Background: A growing body of research highlights a significant decline in levels of physical fitness among children and adolescents. This trend is concerning, as physical fitness is crucial for overall health and well-being. Objective: This study aims to quantify the trends in the declining levels of physical fitness among college students by analyzing a comprehensive dataset of over twelve thousand 1.5-mile (2.4 km) field test times recorded at a private evangelical university from 1973 to 2023. Methods: We digitized, curated, and analyzed a dataset of 12,937 recorded 1.5-mile (2.4 km) field test times for college-age adults spanning 50 years. These records, gathered from required health and physical exercise classes, were examined using linear models to assess the relationship between time of completion (in seconds) and year recorded. Results: We observed a consistent increase in average completion times for the 1.5-mile field test. Specifically, linear models revealed that for males, there was an average annual increase in completion time of 3.46 seconds (Std. Error = .14, t = 24.2, p < .001). For females, the annual increase was 7.30 seconds (Std. Error = .19, t = 37.8, p < .001). These findings suggest a steady decrease in the levels of physical fitness among college-age adults from 1973 to 2023. Conclusions: The observed decline in physical fitness among young adults is a pressing concern that calls for immediate and comprehensive action from educational institutions, policymakers, and public health authorities alike. Efforts should promote lifelong health and well-being through targeted interventions, improved access to physical activity resources, and by fostering a cultural shift toward greater fitness and health consciousness.