Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness: is this bachelor's degree worth it?
National picture across 660 reporting college programs.
MODELED SCENARIO · Negative payoff
−$176,372 over 10 years
National scenario across reporting bachelor's degree programs, using median year-4 earnings, their institutions’ average net prices and a typical 4-year duration.
At these assumptions, the estimated earnings premium does not recover the modeled economic investment within ten years.
31.5 yrsModeled economic break-even
−68%Modeled 10-year ROI
$53,190Observed earnings · year 4
Observed national outcomes
$53,190Median reported earnings · year 4
$53,632Average reported earnings · year 5
$25,946Median federal debt
32thYear-4 earnings percentile at this credential
660Reporting programs
623With year-4 earnings
The same field can produce a different equation.
Keep the federal field fixed and compare observed outcomes at every reportable credential level. These are separate graduate cohorts—not a promise that more schooling causes the difference.
OPEN PROFILE
Undergraduate Certificate or Diploma
- Year-4 earnings
- $36,241
- Federal debt
- $8,936
- Reporting programs
- 15
Associate's Degree
- Year-4 earnings
- $40,142
- Federal debt
- $12,000
- Reporting programs
- 38
Bachelor's Degree
- Year-4 earnings
- $53,190
- Federal debt
- $25,946
- Reporting programs
- 660
Master's Degree
- Year-4 earnings
- $60,645
- Federal debt
- Not available
- Reporting programs
- 165
Doctoral Degree
- Year-4 earnings
- $82,260
- Federal debt
- Not available
- Reporting programs
- 2
Non-Credential Program (Preparatory Coursework/Teacher Certification)
- Year-4 earnings
- $56,405
- Federal debt
- Not available
- Reporting programs
- 2
Where the middle half of programs lands
Year‑4 earnings differ by college. This band shows the 25th percentile, national median and 75th percentile among reporting programs.
Median
25th percentile$48,400National median$53,19075th percentile$58,239
623 programs report year‑4 earnings.See the spread, not just the national number.
1Rice University$87,4042Emory University$87,2543University of Virginia-Main Campus$81,1104University of Scranton$79,7005Wake Forest University$79,5996University of Michigan-Ann Arbor$79,4117Manhattan University$78,2648Seton Hall University$77,8359Carroll University$77,09510Saint Louis University$77,066Observed year-4 earnings · top displayed records are not a universal ranking
Related occupations
Official CIP–SOC links add career context without claiming that every graduate enters the same job.
Exercise Trainers and Group Fitness InstructorsSOC 39-9031 · 3 crosswalk linksRecreation and Fitness Studies Teachers, PostsecondarySOC 25-1193 · 3 crosswalk linksCoaches and ScoutsSOC 27-2022 · 2 crosswalk linksAthletes and Sports CompetitorsSOC 27-2021 · 1 crosswalk linksAthletic TrainersSOC 29-9091 · 1 crosswalk linksEntertainment and Recreation Managers, Except GamblingSOC 11-9072 · 1 crosswalk linksExercise PhysiologistsSOC 29-1128 · 1 crosswalk linksNO MATCHSOC 99-9999 · 1 crosswalk links
Same degree, different outcomes
Compare reported outcomes using the same federal field and credential. ROI uses each institution’s average net price as a scenario—not an individual aid offer.
