Health and Physical Education/Fitness at Monroe University

At first glance, $11,749 in first-year earnings looks alarming—and nationally, it is, landing in just the 5th percentile for this program. But here's the crucial context: this is actually the *median* for health and physical education associate's programs in New York, placing Monroe exactly at the 60th percentile statewide. The state's fitness and PE market appears dramatically weaker than the national picture, where the typical graduate earns nearly double ($23,154). Whether this reflects New York's cost of living, local certification requirements, or part-time work patterns, it means Monroe isn't an outlier—it's representative of constrained opportunities across the state.

The debt load of $14,122 is reasonable compared to what students typically borrow for this credential, but a debt-to-earnings ratio of 1.20 means graduates owe more than they'll earn in their entire first year. For a family, this translates to immediate financial strain unless the student lives at home or has another income source. Given that 58% of Monroe students receive Pell grants, many won't have that cushion.

If your child is set on fitness or PE in New York, understand that Monroe's outcomes match the state norm—but that norm itself is troubling. This might work as a stepping stone if paired with immediate additional certification or if the student plans to move to a stronger market. Otherwise, the math simply doesn't support borrowing for this path.