Health and Physical Education/Fitness at Appalachian State University
NC · Bachelor's Degree · CIP 31.05
Executive Summary
Graduates with a Health and Physical Education/Fitness degree from Appalachian State University earn a median salary of $59,135 within five years of graduation. Adjusted for the cost of living in NC, this represents a national purchasing power equivalent of $60,465. The degree typically pays for itself in 9.3 years.
Quick Insights
How this degree looks at a glance
A fast read on salary range, break-even speed, living-cost impact, and where graduates from this school usually land.
Salary Ranges
Starting Range
$43,073
Typical Career
$59,135
Top Performers
$77,425
Estimated break-even: 9.3 years.
Debt-to-Income Check
$394
Estimated comfortable monthly loan payment
Typical monthly pay is approximately $4,928. Most students can comfortably afford about a $394 monthly loan payment with this degree.
Comparison Bench
This degree earns 1.5x more than the average US high school graduate and 0.8x more than the average college graduate.
Purchasing Power Context
A dollar in North Carolina buys what costs $0.98 nationally.
Industry Breadcrumbs
Top industries for bachelor's graduates from this school: Educational Services, Health Care & Social Assistance, Professional, Scientific & Technical Services.
Where Bachelor's Graduates from This School Work
Institution-wide industry mix for graduates, 5 years after graduation. This is not major-specific. Source: Census PSEO Flows.
5-Year Median Salary — National Purchasing Power Equivalent
$60,465
Nominal: $59,135 in North Carolina (COL 97.8% of national avg) · 2.2% higher purchasing power
10-Year Earnings Curve
Break-Even Timeline
How long until cumulative earnings advantage exceeds total college investment (tuition + opportunity cost vs. entering workforce directly after high school).
Total Investment
$155,168
4yr tuition + 4yr opportunity cost
HS Graduate Baseline
$38,792/yr
BLS 2023 median, HS diploma
View Raw Data: Median Earnings by Year
| Timeframe | 25th Pct. | Median (50th) | 75th Pct. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 Year After Graduation | $20,800 | $28,297 | $36,356 |
| 5 Years After Graduation | $43,073 | $59,135 | $77,425 |
| 10 Years After Graduation | $57,680 | $78,475 | $104,018 |
Source: US Census Bureau Post-Secondary Employment Outcomes (PSEO), 2025 release. Earnings shown for Bachelor's degree graduates (all cohorts combined).
How We Calculate Purchasing Power
The median salary of $59,135 is reported by the US Census Bureau's Post-Secondary Employment Outcomes (PSEO) dataset for graduates working in NC, which has a cost-of-living index of 97.8% of the national average.
Formula: Adjusted Salary = Nominal × (1.0 ÷ COL Index)
= $59,135 × (1.0 ÷ 0.9780)
= $60,465 National Average equivalent.
COL index source: BLS Regional Consumer Price Index & MIT Living Wage Project, 2023. Full methodology →
Career Verdict
Graduates primarily enter industries such as Educational Services (20.3%), Health Care & Social Assistance (13.9%), and Professional, Scientific & Technical Services (11.4%). The estimated break-even point compared to a high-school-only path is approximately 9.3 years, suggesting that the investment in a degree may yield a favorable return over time. Overall, the data indicates a positive return on investment for students pursuing this field at Appalachian State University, particularly in light of the growing demand for health and fitness professionals.
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Other Degrees at Appalachian State University
Data sources: US Census Bureau Post-Secondary Employment Outcomes (PSEO). Cost-of-living index: BLS Regional CPI & MIT Living Wage Project. Cost of attendance: IPEDS. For informational use only; data may be suppressed for small cohort sizes.