Health and Physical Education/Fitness at Berry College

Berry College's Health and Physical Education program starts troublingly low—$25,091 in year one places it in just the 5th percentile nationally—but shows unusually strong recovery with 62% earnings growth by year four. However, that small sample size (under 30 graduates) makes these numbers less reliable than typical program data, so treat them as directional rather than definitive.

Within Georgia, this program performs surprisingly middle-of-the-pack despite its weak national ranking, landing at the 40th percentile statewide. You're paying slightly less debt ($24,931 vs. $26,000 state median) but earning notably less than graduates from UGA, University of North Georgia, or even Georgia Southwestern. By year four, the $40,513 median still trails what graduates from top Georgia programs earn right out of school.

The nearly 1:1 debt-to-earnings ratio that first year creates real financial pressure—loan payments will consume a significant portion of take-home pay. If your child needs income immediately after graduation (perhaps to support themselves independently), this program's delayed earnings trajectory is a genuine concern. The strong growth curve suggests value for those who can weather the tough early years, but given Berry's relatively high cost and the small sample uncertainty, you're taking on meaningful risk compared to more established public options like UGA that deliver better starting outcomes with similar debt loads.