Health and Physical Education/Fitness at North Carolina A & T State University

North Carolina A&T's Health and Physical Education program lands squarely in the middle of North Carolina offerings—ranking at the 40th percentile statewide—but the $26,498 starting salary creates a challenging financial picture when paired with $30,000 in debt. That's a debt-to-earnings ratio of 1.13, which means graduates owe more than their entire first year's salary. While the debt level itself is reasonable (better than 95% of similar programs nationally), the earnings lag behind: graduates start about $4,000 below the state median and trail the top NC programs by $12,000 or more.

The silver lining is solid earnings growth. By year four, median pay reaches $37,021—a 40% jump that suggests graduates who stick with education or fitness careers do see meaningful advancement. This serves a predominantly first-generation student population (51% receive Pell grants), and for students committed to teaching or coaching in North Carolina, that year-four salary becomes more workable. However, that first year will be financially tight, and students should plan accordingly with part-time work or living at home.

The bottom line: This program works best for students with strong ties to North Carolina who are passionate about education or fitness careers and can manage lean early years. Those primarily focused on earnings should look at the top-performing NC programs, which offer 30-45% higher starting salaries for similar debt loads.