U.S. median for this major: $53,336.
College Scorecard field of study; 47 graduates with earnings reported. A small group, so treat this figure with caution
Median for graduates who received federal aid.
College Scorecard field of study
About 49% of median earnings 4 years out. U.S. median $25,752.
College Scorecard field of study (federal loans)
Average after grants for all families receiving federal aid. Pick your income above.
Sticker price $19,992. College Scorecard.
Western Carolina University Kinesiology / Exercise Science: pay against the field, and payback
Same major, other colleges
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 Western Carolina University's school-wide net price (no college reports it by major) and this major's graduate earnings.
| Family income | Net price / yr | Cost to finish | Years to pay back |
|---|---|---|---|
| $0–30k | $8,816 | $38,261 | 2.2 years |
| $30–48k | $10,012 | $43,452 | 2.5 years |
| $48–75k | $12,605 | $54,706 | 3.2 years |
| $75–110k | $17,060 | $74,040 | 4.3 years |
| $110k+ | $17,992 | $78,085 | 4.5 years |
Cost to finish = yearly price × 4.3 years, the average time graduates took (41% 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 ($50,761) minus $33,516 for high school graduates ages 25-34 in NC (Census ACS 2020-2024), a gain of $17,245 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.
| Rank | College | Earnings, 4 yrs | Median debt | Avg. net price | Graduation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wake Forest University | $79,599 | $23,250 | $28,719 | 89% |
| 2 | Elon University | $68,178 | $23,250 | $41,555 | 84% |
| 3 | University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill | $63,286 | $16,575 | $11,655 | 91% |
| 4 | North Carolina State University at Raleigh | $60,488 | $21,500 | $17,303 | 85% |
| 5 | Gardner-Webb University | $58,061 | — | $17,674 | 55% |
| 6 | Appalachian State University | $55,594 | $21,000 | $16,836 | 75% |
| 7 | University of North Carolina at Charlotte | $54,377 | $26,000 | $15,435 | 69% |
| 8 | Lenoir-Rhyne University | $53,609 | $27,000 | $20,689 | 48% |
| 9 | Wingate University | $52,822 | $25,000 | $20,748 | 46% |
| 10 | University of North Carolina at Greensboro | $51,275 | $25,000 | $10,965 | 56% |
| 11 | Western Carolina University | $50,761 | $25,000 | $13,315 | 60% |
| 12 | Campbell University | $49,087 | $25,250 | $24,516 | 61% |
| 13 | East Carolina University | $48,703 | $27,000 | $15,739 | 63% |
| 14 | Elizabeth City State University | $48,398 | — | $6,364 | 44% |
| 15 | Guilford College | $46,651 | $27,000 | $22,270 | 46% |
| 16 | Pfeiffer University | $46,322 | $27,000 | $19,076 | 35% |
| 17 | University of Mount Olive | $45,671 | $25,820 | $18,853 | 52% |
| 18 | Methodist University | $45,457 | $30,124 | $24,704 | 44% |
| 19 | Belmont Abbey College | $45,008 | $25,250 | $24,639 | 47% |
| 20 | Chowan University | $44,711 | $31,581 | $14,086 | 30% |
| 21 | Johnson C Smith University | $44,678 | $34,078 | $20,894 | 34% |
| 22 | North Carolina Central University | $44,678 | $33,770 | $15,359 | 42% |
| 23 | University of North Carolina at Pembroke | $44,669 | $26,000 | $10,260 | 44% |
| 24 | Catawba College | $44,296 | $26,703 | $17,879 | 47% |
| 25 | Shaw University | $44,010 | $30,500 | $16,512 | 22% |
| 26 | Winston-Salem State University | $43,313 | $26,000 | $13,479 | 47% |
| 27 | North Carolina A & T State University | $42,978 | $30,000 | $10,846 | 57% |
| 28 | Livingstone College | $41,765 | $35,000 | $13,479 | 28% |
| 29 | Queens University of Charlotte | $41,303 | $26,748 | $30,857 | 61% |
| 30 | Brevard College | $41,193 | — | $23,509 | 49% |
| 31 | Saint Augustine's University | $38,086 | $40,375 | $24,313 | 25% |
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
Median annual wage, all workers. U.S. jobs +6.1% by 2035. Typical entry: bachelor's degree.
Entertainment and Recreation Managers, Except Gambling
Median annual wage, all workers. U.S. jobs +6.0% by 2035. Typical entry: bachelor's degree.
Exercise Physiologists
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 Western Carolina University, by income
School-wide average after grants for students receiving federal aid. Tap your band.
College Scorecard
About Western Carolina University
- Acceptance rate: 82% · admissions
- Graduation rate: 60% within 6 years
- Median earnings, all majors, 10 years after starting: $49,458
- Full cost breakdown · all 55 majors · overview
Related majors at Western Carolina University
- Health Sciences—
- Rehabilitation / Therapy Sciences$49,898
- Biology$50,180
- Parks, Recreation, and Leisure Facilities Management$41,786
Western Carolina University Kinesiology / Exercise Science questions
How much do Western Carolina University Kinesiology / Exercise Science graduates earn?
Kinesiology / Exercise Science graduates of Western Carolina University earn a median $50,761 four years after graduating and $32,428 one year after. The U.S. median for Kinesiology / Exercise Science graduates across 602 colleges is $53,336.
How much debt do Western Carolina University Kinesiology / Exercise Science graduates have?
The median federal loan debt for Kinesiology / Exercise Science graduates of Western Carolina University is $25,000, about 49% of their median earnings four years out. Nationally the median is $25,752.
Is Western Carolina University a good school for Kinesiology / Exercise Science in North Carolina?
On pay, Kinesiology / Exercise Science graduates of Western Carolina University earn $50,761 four years out, $4,439 above the median for the same major across 31 North Carolina colleges ($46,322) and $2,575 below the U.S. median ($53,336). Medians of each college's graduates; EducationGuide calculation from College Scorecard.
Where does Western Carolina University rank for Kinesiology / Exercise Science in North Carolina?
Of 31 North Carolina colleges reporting Kinesiology / Exercise Science graduate earnings, Western Carolina University ranks 11th. 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
Data: JSON · Markdown · all datasets
Cite this: “Western Carolina University Kinesiology / Exercise Science: earnings, debt and careers,” EducationGuide.com, https://educationguide.com/colleges/western-carolina-university/majors/kinesiology-exercise-science (College Scorecard and BLS data).