Florida State University earns No. 1 national ranking among kinesiology doctoral programs

Florida State University’s doctoral program in kinesiology has earned the No. 1 spot in the National Academy of Kinesiology’s (NAK) 2026 rankings. 

Housed in the Anne Spencer Daves College of Education, Health, and Human Sciences (Anne’s College), the kinesiology program, which explores human movement and physical activity, rose from No. 3 in the 2023 rankings. 

Released every three years, the evaluation examined data from 2023 through 2025 across 39 participating universities. The rankings evaluate total research expenditures, faculty productivity and research impact, faculty leadership roles in the field, doctoral student support, student research productivity, graduate employment outcomes and the number of NAK Fellows on the faculty.   

“We are incredibly proud to be recognized as the nation’s top kinesiology doctoral program,” said Damon Andrew, dean of Anne’s College. “This ranking reflects the outstanding work of our faculty and students and the culture of excellence that defines our program. Together, they are advancing research, shaping the future of the field and strengthening the FSU Health initiative through leadership in the field of kinesiology.” 

“We are incredibly proud to be recognized as the nation’s top kinesiology doctoral program. This ranking reflects the outstanding work of our faculty and students and the culture of excellence that defines our program. Together, they are advancing research, shaping the future of the field and strengthening the FSU Health initiative through leadership in the field of kinesiology.” 

– Damon Andrew, dean of Anne’s College

FSU Health is an integrated academic health system that brings together hospitals, physicians, clinics, research, education and innovation to improve the health of the communities the university serves. The initiative is a long-term investment in Florida’s health infrastructure and economy.  

The ranking is the first No. 1 ranking for an FSU Health-associated program since its launch in 2022. 

Additional findings from the NAK’s evaluation highlighted the program’s strength in student success and research productivity. 

FSU ranked in the 100th percentile nationally for doctoral student publications, students receiving full financial support, graduates securing tenure-track faculty positions and faculty-authored books.  

The evaluation also placed FSU among the nation’s leaders in graduates earning postdoctoral positions, invited keynote presentations and faculty research productivity. During the reporting period, FSU kinesiology doctoral students produced 105 journal articles, while 14 graduates secured tenure-track faculty positions. Kinesiology faculty produced 336 journal articles and secured more than $21.6 million in federal research funding. 

“This recognition reflects the strength of the people who make our program exceptional,” Andrew added. “Our faculty attract talented students who want to work alongside leaders in the field, and those students go on to make meaningful contributions through their research, scholarship and professional success. That cycle continues to strengthen our program.” 

“This recognition reflects the strength of the people who make our program exceptional,” Andrew added. “Our faculty attract talented students who want to work alongside leaders in the field, and those students go on to make meaningful contributions through their research, scholarship and professional success. That cycle continues to strengthen our program.”

Anne’s College is home to world-renowned faculty in fields spanning athletic training, athletic coaching, exercise physiology, sports nutrition and dietetics, sport sciences, sport management and sport psychology. The college is also home to leading research centers and institutes, such as the FSU Institute of Sports Sciences and Medicine. 

For more information about Anne’s College and its academic programs, visit annescollege.fsu.edu. 

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