Health and Physical Education/Fitness at Saint Joseph's College of Maine

Saint Joseph's College delivers one of the stronger Health and Physical Education programs in Maine, with graduates earning $35,341 in their first year—nearly $5,000 above the national median for this field. What makes this particularly notable is the debt load: at $27,000, it's in the 5th percentile nationally, meaning 95% of comparable programs saddle students with more debt. That 0.76 debt-to-earnings ratio gives graduates real breathing room.

The earnings trajectory shows steady growth too, with graduates reaching nearly $40,000 by year four. Among Maine's six programs in this field, Saint Joseph's sits right at the state median, performing better than University of New England and University of Southern Maine while trailing Thomas and Husson by a few thousand dollars. For context, this program outperforms 82% of Health and Physical Education programs nationally—a strong showing for a regional college with an 82% admission rate.

The value proposition is straightforward: you're getting above-average outcomes at below-average debt. For students planning to work in Maine's fitness and physical education sector—where salaries rarely reach six figures—starting with manageable debt matters more than chasing marginally higher earnings elsewhere. The moderate sample size suggests consistent placement, though not massive scale.