Health and Physical Education/Fitness at Albion College

Albion's Health and Physical Education program shows a relatively manageable debt load of $27,000—ranking in the 5th percentile nationally, meaning 95% of similar programs saddle students with more debt. The earnings trajectory is where things get interesting: graduates start at $30,314 but see a robust 67% jump to $50,458 by year four, outpacing the typical pattern for this field. Among Michigan programs, this ranks solidly at the 60th percentile, sitting between mid-tier state universities.

The critical caveat here is sample size—with fewer than 30 graduates in the data, these numbers could swing significantly with just a few career paths. That said, the debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.89 means your child would owe less than one year's starting salary, which is workable compared to many programs. The real question is whether that $30,000 first year is financially sustainable, particularly if your child needs to start repaying loans immediately.

For families considering this program, the math works if your child can weather that initial low-earning period and stick with the field long enough to reach that four-year mark. If they're passionate about coaching, athletic training, or fitness education and Albion's smaller environment fits their learning style, the relatively modest debt makes this less risky than most alternatives. But if they're uncertain about the career path, those Michigan programs showing stronger first-year earnings might offer a safer financial cushion.