Health and Physical Education/Fitness at Rocky Mountain College

Rocky Mountain College's Health and Physical Education program graduates start at $30,025—essentially matching both the state and national medians—but the real story here is the debt picture. At $27,000, graduates carry debt that ranks in just the 5th percentile nationally, meaning 95% of similar programs leave students with higher loan burdens. This makes Rocky Mountain one of the most affordable options for this field, despite the modest starting salary. Within Montana's limited landscape of just eight programs offering this degree, the earnings land right at the state median while maintaining that attractive debt load.

The 0.90 debt-to-earnings ratio suggests graduates can manage their loans on a first-year salary, which matters in a field where many pursue teaching or coaching positions that won't deliver dramatic salary growth. The caveat: these figures come from a small graduating class (under 30 students), so individual outcomes could vary significantly. If your child is passionate about physical education and knows they want to work in Montana, this program offers a financially sensible path without the debt trap that plagues many education-adjacent fields.

For families prioritizing affordability over earning potential, Rocky Mountain delivers. Just recognize that $30,000 represents the ceiling for many in this profession early on, not a stepping stone to higher salaries.