Health and Physical Education/Fitness at Capital University

Capital University's Health and Physical Education program starts graduates at just $28,183—about $5,000 below Ohio's median for this field and trailing programs like Miami University-Oxford by over $12,000. With the small sample size (under 30 graduates), these numbers could shift year to year, but the pattern suggests this program struggles to launch careers with competitive starting salaries. At 40th percentile among Ohio programs, it's landing in the bottom half of in-state options.

The silver lining is impressive earnings growth: graduates see their income jump 71% by year four, reaching $48,117. That's a significant climb and suggests the teaching certifications or coaching credentials gained here eventually pay off. The debt load of $27,000 matches Ohio's median and equals nearly a full year's starting salary—manageable but not ideal given the low initial earnings.

For families considering this program, the key question is whether your child can weather that difficult first year financially. If they're passionate about teaching PE or coaching and have family support or low living expenses initially, the trajectory improves. But if they need to start earning immediately, the top Ohio programs deliver $8,000-12,000 more right out of the gate, which matters when you're paying rent and loans simultaneously.