Health and Physical Education/Fitness at McDaniel College

McDaniel College's Health and Physical Education program launches graduates into the workforce with notably stronger earnings than you'll find at most similar programs nationwide—landing in the 95th percentile nationally with first-year earnings of $38,122. That's about $7,500 more than the typical health and PE graduate earns. However, within Maryland specifically, the program ranks at the 60th percentile, meaning it's competitive but not exceptional compared to in-state alternatives like Bowie State or Towson.

The debt picture is reasonable at $25,697, creating a manageable 0.67 debt-to-earnings ratio where graduates owe roughly eight months of their first year's salary. The challenge here is earnings growth: graduates see only 3% income growth over four years, suggesting these positions may hit a ceiling relatively quickly. For parents weighing in-state tuition benefits, this matters—if your child qualifies for Maryland's public universities, programs like Bowie State deliver higher starting salaries at similar or lower debt levels.

The bottom line: This program performs well nationally but faces stiff competition within Maryland. If your child has strong admission prospects at Bowie State or Towson, those offer better starting salaries. If McDaniel provides a better fit academically or socially, the earnings are still solid enough to justify the investment, particularly if aid packages bring costs below the median debt level.