Health and Physical Education/Fitness at Bryan University

Bryan University's health and fitness associate's program charges significantly more than the national norm—graduates carry about $21,000 in debt versus a $12,000 national median—but it delivers earnings that justify the premium. First-year graduates earn $36,000, crushing the national median of $23,000 and landing in the 87th percentile nationwide. For students from working-class backgrounds (three-quarters receive Pell grants), this represents a genuine pathway into stable employment at nearly $15 an hour.

The concern here is what happens next. Earnings actually drop to $34,000 by year four, suggesting graduates may be hitting their ceiling quickly or cycling through entry-level positions without clear advancement. Within Arizona, this program sits at the median—middle of the pack among state options—which means the premium price reflects Bryan's positioning rather than exceptional in-state performance.

For families deciding whether this makes sense, the calculation is straightforward: the debt burden is manageable at about 60% of first-year earnings, and graduates start well ahead of national peers. But understand you're paying above-average tuition for what becomes an average-earning Arizona credential. This works if your child needs flexibility (Bryan offers adult-focused scheduling) or lacks other in-state options, but shop carefully against Arizona State or community college alternatives that might deliver similar outcomes at lower cost.