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:
And for comparison, here's the chart for all profiles we've looked at across all degrees.
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:
Relevance score: 100%We think this person has gone into a career highly relevant to their degree.DEGREE INFOGraduated 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 GRADUATIONRehabilitation SpecialistAligned Modern Health Aug 2018 - Oct 2019 ABOUTNo information provided. |
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):
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!
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!
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.
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.
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:
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: