Health and Physical Education/Fitness at Alma College

The small sample size here demands caution, but Alma College's Health and Physical Education program shows an unusual earnings trajectory that's worth understanding. That $25,445 first-year figure is concerning—it falls well below both the Michigan median ($28,045) and the national average ($30,554), ranking in just the 12th percentile nationally. However, by year four, earnings jump dramatically to $58,303, more than doubling the state median and suggesting graduates may be moving into coaching, administration, or other higher-paying roles after gaining experience.

The $27,000 debt load is manageable and actually below the national median for this field, putting it in the 5th percentile for debt. That first-year debt-to-earnings ratio of 1.06 looks reasonable on paper, though the low initial earnings mean graduates will likely need financial support or second jobs early on. The real question is whether your student can weather those lean first years—and whether they'll be among those who see the dramatic earnings growth, or if that spike reflects only a subset of graduates moving into better positions.

Given the tiny cohort size and the wild swing in earnings, treat these numbers as suggestive rather than predictive. If your child is genuinely passionate about teaching PE or coaching and plans to stay in Michigan, this could work out. But they should have a backup plan for those early years when a $25,000 salary won't cover much.