What can you do with a Kinesiology and Exercise Science degree from Iowa State University?

First, some facts. Of the Kinesiology and Exercise Science graduates from Iowa State University we've analyzed , here's how many have used (or NOT used) their degree in their career:


These are estimates based on AI analysis of 17 LinkedIn profiles (see below).

The verdict? Above average. Overall, with an average relevance score of 73%, Kinesiology and Exercise Science graduates from Iowa State University have a higher likelihood (+6%) of finding work in this field compared to the average graduate across all fields:

Average score: 73%
Average relevance score across all fields: 67%

And for comparison, here's the chart for all profiles we've looked at across all degrees.

× Chart

Also, after graduating, 52% of these graduates have pursued further education other than another Bachelor's degree (such as a Masters degree or other), compared to the average across all profiles of 35%. This suggests you may need more than just a Bachelors degree to be competitive as a Kinesiology and Exercise Science graduate.

See the details:

View a random Kinesiology and Exercise Science graduate from Iowa State University and our analysis:


Relevance score: 100%

We think this person has gone into a career highly relevant to their degree.

DEGREE INFO

Graduated in 2015 from Iowa State University with a Bachelor of Science - BS in Kinesiology and Exercise Science. No other secondary education since.

JOB HISTORY SINCE GRADUATION
Fitness Manager
Eastcastle Place
Oct 2018 - Present
As a Fitness Manager, this role directly applies the knowledge and skills gained from a Bachelor's degree in Kinesiology and Exercise Science, as it involves fitness programming, exercise prescription, and management of wellness initiatives, which are core components of the degree.

ABOUT

No information provided.

What jobs can you get with a Kinesiology and Exercise Science degree from Iowa State University?

The top 10 most common jobs done by the graduates we've analyzed (ranked most common to least) are:


When looking at the job paths of those who graduated with a degree in Kinesiology and Exercise Science from Iowa State University, you can see that a number of them ended up in jobs directly related to fitness and health, such as Personal Trainers and Fitness Managers. These roles clearly connect to what they studied, focusing on exercise prescription, client assessment, and overall wellness. Positions like Group Fitness Instructor, Health Fitness Specialist, and Sports Performance Director are also quite common, indicating a solid alignment with their academic background. It’s good to see that many grads are applying their knowledge in ways that make a direct impact on individuals' health and fitness.

However, not everyone found a role that relates well to their degree. There are quite a few graduates working in unrelated fields like project management, construction, and various internships in the pharmaceutical domain. For these individuals, while they may have gained useful skills in those positions, it doesn’t directly relate to Kinesiology or Exercise Science. This divergence suggests that while there are many relevant opportunities out there, some graduates may need to look outside the box or might not be using their degree in the most aligned way possible. Overall, it’s a mixed bag: while many are doing awesome work in fitness and health, there’s still a chunk who’ve landed in roles that don’t tap into the core of what they learned in school.

Here is a visual representation of the most common words in job titles for Kinesiology and Exercise Science graduates (this is across all Kinesiology and Exercise Science graduates we've analyzed, not just those who went to Iowa State University):

What kind of career trajectories do Kinesiology and Exercise Science graduates from Iowa State University have? What do they do 1, 5 or 10 years out?

When we look at the career paths of graduates from Iowa State University who studied Kinesiology and Exercise Science, it’s pretty clear that a significant number have landed in relevant fields shortly after graduation. Many of their first jobs were in personal training, fitness management, and health promotion roles. For instance, recent graduates have taken on positions like Personal Trainer, Fitness Manager, and Health Fitness Specialist. This trend shows that a lot of them kick off their careers by applying their degree directly in fitness and wellness environments, which is great for gaining real-world experience. However, it's worth noting that some graduates seem to have taken unexpected turns, venturing into areas like construction management or sales, which may not be directly aligned with their studies in Kinesiology.

Fast forward five to ten years, and we see a mix of outcomes. A decent number have transitioned into more specialized positions within the health and fitness world, such as group fitness instructors, fitness directors, or even roles in healthcare systems like physician assistant and pharmacy technician positions. On the flip side, others have found their way into completely different industries, which may indicate a struggle to find roles directly related to their degree. Overall, while many graduates remain in fields closely tied to Kinesiology and Exercise Science, there’s a notable portion that has branched out into unrelated careers, suggesting that the degree does offer flexibility, but perhaps not a guaranteed pathway in the fitness and health sectors. It's a mixed bag, but many do seem to carve out successful, relevant careers in the long run!

How hard is a Kinesiology and Exercise Science degree from Iowa State University?

Honestly, pursuing a Bachelor’s degree in Kinesiology and Exercise Science at Iowa State University, or pretty much anywhere, strikes that balance between being challenging but definitely doable if you're into it. You’ll dive deep into subjects like anatomy, biomechanics, and exercise physiology, which can be tough if you're not into the science-y stuff. But if you’re passionate about health and fitness, it can actually feel engaging and rewarding. The workload varies, with some classes being more intense than others, especially when it comes to practical labs and group projects. Overall, it's not the easiest degree out there, but if you stay organized and motivated, you'll likely find it a solid fit!

