Health and Physical Education/Fitness at Harding University

Harding University's Health and Physical Education program shows an unusual trajectory: graduates start well below their peers at $29,178—putting them in the bottom 40% both nationally and within Arkansas—but quadruple their earnings within three years. By year four, median earnings reach $53,747, far outpacing what graduates from Arkansas State or Central Arkansas ever achieve with this degree.

That dramatic income swing raises questions. The 84% earnings growth could reflect graduates moving into higher-paying coaching or administrative roles, or it might indicate many students take low-paying internships or part-time positions immediately after graduation. Either way, parents should plan for a financially tight first few years. The debt load of $26,054 is manageable relative to four-year earnings, but it's roughly equivalent to an entire year's starting salary, which could strain recent graduates still living on entry-level pay.

The program sits squarely in the middle of Arkansas options—not the strongest choice (that would be Arkansas State at $32,685), but also avoiding the bottom tier. Given Harding's 100% admission rate, this is accessible to most students. The real question is whether your child can weather those lean early years while the career trajectory develops. If they need immediate financial independence or are debt-averse, the rough start makes this a challenging path despite the eventual payoff.