Home Schools CUNY Queens College Health & Physical Education
Parks, Recreation & Leisure · Health & Physical Education Rank #280 of 529

Health & Physical Educationat CUNY Queens College

Graduates earn $16,236/yr in their first year — about 48.0% below the national Health & Physical Education average. Base-case 10-year earnings $603K; scenarios range from $555K to $604K depending on AI disruption.

Queens, NY Public Bachelor's Degree
DegreeOutlook Score
37 AT RISK
38
Optimistic
36
Pessimistic
Earnings
$16,236
1-year post-graduation
ROI
15.3x
Earnings : in-state tuition
10-yr Base
$603K
Cumulative base-case earnings
AI Risk
Moderate
28% task exposure
Program Analysis

What this degree looks like at CUNY Queens College

The earnings data for this Health and Physical Education/Fitness program at Queens College reflects the realities of entering a competitive New York City labor market, particularly in public service and community-based roles. Many graduates find rewarding careers within the NYC Department of Education as physical education teachers, or in recreation management at city parks, community centers, and non-profits like the YMCA. These roles, while stable and impactful, often have structured salary scales that start lower, especially given the city's high cost of living.

Additionally, the broad "fitness" component can lead to personal training or group exercise instructor positions, where initial income often depends heavily on client acquisition and specialized certifications beyond the foundational degree. To maximize your earning potential in this field, consider pursuing specific certifications early—like those for personal training, strength and conditioning, or specialized athletic training—and actively networking within the city’s vast health and wellness industry.

AI Outlook Integration

Three scenarios, ten years out

Each scenario is a different assumption about how AI reshapes the career paths this major feeds into. Earnings projections stack the full 10-year cumulative trajectory; scores use the same 0–100 metric as the hero, recomputed under that scenario's assumptions.

Pessimistic
Mass Automation
$555K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score36/100
Earnings Multiple18.4x
Base Case
Moderate Integration
$603K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score37/100
Earnings Multiple20.0x
Optimistic
AI Augmentation
$604K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score38/100
Earnings Multiple20.0x
Earnings Trajectory

10 year projection

Year-by-year earnings under each scenario. Base case reflects BLS growth patterns applied to CUNY Queens College's starting earnings; optimistic and pessimistic adjust for AI's effect on each career path this major feeds into.

Career Paths

Where Health & Physical Education graduates typically work

Common career destinations for this program's graduates, weighted by the school's specific occupation mix. Salary is BLS national median; AI risk is per-role task-exposure research.

1
Entertainment and recreation managers, except gambling
+7.7% 10-yr growth · 5,500 openings/yr
$77,180/yr
Moderate
2
Recreation and fitness studies teachers, postsecondary
+2.4% 10-yr growth · 1,100 openings/yr
$75,890/yr
High
3
Athletes and sports competitors
+5.5% 10-yr growth · 2,100 openings/yr
$62,360/yr
Low
4
Athletic trainers
+11.1% 10-yr growth · 2,400 openings/yr
$60,250/yr
Low
5
Exercise physiologists
+9.5% 10-yr growth · 1,700 openings/yr
$58,160/yr
Low
6
Exercise trainers and group fitness instructors
+11.9% 10-yr growth · 74,200 openings/yr
$46,180/yr
Low
Source: BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics, May 2024. AI exposure from OpenAI GPTs-are-GPTs and Felten AIOE research.
Compare & Explore

Peer schools offering Health & Physical Education

How CUNY Queens College stacks up against other schools offering this major.

Highest earnings
American Public University System
WV · Private for-profit
60
DW Score
$51K
1-yr earn
15.4x
ROI
Rice University
TX · Private nonprofit
47
DW Score
$51K
1-yr earn
2.1x
ROI
Simmons University
MA · Private nonprofit
53
DW Score
$49K
1-yr earn
3.4x
ROI
Lubbock Christian University
TX · Private nonprofit
42
DW Score
$46K
1-yr earn
3.2x
ROI
University of Wisconsin-Platteville
WI · Public
53
DW Score
$46K
1-yr earn
12.8x
ROI
Also at CUNY Queens College

Other top programs at CUNY Queens College

Other highest-scoring programs offered at CUNY Queens College, ranked by DegreeOutlook Score.

Consider the trade route

Not sure a 4-year degree is the right path? Trade programs in Health & Physical Education offer shorter timelines, lower debt, and strong AI resilience for hands-on careers.

Compare Health & Physical Education trade programs on TradeSchoolOutlook →
FAQ

Frequently asked about Health & Physical Education at CUNY Queens College

What does a 37/100 DegreeOutlook Score mean for Health & Physical Education at CUNY Queens College?

At 37/100, the financial outlook is modest. Higher-scoring Health & Physical Education programs exist, though non-financial factors may justify this choice.

Is CUNY Queens College a good choice for Health & Physical Education despite lower starting pay?

Starting salary is one data point. If CUNY Queens College's tuition is significantly below average, the ROI calculation can still work — lower earnings paired with lower costs can be a reasonable trade.