Health and Physical Education/Fitness at Canisius University

The first year after Canisius is rough—at $26,254, graduates earn about $4,000 less than the national median for health and physical education programs and slightly trail New York's state median of $27,412. That's 17th percentile nationally and 40th percentile in New York, placing this program squarely in the bottom half. The $27,000 debt load equals roughly a full year's starting salary, which means early finances will be tight. For comparison, SUNY Oneonta's similar program launches graduates at $36,119—nearly $10,000 more annually.

The story improves significantly with time. By year four, earnings jump to $43,355—a 65% increase that outpaces typical growth patterns in this field. That later-career number puts graduates on more competitive footing, though it means enduring several years of financial strain right when student loan payments begin. The moderate sample size suggests these patterns are reasonably reliable, but not as robust as data from larger programs.

For families considering this path: understand you're accepting a difficult first few years in exchange for better long-term prospects. If your student needs to start earning immediately after graduation—perhaps to support themselves or contribute to family income—the initial earnings gap compared to SUNY options is meaningful. If they can weather the early years living frugally or with family support, the trajectory improves substantially.