About Degrees Colleges Colleges About About
Degrees
Degrees
Colleges
Colleges
About
About

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

First, some facts. Of the Kinesiology and Exercise Science graduates from Michigan 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 38 LinkedIn profiles (see below).

The verdict? Above average. Overall, with an average relevance score of 74%, Kinesiology and Exercise Science graduates from Michigan State University have a higher likelihood (+7%) of finding work in this field compared to the average graduate across all fields:

Average score: 74%
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 Michigan State University and our analysis:

Relevance score: 51%

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

DEGREE INFO

Graduated in 2010 from Michigan State University with a Bachelors Degree in Kinesiology and Exercise Science. Also pursued further education since (see below).

JOB HISTORY SINCE GRADUATION
Home Health Aide
AdvisaCare
Mar 2011 - Oct 2011
The role of Home Health Aide does not primarily require specialized knowledge in kinesiology or exercise science, focusing more on general caregiving rather than specific rehabilitation skills.

Line Cook
Spartan Hall of Fame Caf
Apr 2011 - Aug 2012
A Line Cook position does not utilize any skills or knowledge from a kinesiology and exercise science degree, as it is primarily centered around food preparation and kitchen operations.

Work Order Admin
DENTCO
Jun 2016 - Oct 2016
The Work Order Admin job does not involve kinesiology or exercise science principles, and focuses instead on administrative and organizational tasks.

Team Member
NCG Cinemas
Jun 2013 - Aug 2017
The Team Member position at NCG Cinemas does not relate to kinesiology or exercise science, as it is primarily oriented towards customer service in a cinema environment.

Doctor Of Physical Therapy
Compass Rehabilitation
Aug 2017 - Mar 2018
The role of Doctor of Physical Therapy directly utilizes the skills and knowledge gained from a kinesiology and exercise science degree, as it focuses on rehabilitation and therapy practices.

Doctor Of Physical Therapy
Peak Performance Physical Therapy, PLC
Mar 2018 - Aug 2018
As a Doctor of Physical Therapy at Peak Performance Physical Therapy, the role fully utilizes the academic background in kinesiology and exercise science in patient care and rehabilitation.

Doctor Of Physical Therapy
McLaren Homecare Group
Sep 2018 - Aug 2021
The position of Doctor of Physical Therapy at McLaren Homecare Group requires extensive knowledge of kinesiology and exercise science for effective patient treatment and rehabilitation.

Clinical Manager
Athletico
Aug 2021 - Jul 2023
The Clinical Manager at Athletico involves leadership in physical therapy practices, utilizing comprehensive knowledge from kinesiology and exercise science to oversee rehabilitation services.

Doctor of Physical Therapy
McLaren Health Care
Jul 2023 - Present
Working as a Doctor of Physical Therapy at McLaren Health Care demands the application of specialized knowledge from kinesiology and exercise science for rehabilitation and patient care, making it highly relevant.

FURTHER DEGREES DONE SINCE GRADUATING
Graduate Studies
Central Michigan University
2011 - 2013

Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT)
University of Michigan-Flint
2013 - 2017
ABOUT

As an experienced Doctor of Physical Therapy, I am committed to working as a team with my patients and colleagues to deliver focused, individualized care. Under these guiding principles, I have been able to develop my own philosophy of care, which centers around education and teamwork, and guides me in each and every patient and colleague interaction.

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

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

A lot of graduates from Michigan State University’s Kinesiology and Exercise Science program seem to find their way into jobs that tie back to their field in some way. A significant number of them have landed roles as Physical Therapists or related positions, which makes perfect sense since their degree is all about understanding human movement and rehabilitation. These jobs usually require a solid grasp of kinesiology concepts, so it’s pretty clear that the education they received plays a big part in their daily tasks. Whether they’re working directly with patients or in roles that support rehabilitation, these positions champion the principles that they learned during their studies. However, it's not all sunshine and rainbows regarding relevance. You'll also find quite a few graduates who ended up in jobs that have nothing to do with their degree, like roles as administrative assistants, customer service reps, or even in sales. Sure, those positions might use some soft skills learned in college like communication or teamwork, but they don’t really tap into the specifics of kinesiology or exercise science. So, while many graduates are finding fitting roles in physical therapy and fitness-related sectors, others have branched out into areas that don’t utilize the specialized knowledge they built through their studies at Michigan State. Overall, there’s a good mix, but it really highlights how important it is to seek out roles that align with what you’ve learned if you want to get the most out of your degree.

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 Michigan State University):

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

Looking at the career trajectories of graduates from the Kinesiology and Exercise Science program at Michigan State University, it seems like a fair number of them kick off their professional journeys in roles that are pretty closely related to their degrees. Many of the recent graduates land positions as physical therapy aides, exercise specialists, or personal trainers right after graduation. For instance, several alumni took internships in physical therapy settings or worked as rehabilitation aides, which not only align with their studies but also provide valuable hands-on experience that can be crucial for future job applications.

Fast forward five to ten years, and many of these graduates seem to have successfully climbed the professional ladder. A good chunk of them transitions into more specialized roles, such as physical therapists, occupational therapists, and in some cases, even higher positions like clinical managers or specialized therapists in unique fields like pelvic health. However, it’s also worth noting that not everyone stays directly connected to kinesiology or exercise science. Some graduates pivot into business roles or completely different industries, but they still tend to keep their connections to health and fitness in one way or another. Overall, while there are some who stray far from the field, many appear to build fruitful careers that reflect their educational background. So, if you're considering this path, it seems to have a solid track record of leading to good opportunities in health and fitness-related careers!

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

Honestly, a Bachelor’s degree in Kinesiology and Exercise Science at Michigan State University is pretty manageable for most students, but it definitely has its challenges, just like any other degree. You’ll dive into topics like anatomy, physiology, biomechanics, and exercise psychology, which can get intense, especially when you're dealing with all those scientific terms and concepts. The workload isn’t super heavy compared to some STEM majors, but you’ll need to stay on top of lab work and practical assignments. If you enjoy staying active and have a passion for understanding how the body works, you'll likely find it enjoyable rather than overly difficult. Just keep up with your studies and you'll do fine!

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 Michigan State University tend to make good money?

So, looking at these Michigan State University grads, it seems like they’ve found a solid footing in the job market, especially in fields related to physical therapy and exercise science. Many of them moved quickly into roles like physical therapists and managers, which typically offer decent salaries. For instance, physical therapists generally make a good amount, often in the $70K-$90K yearly range depending on experience and location, which isn't bad at all. However, some of the earlier jobs, like internships and aide positions, definitely wouldn’t have raked in much, leaning more towards typical entry-level pay that has a tough time keeping up with living expenses. Overall, while some started off slow with lesser-paying gigs, they've carved out respectable careers that should pay off for them down the line!

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 Michigan 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