Health and Physical Education/Fitness at Greensboro College

Greensboro College graduates $27,000 in student debt for a program that produces median starting earnings of $27,624—essentially a dollar-for-dollar debt burden. While this ranks in the bottom quarter nationally for Health and Physical Education programs, there's a crucial twist: it sits right at the median for North Carolina, meaning this reflects broader challenges facing PE teachers and fitness professionals in the state rather than a school-specific problem.

The real concern isn't the comparison to other North Carolina schools—it's the comparison to what's possible. Top NC programs like Meredith College ($38,525) and UNC Charlotte ($34,219) show that graduates can earn 30-40% more in the same job market, likely through stronger alumni networks, better placement services, or more competitive graduate profiles. Given the small sample size here, it's worth investigating whether Greensboro's PE graduates face placement challenges or geographic limitations that constrain their earnings.

For families evaluating this program, the question isn't whether teaching PE or working in fitness can be rewarding—it's whether this specific path makes financial sense. With a 92% admission rate and nearly half the student body on Pell grants, Greensboro serves students who may have limited options, but that doesn't make a 1:1 debt-to-earnings ratio easier to manage on a $27,600 salary. Unless your child has compelling reasons to attend here specifically, exploring higher-performing NC public universities would likely deliver better financial outcomes in the same career field.