Health and Physical Education/Fitness at University of Northern Colorado

University of Northern Colorado graduates enter the workforce earning roughly $1,400 more than the typical Colorado health and physical education major—solid but not spectacular positioning within the state. What makes this program compelling is the trajectory: earnings jump 28% by year four to $43,512, eventually surpassing what graduates from CSU-Fort Collins and CSU-Pueblo earn initially. You're paying about $1,100 more in debt than the state median, but the 0.72 debt-to-earnings ratio means your child could theoretically pay off loans with nine months of first-year salary.

The real question is whether this growth pattern holds long-term. While UNC ranks in the 72nd percentile nationally for this major—outperforming three-quarters of similar programs—it sits squarely in the middle among Colorado's ten schools. Metropolitan State University graduates start at $41,161, a $7,200 premium that would take UNC grads several years to match even with their strong earnings growth.

For families considering teaching or coaching careers (typical paths for this degree), UNC delivers reasonable value with manageable debt and clear income progression. Just recognize you're choosing steady advancement over immediate earning power, and the eventual salary may still trail what higher-performing Colorado programs deliver from day one.