Health and Physical Education/Fitness at Hampton University

Hampton University's Health and Physical Education program starts rough but shows remarkable recovery. First-year earnings of $27,633 trail both Virginia and national benchmarks, leaving graduates with debt nearly equal to their entire first-year salary. However, by year four, earnings jump to $46,421—a 68% increase that outpaces typical salary growth for this field and eventually surpasses programs at schools like George Mason and James Madison.

The question is whether families can weather those difficult early years. At 40th percentile among Virginia programs, Hampton sits in the bottom half statewide, with graduates earning about $12,000 less initially than peers at Longwood or Shenandoah. For a family stretching to cover $26,000 in student debt, that first year will require careful budgeting or additional financial support. The program serves a predominantly middle- and working-class student body, so many graduates won't have family cushions to fall back on during this period.

The dramatic earnings growth suggests graduates eventually find their footing—perhaps moving into coaching, fitness management, or specialized training roles that pay better than entry-level positions. If your child can manage lean years early (possibly living at home or working a second job), the mid-career outlook improves significantly. But compared to Virginia's top programs in this field, Hampton's graduates start from behind and spend years catching up.