Health and Physical Education/Fitness at Mount St. Joseph University

The small sample size here requires caution, but Mount St. Joseph's health and physical education program shows an intriguing pattern: graduates start below Ohio's median at $31,870, then surge to $51,803 by year four—a 63% jump that outpaces typical career trajectories in this field. That's $18,800 more than the state median for this major, suggesting these graduates either secure better positions or transition into higher-paying adjacent roles like athletic administration or corporate wellness over time.

However, there's a significant gap to consider. While Mount St. Joseph graduates eventually exceed most Ohio programs, they start substantially behind top-tier state options like Miami University ($40,486 first-year earnings) and Ohio Dominican ($40,467). This means your child would likely spend their early twenties earning considerably less than peers at other Ohio schools. The $27,000 debt load is manageable—matching the state median and ranking in the top 5% nationally—but that first-year salary of under $32,000 makes loan repayment tight during the critical early career phase.

For families comfortable with a slower financial start in exchange for strong mid-career prospects, this program could work. But if your child needs immediate earning power after graduation—perhaps to quickly pay down loans or achieve financial independence—the stronger initial outcomes at other Ohio universities warrant serious consideration, even if they come with slightly higher costs.