Health and Physical Education/Fitness at Colorado State University Pueblo

Colorado State University Pueblo's Health and Physical Education program outperforms three-quarters of similar programs nationally, though it sits in the middle of Colorado's pack. First-year graduates earn $34,865—above the national median of $30,554 and the state median of $32,602—placing them ahead of programs at Adams State and Colorado Mesa, but trailing the state's top performers at Metro State Denver and CSU Fort Collins by $6,000-7,000.

The debt picture is reasonable given the earnings. At $26,117, graduates carry slightly more than the state median but see their debt-to-earnings ratio at 0.75, manageable for education-related fields where earnings typically grow with experience and additional certifications. Indeed, earnings climb 17% by year four to $40,768, suggesting graduates gain traction as they establish themselves in teaching, coaching, or fitness management roles.

For families looking at Colorado's public universities, this represents solid value—particularly if location in southern Colorado matters or if your student doesn't gain admission to more selective state schools. The 100% admission rate makes it accessible, and graduates avoid the earnings struggles common in this field nationally. However, if your student can access CSU Fort Collins or Metro State Denver, those programs deliver notably higher starting salaries that could offset any additional costs.