Health and Physical Education/Fitness at Lewis University

Lewis University's Health and Physical Education program shows a rocky start but delivers something crucial: substantial earnings growth. That first-year salary of $28,856 sits below both Illinois and national medians, but four years out, graduates are earning $46,063—a 60% jump that suggests many eventually land more stable teaching positions or move into better-paying fitness management roles. Still, that initial year earning less than $29,000 while carrying $26,000 in debt means graduates need financial runway to get through the early career phase.

Within Illinois, this program ranks in the 40th percentile—solidly middle-of-the-pack when schools like Aurora and Benedictine consistently produce higher first-year earners. The debt burden matches the state median exactly, so Lewis isn't overcharging relative to other Illinois options, but you're not getting the earnings premium that might justify choosing it over Northern Illinois or Eastern Illinois University, both of which offer better early outcomes.

The real question is whether your child can manage that difficult first year financially. If they have strong connections to suburban Chicago school districts (where Lewis has good placement networks) or can live at home initially, the long-term trajectory looks decent. But if they'll need their full salary to cover living expenses immediately after graduation, those first 12-24 months could be genuinely tough.