Health and Physical Education/Fitness at Bethel University

The small sample size here matters, but the pattern is worth noting: Bethel's Health and Physical Education graduates start below Minnesota's median for the field ($31,919 vs. $33,316 statewide) and trail considerably behind top Minnesota programs like Winona State ($41,742). However, the 61% earnings jump by year four suggests graduates who stick with the field see meaningful progress. The $24,500 debt load is slightly below both state and national benchmarks, which provides some cushion during those early years when earnings are modest.

What concerns me is that 40th percentile ranking within Minnesota—it means three out of five comparable programs in the state produce better early outcomes. For a family paying private university tuition at a school with a 91% admission rate, you'd hope for stronger positioning. The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.77 is manageable, especially given the strong growth trajectory, but this assumes your child stays in education or fitness roles rather than pivoting to something unrelated.

The bottom line: if your child is committed to becoming a physical education teacher or fitness professional in Minnesota, Bethel can work, particularly given the reasonable debt and solid four-year earnings. But with stronger-performing public options like Winona State available, you should carefully weigh whether Bethel's specific environment—smaller classes, faith integration, campus culture—justifies accepting lower initial earnings potential.