Outdoor Education
A program that prepares individuals to work as an educator, instructor or facilitator in parks, recreational facilities, camps and other outdoor settings. Includes instruction in leadership skills, wilderness survival skills, first aid, group processes, counseling techniques, environmental studies and instruction in recreational activities such as rock climbing, ropes courses, backpacking, kayaking and canoeing.
- Schools offering
- 42
- Annual completions
- 204
- Typical degree level
- Associate's + Bachelor's
- Median earnings (5yr)
- $38k
About this major
A program that prepares individuals to work as an educator, instructor or facilitator in parks, recreational facilities, camps and other outdoor settings. Includes instruction in leadership skills, wilderness survival skills, first aid, group processes, counseling techniques, environmental studies and instruction in recreational activities such as rock climbing, ropes courses, backpacking, kayaking and canoeing.
Where this major leads
Occupations most often associated with this major, from the federal BLS+O*NET crosswalk. Job-growth projections and median wages are national.
| Occupation | Median wage | Job growth | Typical education |
|---|---|---|---|
| Recreation workers | $35k | +4.1% | High school diploma or equivalent |
| First-line supervisors of entertainment and recreation workers, except gambling services | $47k | +6.3% | High school diploma or equivalent |
Earnings at a glance
Median graduate earnings from the federal College Scorecard, 5 and 10 years out.
Median 5-year earnings
$38k
Top colleges for Outdoor Education
Ranked by annual completions at the associate's or bachelor's level — a proxy for program scale.
| College | Location | Assoc. | Bach. | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Prescott College | Prescott, AZ | 0 | 16 | 16 |
| Vermont State University | Randolph, VT | 0 | 16 | 16 |
| SUNY Adirondack | Queensbury, NY | 15 | 0 | 15 |
| Central Michigan University | Mount Pleasant, MI | 0 | 14 | 14 |
| Warren Wilson College | Swannanoa, NC | 0 | 13 | 13 |
| Salisbury University | Salisbury, MD | 0 | 13 | 13 |
| Fort Lewis College | Durango, CO | 0 | 13 | 13 |
| John Brown University | Siloam Springs, AR | 0 | 8 | 8 |
| Elon University | Elon, NC | 0 | 8 | 8 |
| North Idaho College | Coeur d'Alene, ID | 7 | 0 | 7 |
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