Health and Physical Education/Fitness at Augustana University

A bachelor's degree in Health and Physical Education from Augustana carries typical debt for the field at $24,625, but the earnings trajectory tells a more concerning story. Based on comparable programs in South Dakota, first-year graduates can expect around $37,481—about $7,000 above the national median for this major. By year four, that climbs to $44,368, suggesting meaningful but not dramatic salary progression in a field where compensation tends to plateau early.

The challenge here is that even with South Dakota's relatively strong outcomes for this major, you're looking at roughly two-thirds of a year's salary in debt. That's manageable but requires discipline, especially since teaching and fitness careers rarely offer rapid salary growth. The four other SD programs with reported data show Augustana's estimates falling in the middle of the pack—behind South Dakota State and Northern State, but ahead of smaller competitors. This positioning matters because it suggests the program isn't operating at a significant disadvantage, even if we lack direct outcome data.

For families considering this path, the real question is career commitment. If your child is certain about teaching physical education or working in school athletics, the debt load won't derail them—South Dakota's market appears reasonably supportive. But if they're exploring options or could pivot to a higher-earning health field with different training, waiting to commit might make sense.