Health and Physical Education/Fitness at University of Northwestern-St Paul

The 78% earnings jump from year one to year four tells the real story here—Northwestern's physical education graduates start below most Minnesota peers but see substantial income growth as they move into full-time teaching positions or specialized fitness roles. That first-year figure of $30,176 likely reflects part-time work or graduate assistantships common in this field, while the $53,550 four-year mark suggests graduates are landing solid jobs, though it's worth noting this still trails top Minnesota programs like Winona State by about $12,000.

The $23,562 in debt is actually lower than both state and national medians, which matters given the field's earnings trajectory. Within Minnesota's 24 programs, this ranks in the 40th percentile—squarely middle-of-the-pack—but the debt load won't overwhelm early-career budgets even during those lean first years. However, the small sample size here (under 30 graduates) means these numbers could shift significantly year to year.

For families considering this program: if your child is drawn to Northwestern's faith-based environment and the debt stays near current levels, the earnings growth pattern suggests they'll be financially stable within a few years of graduation. Just know they're not getting the premium outcomes of Minnesota's top programs in this field, and those first couple years will require careful budgeting.