Outdoor Education graduates earn $39,157 four years out. The middle 50% of earners fall between $26,619 and $51,267. Where you land depends on specialization, employer, and how far you advance in the field.
This page covers Outdoor Education as a course of study: what it costs, where it is taught, and what graduates go on to earn. It sits inside the wider field of Recreation & Fitness and how it pays overall, which is the better comparison if you are still choosing between subjects.
Outdoor Education is a focused area of study within Recreation & Fitness. Pick this and you can expect to earn around $39,157 four years out, a modest return for a focused credential. You will not have trouble finding it: 50 colleges offer this program, from community colleges to research universities. About 277 students complete it each year, most walking away with a bachelor's. Training is clinical and hands-on, often leading to licensure or certification.
Median Earnings · 1yr
$21,737
Median Earnings · 4yr
$39,157
Colleges Offering
50
Graduates / Year
277
Avg Net Price / yr
$19,084
How Much Do Outdoor Education Graduates Earn?
Four years after finishing Outdoor Education, a typical graduate earns $39,157, significantly below average for bachelor's degree holders. Half of earners land somewhere between $26,619 and $51,267, so where you end up depends on the job and the employer. Do not judge the field on a starting paycheck alone: pay tends to jump in the first few years, climbing from $21,737 at one year out to $39,157 by year four. Source: College Scorecard.
Starting salaries only. Earnings in this field grow substantially in the first 3 to 5 years.
$39,157
4-Year National Median
Significantly below average. Graduate credentials or high-demand roles can raise this considerably.
$37,588
4-Year Institutional Median
Median of per-school medians. Each reporting college counts equally, regardless of size.
Earnings Range
Not every Outdoor Education graduate ends up in the same place. Earnings spread out a moderate amount, so know what pushes people to one end or the other. Specialization and credential level drive most of the gap. Advanced practice roles (nurse practitioners, CRNAs, physician assistants) anchor the top; entry-level clinical and support roles sit at the bottom.
$26,61925th pct.
$39,157Median
$51,26775th pct.
Is the Cost Worth It?
At median 4-year earnings of $39,157 and an estimated $76,336 four-year net cost, earnings breakeven against a baseline wage takes approximately 8.3 years. Compare specific programs before committing to a high-cost option.
Based on outcomes from 26 schools.
Colleges with fewer than 30 graduates are excluded from national averages.
Who Studies This? Credential Breakdown
Of the 277 students who complete Outdoor Education programs each year, the majority (60%) earn a bachelor's degree.
The breakdown below shows the full credential distribution.
60%26%
Bachelor's60%
Master's26%
Associate's12%
What Can You Do With an Outdoor Education Degree?
This degree does not lock you into one job. Outdoor Education graduates show up in 1 different occupations, and Recreation Workers pay the most at $36,560/yr median. Expand any card below to see daily responsibilities, in-demand skills, and 10-year growth projections.
Conduct recreation activities with groups in public, private, or volunteer agencies or recreation facilities. Organize and promote activities, such as arts and crafts, sports, games, music, dramatics, social recreation, camping, and hobbies, taking into account the needs and interests of individual members.
Enforce rules and regulations of recreational facilities to maintain discipline and ensure safety.
Organize, lead, and promote interest in recreational activities, such as arts, crafts, sports, games, camping, and hobbies.
Assess the needs and interests of individuals and groups and plan activities accordingly, given the available equipment or facilities.
Top Colleges for Outdoor Education
Not sure where to study Outdoor Education? These 20 colleges graduate the most students in it each year. Scroll right to compare acceptance rate, net price, and median earnings side by side.
Ranked by Outdoor Education graduate volume. Scroll right to compare key stats.
Read our methodology →
Related Recreation & Fitness Programs
Outdoor Education is not the only path through Recreation & Fitness: 4 other specializations sit alongside it. The comparison below ranks them by 4-year median earnings so you can see where this one lands.
Decide with data, not guesswork. These tools turn the numbers on this page
into a personal plan. Estimate the real cost of an Outdoor Education program, compare colleges side-by-side, weigh the long-term payoff, and find
schools that match your profile.
Outdoor Education carries financial trade-offs prospective students should weigh carefully. The 2 strengths and 4 concerns below are drawn from College Scorecard earnings, BLS job growth data, and IPEDS completion counts.
PROS
Strong salary growthMedian earnings climb from $21,737 at graduation to $39,157 four years later, a clear sign of career momentum in this field.
Strong hiring volumeRelated occupations generate more than 67,000 job openings per year combined, creating consistent demand for graduates.
CONS
Below-average earningsFour-year median of $39,157 falls below the national median for bachelor's degree holders.
Licensure often requiredMost roles in this field require state licensure or certification before you can practice. Budget time and costs for board exams alongside your degree.
Advanced degree often expectedTop roles in this field typically expect a master's degree or higher. A bachelor's may be a starting point rather than a terminal credential for the most competitive positions.
Long earnings breakevenAt median salary and average net price, recovering education costs versus a baseline wage takes roughly 8.3 years.
$39,157 four years after finishing the program. Half of graduates land between $26,619 and $51,267, so employer, role, and location move that number more than the degree itself. Source: College Scorecard.
What is the starting salary for an Outdoor Education degree?
$21,737 in the first year out. That grows to $39,157 by year four, so do not judge this field on the entry-level number alone. Most of the gain shows up once you clear the first few years and move past entry-level roles. Source: College Scorecard.
What jobs can you get with an Outdoor Education degree?
Recreation Workers are one path, and it pays a median of $36,560 a year. It is not the only one: the Career Paths section below lists every occupation graduates actually go into, with wages and 10-year growth for each.
How long does an Outdoor Education program take?
Four years of full-time study for an Outdoor Education bachelor's degree, the standard timeline for this field. If you want a faster route into the workforce, community colleges offer a two-year associate option instead.
How many colleges offer Outdoor Education?
50 colleges and universities, so you are not short on options. That range runs from community colleges granting certificates and associate degrees to research universities with full doctoral tracks. Source: IPEDS.
Is an Outdoor Education degree worth it?
$39,157 median earnings four years out against $19,084 a year in average net price. That is a slow payback, so cost matters more than usual here: a cheaper school changes the answer. Use the Top Colleges section below to compare specific schools before deciding. Source: College Scorecard.
What is the difference between Outdoor Education and Recreation & Fitness?
Outdoor Education is the narrower of the two: Recreation & Fitness covers the full discipline, while this program limits the curriculum to Outdoor Education-specific courses, skills, and career tracks. Pick the specialization once you already know this is the direction you want; it gets you a more targeted credential, not a broader one.
What skills do employers look for in Outdoor Education graduates?
Coursework alone will not get you hired. Employers hiring Outdoor Education graduates consistently look for clinical judgment, patient communication, and evidence-based decision-making. Licensure, certifications, and supervised clinical hours are typically required or strongly preferred in most roles. Build those into your coursework and internships now, and the job search later gets easier.
Is graduate school worth it for Outdoor Education graduates?
Often, yes. Advanced degrees in this field (nurse practitioner, physician assistant, doctor of physical therapy) typically come with significantly higher pay and a wider scope of practice, which is why most students in health fields eventually go back for one. Weigh that against your own career goals, the program's cost, and whether your target role actually rewards the advanced credential.
Related Recreation & Fitness Programs
Other programs in Recreation & Fitness. Compare earnings, credentials, and career paths before committing to a specialization.
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