Health and Physical Education/Fitness at Ohio Northern University

Ohio Northern's Health and Physical Education program starts graduates at just $27,463—nearly $6,000 below the state median and in the bottom quarter of both Ohio and national programs. That's a concerning gap, especially given that graduates here carry the same $27,000 debt load as the typical Ohio student in this field. Your child would be borrowing nearly a full year's salary, then entering a job market where Ohio State grads earn $9,000 more right out of the gate and Miami University grads make $13,000 more.

The 45% earnings jump to $40,000 by year four offers some reassurance—graduates do catch up somewhat over time. But even after four years, they're still earning less than what top Ohio programs deliver in year one. Given the school's 73% admission rate and relatively accessible profile, families might reasonably expect better outcomes than landing in the 25th percentile statewide.

The small sample size here (under 30 graduates) means these numbers could swing significantly with just a few different outcomes, so don't treat them as gospel. But if this program appeals to your child, probe deeply during campus visits about job placement specifics and consider whether the higher-performing programs at Ohio's public universities might deliver stronger returns on a similar investment.