Health and Physical Education/Fitness at Concordia University Ann Arbor

Concordia University's Health and Physical Education program starts graduates at just $27,522—about $3,000 below Michigan's median and $3,000 below the national average. While earnings jump impressively to $45,226 by year four, that first year presents a real challenge: graduates carry $27,000 in debt on a starting salary barely above poverty wages for a single adult. That nearly 1:1 debt-to-earnings ratio means loan payments will consume a significant chunk of take-home pay initially.

The four-year earnings bump tells an interesting story about career progression in this field. That 64% increase suggests many graduates move into better positions—perhaps advancing from assistant coaching or teaching roles into full positions with benefits. However, even after that growth, this program still trails the University of Michigan's graduates by nearly $2,000 annually at the same career stage. Within Michigan, it ranks only in the 40th percentile, meaning three out of five similar programs produce better outcomes.

For families willing to bet on long-term growth rather than immediate financial stability, this could work—but your child needs a realistic plan for managing those first lean years. The low debt burden relative to national peers helps, but living on $27,500 while making loan payments requires either parental support, a second income source, or extreme budgeting discipline.