Financial Analysis Done Right - Rigorously Analyse Investments & Manage Portfolios using Excel® & Google Sheets...
17. Medical Emergencies: CPR, Toxicology, and Wilderness
In this course, you will develop the knowledge and skills to assess and stabilize certain types of patients for transport. By the end of this course, you will be able to: (1) Identify the signs and symptoms associated with a patient in shock, to describe the major categories of shock, to assess a patient with signs of shock and formulate a plan for treatment to stabilize the patient for transport, (2) Identify a patient in cardiac arrest and to describe the components of high performance CPR...
18. Successful Events: Event Planning, Marketing & Management
Create a single successful event or event-series with effective event promotion, planning, management, and monetization...
19. Complete Primavera P6 training; Project Planning
Master project planning and scheduling with Primavera P6 (Basic & Advance)...
20. Medical Device Regulation 2017/745 EU regulatory affairs.
Understand regulations for medical devices in simple terms to gain market approval of a medical device in the EU...
Top 10 most affordable universities for kinesiologists
The most affordable schools for kinesiologists are University of Florida, california state university - long beach, and california state university - los angeles.
If the best universities for kinesiologists are out of your price range, check out these affordable schools. After factoring in in-state tuition and fees, the average cost of attendance, admissions rate, average net price, and mean earnings after six years, we found that these are the most affordable schools for kinesiologists.
1. University of Florida
Gainesville, FL • Private
In-state tuition
$6,381
Cost of attendance
21,034
2. California State University - Long Beach
Long Beach, CA • Private
In-state tuition
$6,798
Cost of attendance
18,306
3. California State University - Los Angeles
Los Angeles, CA • Private
In-state tuition
$6,749
Cost of attendance
14,823
4. Lehman College of the City University of New York
Bronx, NY • Private
In-state tuition
$7,210
Cost of attendance
14,359
5. Brigham Young University
Provo, UT • Private
In-state tuition
$5,620
Cost of attendance
18,136
6. SUNY Farmingdale
Farmingdale, NY • Private
In-state tuition
$8,306
Cost of attendance
16,091
7. Florida State University
Tallahassee, FL • Private
In-state tuition
$5,656
Cost of attendance
21,623
8. Hunter College of the City University of New York
New York, NY • Private
In-state tuition
$7,182
Cost of attendance
13,998
9. California State University - Dominguez Hills
Carson, CA • Private
In-state tuition
$6,942
Cost of attendance
14,469
10. University of South Florida
Tampa, FL • Private
In-state tuition
$6,410
Cost of attendance
20,456
Top 10 hardest universities to get into for kinesiologists
The hardest universities for kinesiologists to get into are Northeastern University, Columbia University in the City of New York, and Emory University.
Some great schools for kinesiologists are hard to get into, but they also set your career up for greater success. The list below shows the most challenging universities to get into for kinesiologists based on an institution's admissions rates, average SAT scores accepted, median ACT scores accepted, and mean earnings of students six years after admission.
1. Northeastern University
Boston, MA • Private
Admissions rate
19%
SAT average
1,466
2. Columbia University in the City of New York
New York, NY • Private
Admissions rate
6%
SAT average
1,512
3. Emory University
Atlanta, GA • Private
Admissions rate
19%
SAT average
1,449
4. University of Southern California
Los Angeles, CA • Private
Admissions rate
13%
SAT average
1,445
5. Northwestern University
Evanston, IL • Private
Admissions rate
8%
SAT average
1,508
6. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Chapel Hill, NC • Private
Admissions rate
23%
SAT average
1,398
7. University of Miami
Coral Gables, FL • Private
Admissions rate
32%
SAT average
1,365
8. George Washington University, The
Washington, DC • Private
Admissions rate
42%
SAT average
1,380
9. Baylor University
Waco, TX • Private
Admissions rate
39%
SAT average
1,307
10. University of Wisconsin - Madison
Madison, WI • Private
Admissions rate
52%
SAT average
1,365
Top 10 easy-to-apply-to universities for kinesiologists
The easiest schools for kinesiologists to get into are Barry University, adventhealth university, and d'youville college.
Some schools are much easier to get into. If you want to start your career as a kinesiologist without much hassle, check out the list of schools where you will be accepted in no time. We compiled admissions rates, average SAT scores, average ACT scores, and average salary of students six years after graduation to uncover which were the easiest schools to get into for kinesiologists.
1. Barry University
Miami, FL • Private
Admissions rate
91%
SAT average
1,006
2. AdventHealth University
Orlando, FL • Private
Admissions rate
87%
SAT average
1,016
3. D'Youville College
Buffalo, NY • Private
Admissions rate
100%
SAT average
1,072
4. Ottawa University
Ottawa, KS • Private
Admissions rate
78%
SAT average
1,024
5. University of the Incarnate Word
San Antonio, TX • Private
Admissions rate
88%
SAT average
1,044
6. Kean University
Union, NJ • Private
Admissions rate
86%
SAT average
991
7. Wayland Baptist University
Plainview, TX • Private
Admissions rate
98%
SAT average
1,003
8. Mount Saint Mary's University
Los Angeles, CA • Private
Admissions rate
84%
SAT average
1,031
9. Felician University
Lodi, NJ • Private
Admissions rate
81%
SAT average
999
10. American International College
Springfield, MA • Private
Admissions rate
68%
SAT average
1,010
Average kinesiologist salary by education level
| Kinesiologist education level | Kinesiologist salary |
|---|---|
| Master's Degree | $64,751 |
| Bachelor's Degree | $56,957 |
| Doctorate Degree | $61,109 |
Kinesiologist education FAQs
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Updated January 8, 2025
Updated January 8, 2025