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

First, some facts. Of the Kinesiology and Exercise Science graduates from Purdue 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 11 LinkedIn profiles (see below).

The verdict? Below average. Overall, with an average relevance score of 57%, Kinesiology and Exercise Science graduates from Purdue University have a lower likelihood (-10%) of finding work in this field compared to the average graduate across all fields:

Average score: 57%
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, 45% 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 Purdue University and our analysis:


Relevance score: 54%

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

DEGREE INFO

Graduated in 2015 from Purdue University with a Bachelor of Science - BS in Kinesiology and Exercise Science. Also pursued further education since (see below).

JOB HISTORY SINCE GRADUATION
ABA Therapist
Hopebridge
Oct 2015 - Aug 2016
As an ABA Therapist, the role directly applies knowledge of Kinesiology and Exercise Science to develop and implement behavior analysis strategies, making it highly relevant.

Level II Fieldwork Rotation
Parkview Pediatric Outpatient Rehab
May 2018 - Aug 2018
The Level II Fieldwork Rotation at Parkview Pediatric Outpatient Rehab directly utilizes the principles of Kinesiology and Exercise Science in a practical setting, demonstrating strong relevance.

Level II Fieldwork Rotation
Heritage Park
Aug 2018 - Nov 2018
This Level II Fieldwork Rotation at Heritage Park requires the application of kinesiology knowledge and skills in rehabilitation settings, making it highly relevant to the degree.

Caregiver
Home Instead
May 2017 - Present
Working as a caregiver at Home Instead may incorporate some basic principles of kinesiology in caring for clients, but it does not heavily rely on the specialized knowledge from the degree.

Residency Project
Hand In Hand Comprehensive Therapist Specialists Inc.
Jan 2019 - Present
The Residency Project at Hand In Hand Comprehensive Therapist Specialists Inc. may involve some elements related to Kinesiology in a therapy context, but the core qualifications may not be fully aligned with the degree.

FURTHER DEGREES DONE SINCE GRADUATING
Doctorate of Occupational Therapy
Huntington University
2016 - 2019
ABOUT

Currently an occupational therapy doctoral student at Huntington University. Graduating in May of this year and plan to work in a pediatric setting following graduation.

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

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


So, after looking at the LinkedIn profiles of folks who studied Kinesiology and Exercise Science at Purdue University, it's pretty clear that a lot of them have taken on roles that are closely tied to their degree. For example, many graduates have landed jobs as Physical Therapist Assistants, Rehabilitation Technicians, and Wellness Coordinators. These positions actively use what they learned in their degree program, especially when it comes to understanding body mechanics, rehabilitation techniques, and promoting health and wellness. It’s like they’re pretty much living out their studies in real life, right?

However, it’s not all directly relevant. Some grads have gone into fields like medical sales or even roles in video production, which don’t necessarily utilize the specialized knowledge from their Kinesiology and Exercise Science education. While they might benefit from having a background in health or human movement, those jobs aren't exactly what you think of when you imagine a kinesiology career. So, overall, while many graduates are working in fields that strongly relate to their degree, there’s definitely a portion venturing off into other areas that don’t make that direct connection, which is kind of a mixed bag!

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 Purdue University):

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

Looking at the career trajectories of graduates from Purdue University who studied Kinesiology and Exercise Science, it's clear that many have starting jobs that directly relate to their field. For instance, early roles like ABA Therapist, Rehabilitation Technician, and Physical Therapist Assistant stand out as solid first jobs. These positions allow graduates to apply their knowledge and skills in helpful, practical environments, like rehabilitation centers and therapy practices. It's pretty common for these folks to stick around in these types of roles for the first several years after graduation, often moving up to more senior positions within rehab or therapy settings.

However, as time goes on, some graduates seem to take different paths that veer away from traditional Kinesiology careers. For example, some have found roles in sales, marketing, and even positions unrelated to health, like a soil scientist or videographer. This diversification indicates that while many graduates do start in relevant fields, not all maintain that trajectory long-term. In about five to ten years down the line, you'll find a mix: some will have established themselves in healthcare or rehab roles, while others might pivot and take on roles in sales or even creative fields. Overall, there's a blend of success in relevant careers and some shifts into unrelated industries, showcasing how diverse the career possibilities can be after studying Kinesiology and Exercise Science.

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

Getting a Bachelor’s degree in Kinesiology and Exercise Science at Purdue, or anywhere really, has its challenges but isn't considered one of the hardest degrees out there. You’ll dive into some cool stuff about how the body works, exercise principles, and even some anatomy, but it's definitely more about practical applications than theory-heavy subjects like advanced physics or engineering. If you're passionate about sports, fitness, or health, you'll probably find a lot of it interesting and engaging, which can make the workload feel lighter. Just be ready for some lab work and projects, and you'll do fine if you stay organized and keep up with the readings. Overall, it’s a balanced mix—challenging enough to keep you on your toes, but not so grueling that you’ll feel overwhelmed if you’re prepared and motivated!

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 Purdue University tend to make good money?

Looking at the job trajectories of these Kinesiology and Exercise Science grads from Purdue, it seems like they've had a mix of decent starting salaries but it varies quite a bit. For some, especially those who went into roles related to physical therapy or physical rehabilitation, they likely found themselves on a reasonable salary path as they gained experience. However, roles like the ABA therapist position or rehabilitation technician are often entry-level and tend to pay less, especially at the beginning of their careers. It appears that the later grads, particularly those in sales roles, could potentially be making more money since sales positions often offer commission-based pay on top of a salary. Overall, while some might be making good money, others are probably still working their way up the ladder, so it’s kind of a mixed bag!

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 Purdue 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