Health and Physical Education/Fitness at Grand Valley State University

Grand Valley State University's Health and Physical Education/Fitness program produces graduates earning nearly $30,000 their first year out—roughly on par with national averages for this field, though well below Michigan's top performers. More notably, this program outperforms 60% of similar Michigan programs despite the state's median sitting around $28,000, suggesting GVSU offers better-than-typical preparation for a highly accessible institution (95% admission rate). The debt load of $26,300 is manageable relative to first-year earnings, with a 0.88 ratio that's actually better than the national median for this major.

The real challenge here isn't the program itself—it's the field. Even Michigan's best programs, like U-M Ann Arbor's $43,500 median, show that health and physical education careers typically start with modest earnings. Your child will likely be entering teaching, coaching, or fitness training roles where passion matters as much as paycheck. With 100+ graduates in the dataset, these numbers are reliable indicators of what to expect.

For families comfortable with education sector salaries and prioritizing Michigan in-state tuition, GVSU delivers solid value. The debt is reasonable, the program performs above the state median, and the career path is clear. Just ensure your child understands they're choosing impact over income—first-year earnings under $30,000 will require budgeting discipline, even with relatively modest debt.