Health and Physical Education/Fitness at Faulkner University

Faulkner's health and physical education program saddles graduates with debt levels that would be concerning at any salary—but paired with just $25,710 in first-year earnings, the numbers tell a troubling story. That debt load of $34,658 ranks in the 95th percentile nationally (meaning only 5% of similar programs burden students with more), while earnings land in the 14th percentile. Even within Alabama, where graduates from Auburn Montgomery and Troy University start above $36,000, Faulkner's outcomes fall short of the state median of $29,000.

The caveat here matters: with fewer than 30 graduates in the sample, these figures could shift dramatically year to year. But the pattern is hard to ignore—you're looking at debt that exceeds first-year earnings by 35%, creating immediate financial strain for new teachers or fitness professionals typically earning modest starting salaries. For context, the median graduate in this field nationwide carries $25,757 in debt, nearly $9,000 less than Faulkner students.

If your child is set on this career path in Alabama, the data suggests looking elsewhere. Programs at Troy or Auburn Montgomery deliver similar credentials with substantially better financial outcomes, potentially saving your family both upfront costs and years of loan repayment stress.