Health and Physical Education/Fitness at Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College

LSU's health and physical education program shows something worth paying attention to: while first-year earnings of $32,000 look modest, graduates see their income jump 71% by year four to nearly $55,000. That's substantially stronger growth than most education-focused programs deliver, suggesting these graduates find pathways beyond entry-level teaching roles—potentially into athletic training, fitness management, or administrative positions. Among Louisiana's health and PE programs, LSU sits squarely in the middle of the pack for first-year outcomes but leads the state's top programs in long-term earning potential.

The $23,000 debt load is manageable relative to that first paycheck (0.72 ratio), though it's higher than about three-quarters of similar programs nationally. Still, with earnings climbing past $54,000 by year four, most graduates should be able to handle these loans comfortably. The robust sample size (100+ graduates) means these numbers reflect a consistent pattern rather than a few outliers.

For families considering this major, the key question is whether your student plans to pursue the career advancement that drives those earnings up. If they're content with traditional PE teaching roles, they might find similar starting salaries at less expensive Louisiana schools. But if they're entrepreneurial about fitness careers or interested in athletic program management, LSU's trajectory justifies the investment.