Health and Physical Education/Fitness at Bowling Green State University
OH · Bachelor's Degree · CIP 31.05
Executive Summary
Graduates with a Health and Physical Education/Fitness degree from Bowling Green State University earn a median salary of $52,839 within five years of graduation. Adjusted for the cost of living in OH, this represents a national purchasing power equivalent of $58,645. The degree typically pays for itself in 10.7 years.
Quick Insights
How this degree looks at a glance
A fast read on salary range, break-even speed, living-cost impact, and where graduates from this school usually land.
Salary Ranges
Starting Range
$39,847
Typical Career
$52,839
Top Performers
$68,662
Estimated break-even: 10.7 years.
Debt-to-Income Check
$352
Estimated comfortable monthly loan payment
Typical monthly pay is approximately $4,403. Most students can comfortably afford about a $352 monthly loan payment with this degree.
Comparison Bench
This degree earns 1.4x more than the average US high school graduate and 0.7x more than the average college graduate.
Purchasing Power Context
A dollar in Ohio buys what costs $0.90 nationally.
Industry Breadcrumbs
Top industries for bachelor's graduates from this school: Educational Services, Health Care & Social Assistance, Professional, Scientific & Technical Services.
Where Bachelor's Graduates from This School Work
Institution-wide industry mix for graduates, 5 years after graduation. This is not major-specific. Source: Census PSEO Flows.
5-Year Median Salary — National Purchasing Power Equivalent
$58,645
Nominal: $52,839 in Ohio (COL 90.1% of national avg) · 11% higher purchasing power
10-Year Earnings Curve
Break-Even Timeline
How long until cumulative earnings advantage exceeds total college investment (tuition + opportunity cost vs. entering workforce directly after high school).
Total Investment
$155,168
4yr tuition + 4yr opportunity cost
HS Graduate Baseline
$38,792/yr
BLS 2023 median, HS diploma
View Raw Data: Median Earnings by Year
| Timeframe | 25th Pct. | Median (50th) | 75th Pct. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 Year After Graduation | $23,426 | $32,043 | $42,162 |
| 5 Years After Graduation | $39,847 | $52,839 | $68,662 |
| 10 Years After Graduation | $50,524 | $68,415 | $91,685 |
Source: US Census Bureau Post-Secondary Employment Outcomes (PSEO), 2025 release. Earnings shown for Bachelor's degree graduates (all cohorts combined).
How We Calculate Purchasing Power
The median salary of $52,839 is reported by the US Census Bureau's Post-Secondary Employment Outcomes (PSEO) dataset for graduates working in OH, which has a cost-of-living index of 90.1% of the national average.
Formula: Adjusted Salary = Nominal × (1.0 ÷ COL Index)
= $52,839 × (1.0 ÷ 0.9010)
= $58,645 National Average equivalent.
COL index source: BLS Regional Consumer Price Index & MIT Living Wage Project, 2023. Full methodology →
Career Verdict
The primary industries for graduates include Educational Services (23.3%), Health Care & Social Assistance (16.2%), and Professional, Scientific & Technical Services (9.3%). The estimated break-even point compared to a high-school-only path is approximately 10.7 years, suggesting that while the investment in education may take over a decade to recoup, the potential for higher earnings and diverse career opportunities in growing sectors provides a favorable return on investment for graduates in this field.
Compare with Another School
See how the Health and Physical Education/Fitness degree at Bowling Green State University stacks up against another institution side-by-side.
Ready to apply?
Start your application for Health and Physical Education/Fitness at Bowling Green State University.
Explore More
Other Degrees at Bowling Green State University
Data sources: US Census Bureau Post-Secondary Employment Outcomes (PSEO). Cost-of-living index: BLS Regional CPI & MIT Living Wage Project. Cost of attendance: IPEDS. For informational use only; data may be suppressed for small cohort sizes.