Health and Physical Education/Fitness at William Penn University

William Penn's health and physical education program produces earnings that lag behind most Iowa alternatives, ranking in just the 40th percentile statewide. While graduates carry a manageable $27,000 in debt—well below the national median—their first-year earnings of $30,314 fall nearly $4,000 short of Iowa's state median of $34,074. This matters because Iowa students have access to roughly two dozen programs in this field, and the top five all deliver 20-27% higher starting salaries with similar debt loads.

The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.89 looks reasonable on paper, suggesting graduates could theoretically pay off loans in under a year. But context reveals the challenge: these earnings are below-average even nationally (48th percentile), and Iowa's job market typically rewards PE/fitness graduates more generously than what William Penn delivers. The school serves a population where 46% receive Pell grants, yet it's not translating that access into competitive outcomes within the state.

For families choosing an Iowa school, this comes down to opportunity cost. If your child can gain admission to Iowa State, Simpson, or even Grand View, they're likely looking at $6,000+ more in annual earnings for the same debt burden. William Penn might make sense if location or specific coaching connections matter, but purely as a financial investment in a PE/fitness career, stronger options exist throughout Iowa.