| # | College | Location | Earnings, year 4 | Federal debt | 10-year ROI | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Rice UniversityBachelor's Degree | Houston, TX | $87,404 | $10,000 | +82% | Positive payoff |
| 2 | Emory UniversityBachelor's Degree | Atlanta, GA | $87,254 | $19,883 | +56% | Positive payoff |
| 3 | University of Virginia-Main CampusBachelor's Degree | Charlottesville, VA | $81,110 | $23,250 | +36% | Positive payoff |
| 4 | University of ScrantonBachelor's Degree | Scranton, PA | $79,700 | $27,000 | +12% | Positive payoff |
| 5 | Wake Forest UniversityBachelor's Degree | Winston-Salem, NC | $79,599 | $23,250 | +17% | Positive payoff |
| 6 | University of Michigan-Ann ArborBachelor's Degree | Ann Arbor, MI | $79,411 | $19,135 | +48% | Positive payoff |
| 7 | Manhattan UniversityBachelor's Degree | Riverdale, NY | $78,264 | Not available | +15% | Positive payoff |
| 8 | Seton Hall UniversityBachelor's Degree | South Orange, NJ | $77,835 | $24,125 | +7% | Positive payoff |
| 9 | Carroll UniversityBachelor's Degree | Waukesha, WI | $77,095 | $27,000 | +33% | Positive payoff |
| 10 | Saint Louis UniversityBachelor's Degree | Saint Louis, MO | $77,066 | $26,316 | +16% | Positive payoff |
| 11 | Simmons UniversityBachelor's Degree | Boston, MA | $76,569 | $27,000 | +12% | Positive payoff |
| 12 | University of DelawareBachelor's Degree | Newark, DE | $76,478 | $25,336 | +25% | Positive payoff |
| 13 | Chapman UniversityBachelor's Degree | Orange, CA | $75,108 | Not available | -18% | Negative payoff |
| 14 | University of Wisconsin-MadisonBachelor's Degree | Madison, WI | $74,963 | $26,000 | +20% | Positive payoff |
| 15 | Lebanon Valley CollegeBachelor's Degree | Annville, PA | $74,429 | $27,000 | +2% | Positive payoff |
| 16 | University of MississippiBachelor's Degree | University, MS | $73,870 | $23,034 | +24% | Positive payoff |
| 17 | Chatham UniversityBachelor's Degree | Pittsburgh, PA | $73,633 | $26,453 | -4% | Negative payoff |
| 18 | University of ConnecticutBachelor's Degree | Storrs, CT | $73,289 | $23,125 | +1% | Positive payoff |
| 19 | University of Connecticut-Waterbury CampusBachelor's Degree | Waterbury, CT | $73,289 | $23,125 | +27% | Positive payoff |
| 20 | University of Connecticut-Avery PointBachelor's Degree | Groton, CT | $73,289 | $23,125 | +20% | Positive payoff |
| 21 | University of Connecticut-StamfordBachelor's Degree | Stamford, CT | $73,289 | $23,125 | +14% | Positive payoff |
| 22 | University of Connecticut-Hartford CampusBachelor's Degree | Hartford, CT | $73,289 | $23,125 | +15% | Positive payoff |
| 23 | University of Massachusetts-AmherstBachelor's Degree | Amherst, MA | $73,238 | $26,227 | +5% | Positive payoff |
| 24 | Purdue University-Main CampusBachelor's Degree | West Lafayette, IN | $72,724 | $20,500 | +16% | Positive payoff |
| 25 | Wittenberg UniversityBachelor's Degree | Springfield, OH | $72,289 | $27,000 | +7% | Positive payoff |
| 26 | Rutgers University-New BrunswickBachelor's Degree | New Brunswick, NJ | $71,844 | $26,000 | -3% | Negative payoff |
| 27 | DePauw UniversityBachelor's Degree | Greencastle, IN | $71,696 | $27,000 | -1% | Negative payoff |
| 28 | University of Oklahoma-Norman CampusBachelor's Degree | Norman, OK | $71,589 | $21,657 | +10% | Positive payoff |
| 29 | Miami University-OxfordBachelor's Degree | Oxford, OH | $70,919 | $25,000 | -12% | Negative payoff |
| 30 | Creighton UniversityBachelor's Degree | Omaha, NE | $69,590 | Not available | -20% | Negative payoff |
| 31 | William & MaryBachelor's Degree | Williamsburg, VA | $68,992 | $21,413 | -6% | Negative payoff |
| 32 | University of ToledoBachelor's Degree | Toledo, OH | $68,866 | $22,797 | -4% | Negative payoff |
| 33 | Indiana University-BloomingtonBachelor's Degree | Bloomington, IN | $68,675 | $19,657 | -3% | Negative payoff |
| 34 | Syracuse UniversityBachelor's Degree | Syracuse, NY | $68,219 | $27,000 | -31% | Negative payoff |
