What can you do with a Kinesiology and Exercise Science degree from University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign?

First, some facts. Of the Kinesiology and Exercise Science graduates from University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign 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 10 LinkedIn profiles (see below).

The verdict? Significantly above average. Overall, with an average relevance score of 80%, Kinesiology and Exercise Science graduates from University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign have a much higher likelihood (+13%) of finding work in this field compared to the average graduate across all fields:

Average score: 80%
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, 80% 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 University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and our analysis:


Relevance score: 100%

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

DEGREE INFO

Graduated in 2018 from University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign with a Bachelors Degree in Kinesiology and Exercise Science. No other secondary education since.

JOB HISTORY SINCE GRADUATION
Rehabilitation Specialist
Aligned Modern Health
Aug 2018 - Oct 2019
The position of Rehabilitation Specialist at Aligned Modern Health directly utilizes the knowledge and skills acquired in a Kinesiology and Exercise Science degree, focusing on rehabilitation strategies and exercise prescriptions in a clinical setting.

ABOUT

No information provided.

What jobs can you get with a Kinesiology and Exercise Science degree from University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign?

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


When looking at the types of jobs that people with a degree in Kinesiology and Exercise Science from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign have landed, education and rehabilitation seem to be the most common paths. Many graduates take on roles as Health and Physical Education Teachers, which clearly benefits from their educational background, as they promote physical fitness and health education to students. Others lean towards the healthcare side, taking on positions like Physical Therapist and Rehabilitation Aide, where they can apply their knowledge to help people recover and improve their physical abilities. It’s pretty clear that jobs in education and rehabilitation are prominent, pointing to a solid connection between these roles and their degrees.

However, not all career paths are directly related to Kinesiology or Exercise Science. Some graduates have ventured into roles like administrators, analysts, or consultants, which focus more on management or data analysis rather than applying kinesiology principles. While these positions may utilize some skills learned during their education—like communication or critical thinking—they don't make full use of the Kinesiology and Exercise Science knowledge they gained. Overall, it looks like many grads end up in meaningful roles related to their field, but there are definitely those who find themselves in jobs that are a bit of a stretch for their 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 University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign):

What kind of career trajectories do Kinesiology and Exercise Science graduates from University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign have? What do they do 1, 5 or 10 years out?

Based on what I've seen from graduates of Kinesiology and Exercise Science from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, it seems like a lot of them have taken some pretty solid career paths related to their degrees. For instance, many of the alumni started off with roles like physical education teachers, rehabilitation aides, or physical therapy technicians. This is a great way to get practical experience in the field and develop those hands-on skills that are super important in kinesiology. After about five to ten years, many of them seem to be climbing the ladder into more specialized positions like physical therapists, healthcare consultants, and even administrative roles in educational settings. This indicates a good amount of upward mobility in their careers that aligns with their academic background.

However, it's not just a clear path to success for everyone. While many do find their groove in health and education-related jobs, some have taken a detour into unrelated fields. For example, one graduate started off as a bartender for a brief stint before becoming a resident physician, which shows that not everyone sticks strictly to kinesiology straight out of college. Still, overall, it looks like the majority of these grads are successfully leveraging their education into fulfilling careers in health and fitness, especially in physical therapy and education, which is encouraging for anyone considering this field!

How hard is a Kinesiology and Exercise Science degree from University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign?

Honestly, a Bachelor’s degree in Kinesiology and Exercise Science can be pretty manageable if you’ve got a passion for the subject and the drive to keep up with your studies. At a school like the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, the coursework might require a solid understanding of biology and anatomy, but if you're into sports, fitness, or health sciences, it could be really engaging! You’ll have a mix of lectures, labs, and practical applications, so it’s not all just sitting in a classroom, which can make it more enjoyable. Just like any degree, it has its challenges, especially if you’re not used to a lot of science courses, but many students find it to be a pretty doable path, especially when compared to more intensive majors like engineering or pre-med. So if you’re passionate about it, don’t stress too much—it can be a rewarding experience!

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 University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign tend to make good money?

It seems like the Kinesiology and Exercise Science grads from UIUC have had mixed financial success, but a lot depends on their specific roles and career paths. For example, the physical education teachers and athletic trainers might not be raking in huge bucks compared to their peers in fields like consulting or healthcare management, but they likely have decent job stability and benefits. On the flip side, those who went into consulting or advanced roles in healthcare, like the senior consultants or resident physician, probably see a much better paycheck. Overall, while some might be scraping by a bit more than others, many of these careers offer solid pay and job security, especially as they gain more experience and move into higher positions.

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 University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign). 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