University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Kinesiology / Exercise Science: earnings, debt & careers

Kinesiology / Exercise Science graduates of University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill earn a median $63,286 four years after graduating ($31,165 after one year), with median federal loan debt of $16,575. That is $9,950 above the U.S. median for Kinesiology / Exercise Science graduates ($53,336 across 602 colleges), and ranks 3rd of 31 North Carolina colleges.

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Earnings, 4 years after graduating
$63,286

U.S. median for this major: $53,336.

College Scorecard field of study; 288 graduates with earnings reported

Earnings, 1 year after
$31,165

Median for graduates who received federal aid.

College Scorecard field of study

Median debt at graduation
$16,575

About 26% of median earnings 4 years out. U.S. median $25,752.

College Scorecard field of study (federal loans)

What your family pays
$11,655 /yr

Average after grants for all families receiving federal aid. Pick your income above.

Sticker price $26,055. College Scorecard.

University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Kinesiology / Exercise Science: pay against the field, and payback

Same major, other colleges

University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill graduates$63,286
North Carolina median (31 colleges)$46,322 (+$16,964)
U.S. median (602 colleges)$53,336 (+$9,950)

Median earnings 4 years after graduating; state and U.S. figures are the median of each covered college's graduates in this major. College Scorecard; calculated by EducationGuide.

Kinesiology / Exercise Science nationally: jobs, pay at ages 25-34, every state →

Cost to finish and years to pay back, by income

Uses University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill's school-wide net price (no college reports it by major) and this major's graduate earnings.

Family incomeNet price / yrCost to finishYears to pay back
$0–30k$2,004$8,176under 1 year
$30–48k$3,918$15,985under 1 year
$48–75k$8,538$34,8351.2 years
$75–110k$16,415$66,9732.2 years
$110k+$24,396$99,5363.3 years

Cost to finish = yearly price × 4.1 years, the average time graduates took (86% finished in 4 years; students who entered fall 2017, IPEDS). Years to pay back = cost to finish ÷ the earnings gain: median earnings of Kinesiology / Exercise Science graduates 4 years after graduating ($63,286) minus $33,516 for high school graduates ages 25-34 in NC (Census ACS 2020-2024), a gain of $29,770 a year. Before taxes, loan interest and earnings given up while in school. Method

College Scorecard; IPEDS Graduation Rates; U.S. Census Bureau ACS. Calculated by EducationGuide.

Kinesiology / Exercise Science at North Carolina colleges

Every North Carolina college we cover that reports Kinesiology / Exercise Science graduate earnings, highest first. Net price is the school-wide average after grants.

RankCollegeEarnings, 4 yrsMedian debtAvg. net priceGraduation
1Wake Forest University$79,599$23,250$28,71989%
2Elon University$68,178$23,250$41,55584%
3University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill$63,286$16,575$11,65591%
4North Carolina State University at Raleigh$60,488$21,500$17,30385%
5Gardner-Webb University$58,061—$17,67455%
6Appalachian State University$55,594$21,000$16,83675%
7University of North Carolina at Charlotte$54,377$26,000$15,43569%
8Lenoir-Rhyne University$53,609$27,000$20,68948%
9Wingate University$52,822$25,000$20,74846%
10University of North Carolina at Greensboro$51,275$25,000$10,96556%
11Western Carolina University$50,761$25,000$13,31560%
12Campbell University$49,087$25,250$24,51661%
13East Carolina University$48,703$27,000$15,73963%
14Elizabeth City State University$48,398—$6,36444%
15Guilford College$46,651$27,000$22,27046%
16Pfeiffer University$46,322$27,000$19,07635%
17University of Mount Olive$45,671$25,820$18,85352%
18Methodist University$45,457$30,124$24,70444%
19Belmont Abbey College$45,008$25,250$24,63947%
20Chowan University$44,711$31,581$14,08630%
21Johnson C Smith University$44,678$34,078$20,89434%
22North Carolina Central University$44,678$33,770$15,35942%
23University of North Carolina at Pembroke$44,669$26,000$10,26044%
24Catawba College$44,296$26,703$17,87947%
25Shaw University$44,010$30,500$16,51222%
26Winston-Salem State University$43,313$26,000$13,47947%
27North Carolina A & T State University$42,978$30,000$10,84657%
28Livingstone College$41,765$35,000$13,47928%
29Queens University of Charlotte$41,303$26,748$30,85761%
30Brevard College$41,193—$23,50949%
31Saint Augustine's University$38,086$40,375$24,31325%

11 more North Carolina colleges offer Kinesiology / Exercise Science but have too few graduates to report earnings.

Careers for Kinesiology / Exercise Science graduates

Coaches and Scouts

North Carolina$43,840
U.S.$47,320

Median annual wage, all workers. U.S. jobs +6.1% by 2035. Typical entry: bachelor's degree.

Entertainment and Recreation Managers, Except Gambling

Durham area$82,090
North Carolina$77,990
U.S.$79,520

Median annual wage, all workers. U.S. jobs +6.0% by 2035. Typical entry: bachelor's degree.

Exercise Physiologists

North Carolina$52,450
U.S.$59,460

Median annual wage, all workers. U.S. jobs +12.8% by 2035. Typical entry: bachelor's degree.

BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025; Employment Projections 2025-35. Careers from the federal major-to-occupation crosswalk.

What families pay at University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, by income

School-wide average after grants for students receiving federal aid. Tap your band.

College Scorecard

About University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Related majors at University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Kinesiology / Exercise Science questions

How much do University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Kinesiology / Exercise Science graduates earn?

Kinesiology / Exercise Science graduates of University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill earn a median $63,286 four years after graduating and $31,165 one year after. The U.S. median for Kinesiology / Exercise Science graduates across 602 colleges is $53,336.

How much debt do University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Kinesiology / Exercise Science graduates have?

The median federal loan debt for Kinesiology / Exercise Science graduates of University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill is $16,575, about 26% of their median earnings four years out. Nationally the median is $25,752.

Is University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill a good school for Kinesiology / Exercise Science in North Carolina?

On pay, Kinesiology / Exercise Science graduates of University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill earn $63,286 four years out, $16,964 above the median for the same major across 31 North Carolina colleges ($46,322) and $9,950 above the U.S. median ($53,336). Medians of each college's graduates; EducationGuide calculation from College Scorecard.

Where does University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill rank for Kinesiology / Exercise Science in North Carolina?

Of 31 North Carolina colleges reporting Kinesiology / Exercise Science graduate earnings, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill ranks 3rd. The highest is Wake Forest University at $79,599.

What jobs do Kinesiology / Exercise Science graduates get?

A common career is coaches and scouts, with a median wage of $43,840 in North Carolina and $47,320 nationally. Others include entertainment and recreation managers, except gambling and exercise physiologists.

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Sources: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (field of study: median earnings and federal loan debt of graduates who received federal aid); BLS. How we score
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Cite this: “University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Kinesiology / Exercise Science: earnings, debt and careers,” EducationGuide.com, https://educationguide.com/colleges/university-of-north-carolina-at-chapel-hill/majors/kinesiology-exercise-science (College Scorecard and BLS data).