| 35 | Bethel UniversityBachelor's Degree | Saint Paul, MN | $68,202 | $24,500 | -21% | Negative payoff |
| 36 | Elon UniversityBachelor's Degree | Elon, NC | $68,178 | $23,250 | -33% | Negative payoff |
| 37 | University of MaryBachelor's Degree | Bismarck, ND | $68,088 | $26,000 | -8% | Negative payoff |
| 38 | Pace UniversityBachelor's Degree | New York, NY | $67,866 | Not available | -25% | Negative payoff |
| 39 | University of Illinois Urbana-ChampaignBachelor's Degree | Champaign, IL | $67,782 | $21,425 | -4% | Negative payoff |
| 40 | University of South Carolina-ColumbiaBachelor's Degree | Columbia, SC | $67,705 | $25,000 | -16% | Negative payoff |
| 41 | Central Connecticut State UniversityBachelor's Degree | New Britain, CT | $67,562 | $26,000 | -9% | Negative payoff |
| 42 | Saint Ambrose UniversityBachelor's Degree | Davenport, IA | $67,548 | $26,000 | -19% | Negative payoff |
| 43 | Pennsylvania State University-Penn State ScrantonBachelor's Degree | Dunmore, PA | $67,399 | $27,000 | -11% | Negative payoff |
| 44 | Pennsylvania State University-Penn State AltoonaBachelor's Degree | Altoona, PA | $67,399 | $27,000 | -17% | Negative payoff |
| 45 | Pennsylvania State University-Penn State BerksBachelor's Degree | Reading, PA | $67,399 | $27,000 | -19% | Negative payoff |
| 46 | Pennsylvania State University-Penn State HarrisburgBachelor's Degree | Middletown, PA | $67,399 | $27,000 | -18% | Negative payoff |
| 47 | Pennsylvania State University-Main CampusBachelor's Degree | University Park, PA | $67,399 | $27,000 | -28% | Negative payoff |
| 48 | Pennsylvania State University-Penn State AbingtonBachelor's Degree | Abington, PA | $67,399 | $27,000 | -11% | Negative payoff |
| 49 | Sonoma State UniversityBachelor's Degree | Rohnert Park, CA | $67,351 | $19,628 | -3% | Negative payoff |
| 50 | Michigan State UniversityBachelor's Degree | East Lansing, MI | $67,290 | $26,000 | -14% | Negative payoff |
| 51 | University of GeorgiaBachelor's Degree | Athens, GA | $67,275 | $22,250 | -6% | Negative payoff |
| 52 | Citadel Military College of South CarolinaBachelor's Degree | Charleston, SC | $66,934 | $22,250 | -17% | Negative payoff |
| 53 | Rockhurst UniversityBachelor's Degree | Kansas City, MO | $66,881 | $27,000 | -23% | Negative payoff |
| 54 | The University of Texas at AustinBachelor's Degree | Austin, TX | $66,580 | $22,361 | -17% | Negative payoff |
| 55 | Marian UniversityBachelor's Degree | Indianapolis, IN | $66,491 | $27,000 | -22% | Negative payoff |
| 56 | St Olaf CollegeBachelor's Degree | Northfield, MN | $66,314 | $25,000 | -23% | Negative payoff |
| 57 | Saint Mary's College of CaliforniaBachelor's Degree | Moraga, CA | $66,265 | $24,300 | -29% | Negative payoff |
| 58 | Elmhurst UniversityBachelor's Degree | Elmhurst, IL | $66,244 | $23,375 | -23% | Negative payoff |
| 59 | Adelphi UniversityBachelor's Degree | Garden City, NY | $66,003 | $26,000 | -31% | Negative payoff |
| 60 | University of JamestownBachelor's Degree | Jamestown, ND | $65,831 | $27,000 | -19% | Negative payoff |
| 61 | Roanoke CollegeBachelor's Degree | Salem, VA | $65,112 | $27,000 | -28% | Negative payoff |
| 62 | Pepperdine UniversityBachelor's Degree | Malibu, CA | $65,100 | $23,336 | -51% | Negative payoff |
| 63 | John Carroll UniversityBachelor's Degree | University Heights, OH | $65,098 | $27,000 | -32% | Negative payoff |
| 64 | University of Massachusetts-BostonBachelor's Degree | Boston, MA | $64,665 | $26,808 | -22% | Negative payoff |
| 65 | California Polytechnic State University-San Luis ObispoBachelor's Degree | San Luis Obispo, CA | $64,579 | $16,666 | -21% | Negative payoff |
| 66 | Schreiner UniversityBachelor's Degree | Kerrville, TX | $64,439 | Not available | -27% | Negative payoff |
| 67 | Shenandoah UniversityBachelor's Degree | Winchester, VA | $64,373 | $27,000 | -36% | Negative payoff |
| 68 | University of UtahBachelor's Degree | Salt Lake City, UT | $64,356 | $19,500 | -21% | Negative payoff |
