Health and Physical Education/Fitness at Claflin University

Claflin's Health and Physical Education program graduates students earning $22,642 in their first year—roughly $8,000 below South Carolina's median for this field and nearly $8,000 below the national average. To put this in perspective, graduates from University of South Carolina-Columbia in the same program start at $40,702, almost double Claflin's first-year figure. While earnings do grow to $30,873 by year four, graduates carry $35,425 in debt, creating a debt-to-earnings ratio of 1.56 that will strain budgets for years.

The program serves a predominantly Pell-eligible student body (73%), which explains some tolerance for financial struggle, but the numbers still warrant concern. Among South Carolina's 24 programs in this field, Claflin ranks at just the 25th percentile—meaning three-quarters of in-state alternatives produce better outcomes. The moderate sample size suggests these figures are reasonably reliable, not statistical outliers.

For families considering this program, understand that your child would likely face several years of difficult loan payments relative to their income. If your student is passionate about health education or coaching and specifically drawn to Claflin's mission and community, factor in that career satisfaction matters. But purely from a return-on-investment standpoint, South Carolina offers stronger alternatives at comparable admission selectivity. At minimum, compare financial aid packages carefully—this program only works financially if grants significantly reduce that $35,425 debt burden.