Health and Physical Education/Fitness at Bethel University

Bethel University's health and physical education program graduates earn $26,799 in their first year—roughly $8,000 less than the Indiana median for this field and nearly $4,000 below the national average. That puts graduates in the bottom quartile both statewide and nationally. For comparison, nearby programs at Valparaiso and University of Indianapolis show earnings nearly 70% higher, suggesting significant variation in outcomes across Indiana schools.

The debt load of $27,000 is manageable in absolute terms and actually sits below both state and national medians. However, when paired with first-year earnings below $27,000, graduates face a debt-to-earnings ratio just over 1.0—meaning they owe more than they make in year one. This isn't catastrophic for a helping profession, but it creates tighter margins than most Indiana peers in this field.

The major caveat here is sample size: fewer than 30 graduates means a single teacher taking a year off or pursuing graduate school could skew these numbers. Still, the pattern is clear enough to warrant questions. Parents should ask what percentage of graduates secure full-time teaching or coaching positions immediately, and whether these earnings improve meaningfully within a few years. At nearly $27,000 in debt for sub-$27,000 starting pay, this investment needs to show quicker returns than the first-year data suggests.