| 69 | DeSales UniversityBachelor's Degree | Center Valley, PA | $64,161 | $27,000 | -37% | Negative payoff |
| 70 | Utah Valley UniversityBachelor's Degree | Orem, UT | $63,951 | $15,252 | -8% | Negative payoff |
| 71 | University of EvansvilleBachelor's Degree | Evansville, IN | $63,830 | $24,031 | -26% | Negative payoff |
| 72 | Temple UniversityBachelor's Degree | Philadelphia, PA | $63,714 | $26,000 | -36% | Negative payoff |
| 73 | George Mason UniversityBachelor's Degree | Fairfax, VA | $63,672 | $25,033 | -26% | Negative payoff |
| 74 | Alma CollegeBachelor's Degree | Alma, MI | $63,641 | $27,000 | -29% | Negative payoff |
| 75 | University of DaytonBachelor's Degree | Dayton, OH | $63,592 | $26,000 | -38% | Negative payoff |
| 76 | University of TulsaBachelor's Degree | Tulsa, OK | $63,485 | Not available | -23% | Negative payoff |
| 77 | University of Sioux FallsBachelor's Degree | Sioux Falls, SD | $63,466 | $24,146 | -30% | Negative payoff |
| 78 | The University of FindlayBachelor's Degree | Findlay, OH | $63,397 | $27,000 | -36% | Negative payoff |
| 79 | Winona State UniversityBachelor's Degree | Winona, MN | $63,303 | $25,550 | -27% | Negative payoff |
| 80 | University of North Carolina at Chapel HillBachelor's Degree | Chapel Hill, NC | $63,286 | $16,575 | -19% | Negative payoff |
| 81 | University of Minnesota-DuluthBachelor's Degree | Duluth, MN | $63,269 | $23,629 | -28% | Negative payoff |
| 82 | James Madison UniversityBachelor's Degree | Harrisonburg, VA | $63,065 | $21,500 | -34% | Negative payoff |
| 83 | Texas A&M University-College StationBachelor's Degree | College Station, TX | $62,888 | $20,414 | -33% | Negative payoff |
| 84 | University of KansasBachelor's Degree | Lawrence, KS | $62,876 | $22,125 | -29% | Negative payoff |
| 85 | Southern Methodist UniversityBachelor's Degree | Dallas, TX | $62,838 | $20,475 | -48% | Negative payoff |
| 86 | National UniversityBachelor's Degree | San Diego, CA | $62,748 | Not available | -35% | Negative payoff |
| 87 | Abilene Christian UniversityBachelor's Degree | Abilene, TX | $62,645 | $21,948 | -38% | Negative payoff |
| 88 | Abilene Christian University-Undergraduate OnlineBachelor's Degree | Addison, TX | $62,645 | $21,948 | -36% | Negative payoff |
| 89 | CUNY Queens CollegeBachelor's Degree | Queens, NY | $62,602 | $5,500 | -11% | Negative payoff |
| 90 | University of Maryland-College ParkBachelor's Degree | College Park, MD | $62,362 | $23,138 | -28% | Negative payoff |
| 91 | Illinois State UniversityBachelor's Degree | Normal, IL | $62,112 | $21,250 | -34% | Negative payoff |
| 92 | Stetson UniversityBachelor's Degree | DeLand, FL | $61,974 | $25,375 | -34% | Negative payoff |
| 93 | Bellarmine UniversityBachelor's Degree | Louisville, KY | $61,841 | $25,944 | -37% | Negative payoff |
| 94 | Saint Edward's UniversityBachelor's Degree | Austin, TX | $61,741 | $22,222 | -41% | Negative payoff |
| 95 | University of IowaBachelor's Degree | Iowa City, IA | $61,732 | $24,250 | -38% | Negative payoff |
| 96 | Ohio Dominican UniversityBachelor's Degree | Columbus, OH | $61,628 | $27,000 | -36% | Negative payoff |
| 97 | Manhattanville UniversityBachelor's Degree | Purchase, NY | $61,395 | $26,000 | -38% | Negative payoff |
| 98 | Howard UniversityBachelor's Degree | Washington, DC | $61,316 | $27,000 | -57% | Negative payoff |
| 99 | Lubbock Christian UniversityBachelor's Degree | Lubbock, TX | $61,286 | $27,000 | -41% | Negative payoff |
| 100 | California State University, San MarcosBachelor's Degree | San Marcos, CA | $61,252 | $18,257 | -26% | Negative payoff |
This page keeps the field and credential level fixed. Federal categories can still combine multiple catalog programs or concentrations. Automated ROI is limited to associate and bachelor’s degrees because institution-wide annual net price is not a reliable proxy for short certificate prices. ROI is an illustrative scenario, not a federal determination.