Health and Physical Education/Fitness at Northwood University

Northwood's health and physical education program shows an unusual pattern: graduates start below both national and state averages at $28,569, but by year four, they're earning $51,782—nearly double their starting salary and well above what most peers achieve. This 81% earnings growth is exceptional for the field, where many graduates plateau in the low-$30,000s. Within Michigan, this program outperforms 60% of similar offerings, sitting closer to the state median despite rocky initial earnings.

The debt picture is reasonable at $25,237, roughly in line with state and national benchmarks. With a debt-to-earnings ratio under 1.0, most graduates should be able to manage their loans, especially as their salaries climb. However, those first couple years will require careful budgeting—starting at under $29,000 means living lean while waiting for that earnings trajectory to materialize.

The critical question is whether your student has the patience and financial runway to weather those early years. If they can handle starting $5,000-10,000 below peers at Michigan's top programs but believe they'll advance in their career, the four-year outlook is competitive. If they need strong immediate earnings to cover living expenses or additional debt, those first years could be challenging despite the promising long-term trend.