Health and Physical Education/Fitness at University of Iowa

University of Iowa's Health and Physical Education program stands out for its exceptional earnings growth, with graduates seeing their salaries jump 63% from $32,000 to $52,000 between years one and four. This trajectory suggests strong career advancement potential in coaching, fitness management, or related fields. However, the program ranks in the 40th percentile among Iowa's 23 similar programs, meaning graduates initially earn less than most in-state peers.

The debt picture is reasonable at $24,250—about $3,000 below the state median and creating a manageable debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.76. By year four, when earnings hit $52,000, this debt burden becomes quite manageable. The program does lag behind top Iowa competitors like Buena Vista ($38,356) and Simpson College ($38,158) for early-career earnings, but the strong growth pattern suggests this gap may narrow over time.

For parents, this represents a solid choice if your child is committed to the field and willing to accept lower starting pay in exchange for strong earning potential down the road. The robust sample size of 100+ graduates gives confidence in these numbers, and the University of Iowa's established reputation should provide good networking opportunities to support that career growth.