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

First, some facts. Of the Kinesiology and Exercise Science graduates from University of Michigan 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 12 LinkedIn profiles (see below).

The verdict? Significantly below average. Overall, with an average relevance score of 56%, Kinesiology and Exercise Science graduates from University of Michigan have a much lower likelihood (-11%) of finding work in this field compared to the average graduate across all fields:

Average score: 56%
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, 41% 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 Michigan and our analysis:


Relevance score: 77%

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

DEGREE INFO

Graduated in 2014 from University of Michigan with a Bachelor of Science (B.S.) in Kinesiology and Exercise Science. No other secondary education since.

JOB HISTORY SINCE GRADUATION
Lifeguard
Fuller Park Pool
May 2014 - Aug 2014
The lifeguard position does not require any specialized knowledge from a Kinesiology and Exercise Science degree, as it focuses primarily on safety and swimming skills rather than exercise science principles.

Research Assistant
Michigan Institute for Clinical and Health Research
May 2014 - May 2015
As a research assistant, there might be some overlap with exercise science concepts, but the core tasks are unlikely to significantly utilize the specific knowledge and skills from the Kinesiology and Exercise Science degree.

Coach
Club Wolverine Swimming
Sep 2014 - May 2015
The role of coach at Club Wolverine Swimming directly applies kinesiology and exercise science principles in training and improving athletes' performance, making it highly relevant.

Physical Therapist
The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center
Aug 2018 - May 2021
Working as a physical therapist requires comprehensive knowledge of human anatomy, biomechanics, and rehabilitation techniques directly aligned with the Kinesiology and Exercise Science curriculum, making it entirely relevant.

Physical Therapist
CU Sports Medicine and Performance Center
May 2021 - Jul 2022
The physical therapist position at CU Sports Medicine and Performance Center fully utilizes the knowledge and skills obtained from a Kinesiology and Exercise Science degree, as it involves patient assessment and rehabilitation based on exercise science principles.

Project Coordinator
Medpace
Aug 2022 - Present
As a project coordinator at Medpace, some skills related to exercise science may be used in managing health-related projects, but the core qualifications and daily tasks do not primarily center on Kinesiology and Exercise Science.

ABOUT

I am a doctoral trained, board-certified physical therapist with specialty in sports and orthopedics, seeking to continue expanding my career outside of the patient care space. I have transitioned into Clinical Research Project Coordination, and am motivated to grow into project management. I am a self-motivated, ambitious professional who thrives in ever-changing environments. I have spent my early career honing my skills in interdisciplinary relationship building, interpersonal communication, creating client buy-in, time-management, and organization. Creativity and adaptability have been at the forefront of my daily clinical tasks. I also have experience in leadership roles, which have positively impacted my communication and collaborative skills in a team environment. My organization and drive have made me successful in managing complex cases and successfully achieving, or surpassing, productivity demands while still producing high-quality work. I pride myself in my quality of work and feel most fulfilled when I have the opportunity to continue to progress my knowledge base with the evolving world of medical technology. I believe that medical science and technology are the answers to continuing to make the largest positive impact on global health, and I seek opportunities to continue to be a part of this evolution. I understand the success of clients and the overall success of a business is directly related to the quality and commitment of team. To truly succeed, it is crucial for all members to be able to not only lead, but to relate to their colleagues and their clients to build an understanding of each individual and their motivation styles and goals in order to create the highest quality outcomes.

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

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


Based on the LinkedIn data, it looks like graduates from the University of Michigan with degrees in Kinesiology and Exercise Science tend to land a mix of jobs, with varying degrees of relevance to their field. Some of the most common roles are in health-related or fitness-oriented positions, such as health advisors, physical therapists, and coaches, which directly utilize the skills learned in their degree programs. However, there are also quite a few graduates who have veered into more administrative, marketing, or unrelated fields, which shows a split in career paths.

In general, while many of these job titles are indeed connected to Kinesiology and Exercise Science, a significant number don’t directly leverage the knowledge and skills gained during their studies. Roles like physical therapists, podiatrists, and research assistants are clearly in line with the curriculum and principles of their degree. On the flip side, positions in administration, sales, and marketing fall away from the core competencies, suggesting that while the degree provides a solid foundation, many graduates find themselves in careers that are not deeply relevant to their area of study. This highlights the versatility of a Kinesiology and Exercise Science degree, even if it doesn’t always lead to straightforward applications in the field."

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 Michigan):

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

Graduates from the Kinesiology and Exercise Science program at the University of Michigan seem to have a pretty diverse range of career trajectories. Right after graduating, many of them land jobs that are reasonably relevant to their field, such as health advisor roles, physical therapy aides, or coaching positions. For some, roles in research and clinical settings also seem to be common stepping stones as they gain experience and figure out where they want to specialize. It's not a surprise given the program’s focus, as many of these entry-level jobs aim to build foundational skills in health, wellness, and exercise science.

However, as we look at their careers a few years down the line, we see a mix of paths. While some have gone on to successful positions as physical therapists, podiatrists, or in clinical management, others have pivoted into roles that feel somewhat disconnected from their kinesiology roots. For example, graduates have ventured into marketing, digital media, and roles in large corporations that may not directly utilize their exercise science background. This suggests that while many graduates do end up in fulfilling careers related to their major, there's also a fair share who find themselves in fields that aren't as closely aligned with kinesiology or exercise science in the long run. So, while there are definitely success stories, the journey seems varied, with some graduates making detours into unrelated territories over the years.

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

Honestly, pursuing a Bachelor’s degree in Kinesiology and Exercise Science, particularly at a school like the University of Michigan, can be a bit of a mixed bag. It’s not exactly a walk in the park, but it’s not the most brutal major out there either. You’ll dive into some science-heavy courses like anatomy and physiology, which require a solid understanding of biology and chemistry, so if you struggle with those subjects, it might feel a bit challenging. But on the flip side, there are a lot of hands-on experiences and practical applications that make it super engaging, especially if you’re into sports or fitness. Overall, it tends to be more on the moderate side in terms of difficulty compared to other majors, but it really depends on your strengths and interests!

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 Michigan tend to make good money?

Looking at these graduates from the University of Michigan, it seems like their job paths have been pretty varied, with some landing good gigs that likely pay decently and others taking a bit of a winding road to find their footing. For example, the 2011 grad who went from appraisal coordination to a director role probably sees some sweet paychecks now, while the 2018 grad now working as a resident physician is likely pulling in a solid salary as well. However, some of them, like the 2014 grads who started as lifeguards and research assistants, might not be raking in the big bucks just yet, although they seem to have moved into more promising roles over time. Overall, it looks like a mixed bag—some are doing quite well financially while others are still climbing that ladder, but that's pretty normal in the job market!

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 Michigan). 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