Health and Physical Education/Fitness at California State University-Chico

Among California's physical education programs, CSU-Chico performs solidly in the middle of the pack—ranking at the 60th percentile for earnings despite starting below average nationally. The real story here is trajectory: graduates move from $28,236 in their first year to $43,310 by year four, a 53% jump that suggests many are landing teaching positions with standard salary schedules or moving into coaching and fitness management roles. At $21,315, the debt load is actually lower than California's median for this program ($19,870) and substantially better than the national figure ($25,757), resulting in a manageable debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.75.

The first-year earnings lag reflects the reality of starting in education and fitness—these aren't careers that pay well immediately. However, the strong earnings growth indicates graduates are finding stable employment and advancing. For context, CSU-Chico graduates earn more by year four than first-year graduates from several private California programs charging considerably more tuition.

For families considering this program, the key question is career goals. If your child plans to teach PE or coach in California public schools, this represents solid preparation at a reasonable price, with the highly accessible 94% admission rate making it achievable for most students. The moderate debt and strong growth trajectory make this a workable investment, particularly for students committed to education careers who understand the delayed but steady earning potential.