Health and Physical Education/Fitness at Kent State University at Kent

Kent State's Health and Physical Education program starts graduates at a modest $34,147, but the story here is what happens next: earnings jump 42% to $48,504 by year four. That trajectory significantly outpaces what most health and PE programs deliver nationally, and while Kent State graduates start in the middle of Ohio's pack (60th percentile), their robust earnings growth suggests they're building toward more specialized roles—perhaps athletic training, strength and conditioning, or administrative positions that command higher salaries.

The $25,000 debt load is reasonable and falls slightly below both state and national medians. With a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.73 in year one, graduates can manage payments while working their way up. The gap between Kent State and Ohio's top programs like Miami University ($40,486) isn't trivial, but remember those are first-year figures. Kent State's strong growth pattern may narrow that difference considerably over time.

For families concerned about career trajectory in what's often seen as a lower-paying field, this program offers a credible path forward. The robust sample size confirms these aren't fluky numbers—this is a consistent pattern. If your child is committed to physical education or fitness careers, Kent State appears to prepare graduates who advance rather than plateau.