Health and Physical Education/Fitness at Baldwin Wallace University

Baldwin Wallace's Health and Physical Education program stands out nationally but faces stiff competition within Ohio. While graduates earn in the 90th percentile compared to similar programs nationwide—$6,000 above the national median—they're only at the 60th percentile in Ohio, where phys ed programs generally pay better than elsewhere. Within the state, graduates from Miami, Ohio Dominican, and Dayton all out-earn Baldwin Wallace by several thousand dollars annually.

The financial fundamentals are solid: a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.74 is manageable, and the $27,000 debt load is remarkably low (5th percentile nationally). Earnings grow modestly but steadily, reaching nearly $40,000 by year four. For a field not known for high salaries, starting at $36,500 with minimal debt provides a stable foundation, particularly if your child plans to pursue teaching or coaching roles that value work-life balance over aggressive income growth.

The real question is whether Baldwin Wallace's premium is justified when Ohio State delivers similar outcomes at likely lower in-state tuition, or when Miami and Dayton graduates are earning $3,000-4,000 more. If your child has strong ties to Baldwin Wallace's network or values its smaller class sizes, the low debt makes it affordable. But purely from an earnings perspective, this program performs well nationally yet lands in the middle of Ohio's competitive landscape.