Health and Physical Education/Fitness at Hanover College

Hanover College graduates in this program earn above both the national median ($35,085 vs. $30,554) and roughly match Indiana's median for health and PE programs, but there's a clear ceiling here. While earnings grow a solid 33% to $46,500 by year four, that's still well below what graduates from Valparaiso ($44,937 starting) or University of Indianapolis ($38,364 starting) achieve right out of the gate. The $27,000 debt load is manageable—lower than 95% of similar programs nationally—but you're still looking at nearly a year's starting salary in debt for a field where income plateaus relatively early.

The real question is whether your child plans to use this degree as a stepping stone. Many health and PE graduates move into coaching, teaching, or corporate wellness roles that require additional certification or graduate degrees. If they're planning to stop at the bachelor's level and work in fitness or recreation, these earnings might feel limiting in expensive living areas. However, if this is preparation for physical therapy school, athletic training certification, or another advanced credential, Hanover's strong academic environment (median SAT of 1197) and reasonable debt load make it a sensible foundation.

For families banking on this being a complete career preparation, the small sample size here (under 30 graduates) makes it hard to predict your child's specific outcome. The debt is low enough that this won't be a financial disaster, but don't expect the income trajectory of healthcare or business majors.