Health and Physical Education/Fitness at Millikin University

Millikin's Health and Physical Education degree falls short of what most Illinois programs deliver. Graduates start at $26,065—about $4,000 below the state median and nearly $5,000 under the national average. While this puts the program at the 40th percentile statewide, the gap widens when you compare it to stronger Illinois alternatives: Aurora University graduates earn $11,000 more in their first year, and even regional public options like Eastern Illinois and Northern Illinois show significantly better outcomes.

The debt picture offers a small consolation. At $27,000, borrowing is roughly average for the field and manageable relative to first-year earnings (1.04 ratio). Graduates do see 20% salary growth by year four, reaching $31,307, which closes some of the initial gap. However, this still lags behind what starting salaries are at better-performing programs in the state.

For families paying private school tuition at Millikin, the math is challenging. You're investing premium dollars for below-median outcomes in a field where earnings are already modest. If your child is passionate about physical education and committed to Millikin specifically, the debt load won't be crushing. But if career preparation is the priority, Illinois offers multiple public and private programs that consistently produce stronger earnings from day one.