Health and Physical Education/Fitness at Benedictine University

Benedictine University's health and physical education program delivers earnings that beat 89% of similar programs nationwide, though the small sample size—fewer than 30 graduates—means these numbers could shift significantly year to year. First-year earnings of $36,344 top both the national and Illinois medians by roughly $6,000, placing graduates near the top tier of Illinois programs, just behind Aurora University. The $26,000 debt load, right at the state median, translates to a manageable debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.72.

The catch here is that 60th percentile ranking within Illinois—solid, but not exceptional given the program's 89th percentile national standing. This suggests Illinois has particularly strong physical education programs overall, so while Benedictine performs well, it's competing in a crowded field. For context, graduates here earn about $1,000 less than Aurora's program but $2,700 more than Northern Illinois University's offering.

Given the small cohort, an anxious parent should verify these numbers hold across multiple years before banking on them. If they do, this represents a reasonable value: earnings that support the debt burden and beat most competitors, serving a student body where nearly 40% receive Pell grants. Just don't expect this program to dramatically outpace local alternatives—it's competitive within Illinois rather than a clear standout.