Health & Physical Education at Western Illinois University

Macomb, IL · Public · Bachelor's Degree · Health and Physical Education/Fitness
40 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case)
41
Optimistic
40
Base Case
39
Pessimistic
Earnings $28,315/yr (-9% vs median)
AI Risk Moderate (25% exposed)
Job Market Very Large (128,800 openings/yr)
ROI 10.0x earnings multiple
Ranked #215 of 529 Health and Physical Education/Fitness programs Top 50%

How AI Changes the Outlook

Three scenarios based on how aggressively AI disrupts the career paths available to Health & Physical Education graduates.

Optimistic
No Disruption
Base Case
Gradual AI
Pessimistic
Aggressive AI
10-Year Earnings $602K $601K $553K
Earnings Multiple 10.1x 10.0x 9.2x
Probability of Field Employment 42% 42% 34%
DegreeOutlook Score 41 40 39

10-Year Earnings Projection

*Year 1 uses actual reported earnings. Scenarios diverge as AI impact compounds over time.

4-Year Tuition (Sticker)
$59,808
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$46,368
22% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$29,125
12.3 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$59,683
111% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

Western Illinois University's Health & Physical Education program produces graduates earning $28,315/yr — within striking distance of the $31,057 national average for this field.

The earnings-to-cost ratio of 10.0x signals a solid financial return — projected decade earnings comfortably exceed the tuition investment.

Some AI exposure exists in Health & Physical Education's typical career paths, with 25% of job tasks potentially affected. The pessimistic scenario still projects solid returns, with a 8% gap from the optimistic case.

Median debt of $29,125 against $28,315/yr in first-year earnings means roughly 1.0 years of salary goes to loan repayment. That's a heavy but not crushing debt load.

At #215 of 529 Health & Physical Education programs, Western Illinois University scores above the median — competitive but not a standout.

Five-year earnings of $59,683 show a 111% jump from the $28,315 starting point — strong upward trajectory suggesting real career acceleration.

About Western Illinois University

A 75% acceptance rate means Western Illinois University is accessible to most applicants, a smaller institution with 4,939 students in Macomb, IL.

See all programs and financial aid at Western Illinois University →

Top Career Paths

Entertainment and recreation managers, except gambling $77,180/yr
Recreation and fitness studies teachers, postsecondary $75,890/yr
Athletes and sports competitors $62,360/yr
View all 7 career paths with salary ranges and AI risk →

Compare & Explore

Health & Physical Education at Other Schools

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Is a Trade Program a Better Fit?

For students who prefer applied learning, trade programs can deliver strong earnings with significantly less debt and shorter time to employment.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Health & Physical Education at Western Illinois University?
A score of 40/100 indicates below-average financial outcomes for Health & Physical Education. Earnings, ROI, or AI risk factors are pulling the score down.
Is Health & Physical Education at Western Illinois University worth the student debt?
Median debt of $29,125 against $28,315/yr starting salary means roughly 1.0 years of earnings go to repayment. That's above average — financial aid and loan terms matter here.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →