Health and Physical Education/Fitness at Shorter University

The first-year earnings of $24,291 should raise immediate questions. While this program sits at the 25th percentile among Georgia's 30 health and physical education programs, that still means three-quarters of comparable in-state options deliver better outcomes. The starting salary trails both the state median ($29,310) and national median ($30,554) by roughly $5,000-6,000—a significant gap when you're facing $26,000 in student debt that exceeds your first year's income.

However, the earnings trajectory tells a more complex story. The 86% jump to $45,143 by year four suggests graduates may be moving into coaching, administrative, or specialized fitness roles that pay substantially better than entry-level positions. That fourth-year figure actually surpasses many peer programs in Georgia. The debt load itself is exactly at the state median, so this isn't an unusually expensive option—the issue is purely about that difficult first year.

The critical caveat: this data represents fewer than 30 graduates, so these numbers could swing dramatically with a different cohort. For families considering this program, the real question is whether your child can manage that first year financially—perhaps through living at home or having a second income source—while building toward better-paid opportunities. If a strong first-year income is essential, look at the University of North Georgia or UGA instead.