Health and Physical Education/Fitness at Central Connecticut State University

Central Connecticut State University's Health and Physical Education program starts graduates at $35,701—notably above the national median and competitive with UConn's programs. That's the good news. The concerning part? Earnings actually slip to $34,769 by year four, suggesting graduates may hit their ceiling early in careers that don't offer much upward mobility. While this program ranks in the 84th percentile nationally, it sits closer to the middle of Connecticut programs (60th percentile), where the median is already $32,586.

The $26,000 debt load is manageable at 0.73 times first-year earnings, slightly above the state median but reasonable by national standards. The real question is whether physical education and fitness careers align with your child's long-term goals. These fields—think high school PE teachers, fitness coordinators, or recreation directors—offer stability but limited earnings growth, which the data confirms. If your child is passionate about this work and understands the salary trajectory, the program provides solid preparation at a fair price. But if they're hoping income will grow significantly with experience, they should reconsider whether this career path matches those expectations.