Health and Physical Education/Fitness at East Texas A&M University

East Texas A&M's Health and Physical Education program outperforms nearly 90% of similar programs nationally, yet remains surprisingly affordable with debt well below most Texas schools in the field. Graduates earn $36,305 in their first year—$3,900 more than the state median—and see that income grow 21% by year four to $44,035. The $23,007 debt load represents just 7.5 months of first-year salary, creating immediate breathing room that many education-focused programs can't match.

The real story emerges when you look at where this program sits statewide. While it ranks in the 60th percentile among Texas schools, that's largely because a handful of elite private universities (Rice at $51,000, SMU at $45,500) pull the state's top end unusually high. Among accessible public options serving similar student populations—41% receive Pell grants here—East Texas A&M delivers exceptional value. You're getting near-private-school outcomes at a fraction of the cost and debt burden.

For parents evaluating this program, the math works: manageable debt paired with earnings that immediately exceed both state and national norms, plus steady income growth. If your child is committed to physical education or coaching, this represents one of the stronger financial foundations in a field where many programs leave graduates struggling with the debt-to-earnings balance.