Health and Physical Education/Fitness at Cameron University

Cameron University's Health and Physical Education program starts at a significant disadvantage—first-year earnings of $26,189 fall well below both the Oklahoma state median ($31,035) and the national benchmark ($30,554). Among the 21 Oklahoma schools offering this program, it ranks in just the 25th percentile, meaning three-quarters of competitors produce stronger initial outcomes. Even more concerning: graduates carry $18,383 in debt, which places this program in the 95th percentile nationally for debt burden—higher than 95% of similar programs despite being below the state median.

The dramatic 63% earnings jump to $42,776 by year four offers some reassurance, ultimately surpassing both state and national benchmarks. However, that first year matters enormously when loan payments begin six months after graduation. With a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.70, graduates face monthly payments that will consume a substantial portion of their entry-level income. The small sample size here (under 30 graduates) adds uncertainty—a few outliers could skew these numbers significantly.

For families considering this program, the evidence suggests looking at Oklahoma State or University of Central Oklahoma first, where graduates start $9,000-$7,000 higher. Cameron serves many Pell-eligible students well, but this particular program's combination of weak starting salaries and relatively high debt creates a difficult first few years that better-performing state alternatives avoid.