Health and Physical Education/Fitness at Westmont College

Westmont's Health and Physical Education program starts rough but recovers dramatically—first-year earnings of $27,708 lag behind California's median by nearly $400, but by year four, graduates are earning $50,319, well above both state and national benchmarks. That 82% earnings jump is exceptional for this field. The challenge is surviving that first year financially, especially since the $24,250 debt burden means you'll owe roughly 88% of your first-year salary.

Within California, this program sits right at the 40th percentile—solidly middle-of-the-pack in a state where top programs like Ashford and California Baptist produce graduates earning $10,000-$15,000 more in early years. However, Westmont's stronger four-year earnings suggest graduates may be pursuing graduate degrees or transitioning into higher-paying coaching, training, or administrative roles that take time to materialize. The relatively high admission rate (80%) paired with strong SAT scores (1367) indicates selective students choosing a less selective institution, which may explain the delayed earnings trajectory.

The small sample size here matters—we're looking at fewer than 30 graduates, so individual outliers can skew results significantly. If your child is considering this path at Westmont, the deciding factor is whether they can manage that lean first year financially while the career builds momentum. By year four, the investment looks reasonable, but the early struggle is real.