DOCTORAL DEGREE · DEGREE PAYOFF · FEDERAL FIELD 3105

Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness: is this doctoral degree worth it?

National picture across 2 reporting college programs.

Personal baseline needed

$82,260 in median year-4 earnings

A credible return for this credential must start with what the student would otherwise earn. The federal data does not provide that personal baseline.

$82,260Median year-4 earnings
$17,521Average institution net-price context
Not availableMedian federal debt
Use your actual price and alternative earnings before evaluating return. Model your own starting point →
WHAT THIS DEGREE PAYS

Observed national outcomes

$82,260Median reported earnings · year 4
$85,250Average reported earnings · year 5
Not availableMedian federal debt
20thYear-4 earnings percentile at this credential
2Reporting programs
2With year-4 earnings
COMPARE CREDENTIAL LEVELS

The same field can produce a different equation.

Keep the federal field fixed and compare observed outcomes at every reportable credential level. These are separate graduate cohorts—not a promise that more schooling causes the difference.

OPEN PROFILE

Undergraduate Certificate or Diploma

Year-4 earnings
$36,241
Federal debt
$8,936
Reporting programs
15
13 report earnings →
OPEN PROFILE

Associate's Degree

Year-4 earnings
$40,142
Federal debt
$12,000
Reporting programs
38
36 report earnings →
OPEN PROFILE

Bachelor's Degree

Year-4 earnings
$53,190
Federal debt
$25,946
Reporting programs
660
623 report earnings →
OPEN PROFILE

Master's Degree

Year-4 earnings
$60,645
Federal debt
Not available
Reporting programs
165
165 report earnings →
CURRENT VIEW

Doctoral Degree

Year-4 earnings
$82,260
Federal debt
Not available
Reporting programs
2
2 report earnings →
OPEN PROFILE

Non-Credential Program (Preparatory Coursework/Teacher Certification)

Year-4 earnings
$56,405
Federal debt
Not available
Reporting programs
2
2 report earnings →
COLLEGE-TO-COLLEGE RANGE

Where the middle half of programs lands

Year‑4 earnings differ by college. This band shows the 25th percentile, national median and 75th percentile among reporting programs.

Median
25th percentile$76,973National median$82,26075th percentile$76,973
2 programs report year‑4 earnings.
WHERE OUTCOMES ARE STRONGEST

See the spread, not just the national number.

1United States Sports University$87,5472University of North Carolina at Greensboro$76,973

Observed year-4 earnings · top displayed records are not a universal ranking

WHERE THIS FIELD CAN LEAD

Related occupations

Official CIP–SOC links add career context without claiming that every graduate enters the same job.

Exercise Trainers and Group Fitness InstructorsSOC 39-9031 · 3 crosswalk linksRecreation and Fitness Studies Teachers, PostsecondarySOC 25-1193 · 3 crosswalk linksCoaches and ScoutsSOC 27-2022 · 2 crosswalk linksAthletes and Sports CompetitorsSOC 27-2021 · 1 crosswalk linksAthletic TrainersSOC 29-9091 · 1 crosswalk linksEntertainment and Recreation Managers, Except GamblingSOC 11-9072 · 1 crosswalk linksExercise PhysiologistsSOC 29-1128 · 1 crosswalk linksNO MATCHSOC 99-9999 · 1 crosswalk links
BEST COLLEGES FOR SPORTS, KINESIOLOGY, AND PHYSICAL EDUCATION/FITNESS

Same degree, different outcomes

Compare reported outcomes using the same federal field and credential. Automated ROI is withheld when an exact program price or personal earnings baseline is required.

#CollegeLocationEarnings, year 4Federal debtROI statusCost context
1United States Sports UniversityDoctoral DegreeDaphne, AL$87,547Not availableBaseline needed$24,076
2University of North Carolina at GreensboroDoctoral DegreeGreensboro, NC$76,973Not availableBaseline needed$10,965

This page keeps the field and credential level fixed. Federal categories can still combine multiple catalog programs or concentrations. Automated ROI is limited to associate and bachelor’s degrees because institution-wide annual net price is not a reliable proxy for short certificate prices. ROI is an illustrative scenario, not a federal determination.