Health and Physical Education/Fitness at Mercy University

**A Cautionary Data Point Worth Investigating Further**

Mercy University's Health and Physical Education/Fitness program shows first-year earnings of just $23,094—roughly $4,300 below New York's state median and $7,500 below the national average. While the sample size here is small enough that these numbers could shift with more data, they currently place graduates in the bottom 5% nationally. Even within New York's competitive market, this ranks only at the 25th percentile, falling significantly behind state schools like SUNY Oneonta ($36,119) and Farmingdale State ($29,717) that offer similar programs at lower tuition costs.

The debt picture isn't catastrophic at $25,520, roughly in line with state and national averages, but when paired with such low starting earnings, it creates a challenging first-year financial burden. A debt load exceeding your first year's salary makes loan repayment difficult, particularly in a field where many positions (coaching, recreation work, entry-level fitness roles) start at modest wages. The university serves a substantial population of Pell-eligible students (47%), making these financial dynamics especially concerning.

Given the small sample size, these numbers deserve skepticism—they could improve or worsen with more graduate data. However, right now they suggest you should carefully investigate job placement rates and typical career paths for graduates. If your child is set on this field, the in-state SUNY options show meaningfully better earnings outcomes at likely lower costs.