How long does it take?

Most commonly, in the LinkedIn profiles we've looked at, it takes people 4 years to finish a Bachelor degree in Kinesiology and Exercise Science.

Do Kinesiology and Exercise Science graduates from Iowa State University tend to make good money?

Looking at the career paths of these Kinesiology and Exercise Science graduates from Iowa State University, it seems like they're all finding their ways into various niches of the fitness and health fields, but the money situation varies a lot. Some, like the Personal Training Director, probably make decent salaries since they're in management roles, while others have a mix of internships and lower-paying positions, especially in the early years. It's worth noting that the personal trainer and fitness instructor jobs, while often rewarding and fun, typically don't pay as well unless they're in higher roles or have a solid clientele. Overall, some have definitely landed decent gigs that pay well, but others might find themselves hustling a bit more to make ends meet. So, if you’re thinking about this path, it seems important to keep your options open and maybe consider advancing into management or specialized roles to boost your earnings!

What buzzwords do Kinesiology and Exercise Science graduates use to describe themselves?

Here is a visual representation of the most common words seen in the "about" section of LinkedIn profiles who have a Bachelor degree in Kinesiology and Exercise Science (this is across all Kinesiology and Exercise Science graduates we've analyzed, not just those who went to Iowa State University). This may or may not be useful:

What are the best colleges for Kinesiology and Exercise Science?

Here are all colleges offering a Bachelor degree in Kinesiology and Exercise Science (ordered by the average relevance score of their Kinesiology and Exercise Science graduates, best to worst) where we have analyzed at least 10 of their graduates:

College Score Count
California State University, Long Beach 85 13
Concordia University-St. Paul 82 11
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign 80 10
Illinois State University 80 10
Liberty University 77 12
California State Polytechnic University-Pomona 76 13
University of North Carolina at Greensboro 76 21
Texas Woman's University 76 13
University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee 75 10
Saginaw Valley State University 75 12
Michigan State University 74 38
Central Michigan University 74 10
California State University San Marcos 74 14
Iowa State University 73 17
Washington State University 73 15
Appalachian State University 73 17
Western Washington University 73 11
Rutgers University 73 13
The University of Southern Mississippi 73 11
Salisbury University 73 17
Angelo State University 73 11
Penn State University 72 32
Grand Valley State University 72 22
University of Louisville 72 14
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill 71 10
Indiana University Bloomington 70 42
Texas Tech University 70 33
California State University-Long Beach 70 14
West Chester University of Pennsylvania 70 14
University of Rhode Island 69 30
Sonoma State University 69 11
Temple University 68 25
University of North Carolina at Charlotte 68 22
Longwood University 68 13
James Madison University 67 15
University of Delaware 66 21
California State University, Northridge 66 28
Towson University 65 25
Auburn University 64 24
The University of Texas at San Antonio 64 35
Bowling Green State University 63 11
University of Massachusetts Amherst 63 11
Louisiana State University 62 40
San Diego State University 62 21
University of Nevada-Las Vegas 62 25
University of Louisiana at Lafayette 62 12
Oregon State University 61 21
Middle Tennessee State University (MTSU) 61 14
Tarleton State University 61 12
Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi 61 11
Virginia Commonwealth University 60 22
Western Kentucky University 60 12
State University of New York College at Cortland 60 17
Truman State University 60 10
University of Utah 59 21
University of Illinois at Chicago 59 16
Rutgers UniversityNew Brunswick 59 13
University of North Texas 58 27
San Francisco State University 58 27
California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo 58 14
California State University, Fullerton 58 39
University of Maryland 58 19
University of South Carolina 58 17
Stephen F. Austin State University 58 20
Purdue University 57 11
University of Michigan 56 12
San Jose State University 56 18
Florida Atlantic University 56 10
Kansas State University 56 15
Northern Illinois University 56 13
Utah State University 56 10
Louisiana Tech University 56 11
Arizona State University 55 24
Texas A&M University 55 25
University of Houston 55 25
Miami University 55 13
College of Charleston 55 12
Georgia State University 54 16
University of Kentucky 54 25
Georgia Southern University 54 41
The University of Texas at Austin 53 21
The University of Texas at Arlington 53 30
California State University, Fresno 53 18
California State University, Monterey Bay 53 17
Colorado Mesa University 53 12
The University of Alabama 52 12
Sam Houston State University 52 27
University of Maryland College Park 52 17
California Baptist University 52 11
Brigham Young University 51 26
Texas State University 51 17
California State University-Northridge 51 10
California State University-Fullerton 51 10
Eastern Illinois University 51 19
Mississippi State University 50 21
California State University-Sacramento 49 25
University of Tennessee, Knoxville 49 21
San Diego State University-California State University 49 13
University of Arkansas 47 18
University of Mississippi 45 16