Health and Physical Education/Fitness at St Bonaventure University

If you're comparing your options for health and physical education programs in New York, St. Bonaventure lands in the middle of the pack—literally the 60th percentile statewide—but there's a catch that makes the first-year numbers look worse than the full picture. That $27,885 starting salary falls below both national and state averages, but by year four, graduates reach $48,827, a 75% jump that suggests many find their footing in teaching positions or athletic administration roles where salaries increase with experience. The $27,000 debt load is manageable relative to earnings, though not exceptional.

The real limitation here is the sample size—fewer than 30 graduates means these figures could swing significantly with just a handful of different outcomes. When you're looking at programs like SUNY Oneonta or St. John Fisher that report starting salaries around $36,000, you have to weigh whether St. Bonaventure's smaller class sizes and personal attention justify accepting lower initial earnings. The debt-to-earnings ratio under 1.0 indicates this isn't a financial disaster, but the first year will be tight for graduates entering the workforce.

For families committed to the smaller liberal arts environment and willing to weather a lean first year or two, this program works financially. If maximizing early earning potential matters more, the SUNY options deliver better immediate returns at likely lower tuition costs.