Health and Physical Education/Fitness at Husson University

With fewer than 30 graduates in this data set, these numbers could shift significantly with more students, but Husson's Health and Physical Education program shows graduates earning $37,993 one year out—well above the national median of $30,554 for this field, though slightly trailing Thomas College's top performance in Maine. The $28,769 in median debt translates to a 0.76 debt-to-earnings ratio, meaning graduates owe roughly nine months of their first-year salary. That's manageable compared to many programs, though it's worth noting this debt level sits at the national median while earnings vary more widely across Maine schools.

The 60th percentile ranking within Maine matters here: this program performs solidly but not exceptionally in-state, where your child would likely attend and work. Health and PE teaching positions don't typically see dramatic salary growth in early career years, so that $38,000 starting point becomes especially important—it's not a field where you bank on big jumps later. The small sample size means a few outlier graduates could be skewing results either direction.

For parents weighing this investment, the cleaner question is whether teaching or fitness careers align with your child's goals at this price point. The debt burden is reasonable, and Husson's graduates do start ahead of most national peers. Just don't expect those earnings to double in five years—budget for steady, incremental growth instead.