Health and Physical Education/Fitness at Maryville University of Saint Louis

Maryville's Health and Physical Education program sits in an unusual position: it beats the national median but trails most Missouri competitors. Graduates start at $32,480—solid compared to programs nationwide (63rd percentile), but below the state median of $33,892 and significantly behind Missouri's top five programs, where graduates typically earn $34,600 or more. With only a small graduating cohort tracked, these numbers could shift considerably, but the pattern suggests this program hasn't found the same traction in Missouri's fitness and education job market as peer institutions.

The silver lining is strong earnings growth—graduates see their income jump 40% by year four to $45,532—and manageable debt at $23,250. That initial debt burden of 0.72 times first-year salary isn't crushing, though it's higher than most Health and PE programs nationally. Still, families should ask why Missouri Baptist and Missouri Western graduates start $4,000-$5,000 ahead with similar or lower debt loads. The difference might reflect program connections to school districts, different career tracks (teaching versus personal training), or simply where graduates land their first jobs.

For families considering this program, the key question is whether Maryville's broader support system—its high acceptance rate suggests accessibility for many students—justifies starting behind state competitors. If your child has options at Missouri's stronger programs in this field, those deserve serious attention.