Health and Physical Education/Fitness at Mississippi College

Mississippi College's Health and Physical Education program doesn't immediately impress with its $30,193 starting salary—barely above the national median—but the trajectory tells a more encouraging story. Within four years, graduates see their earnings jump 36% to nearly $41,000, outpacing most peers in Mississippi's fitness education landscape. Among the state's 11 programs, this ranks in the 60th percentile, landing graduates well ahead of larger state schools like Ole Miss while staying competitive with Mississippi State.

The $24,625 debt load sits comfortably below both national and state averages for this field, translating to a manageable 0.82 debt-to-earnings ratio. That's particularly significant given how many fitness and PE programs saddle graduates with higher debt for similar or lower starting salaries. The moderate sample size suggests this pattern is consistent across multiple graduating classes rather than an anomaly.

For Mississippi families, this represents solid value in a field where earnings vary dramatically by school. While University of Southern Mississippi leads the state, Mississippi College delivers comparable outcomes at a selective private institution (49% admission rate) without the debt burden that often comes with smaller programs. Parents should expect their child to work their way into better-paying positions over the first few years rather than commanding top dollar immediately—but the math works.