Health and Physical Education/Fitness at Our Lady of the Lake University

Starting at $25,403 puts graduates nearly $7,000 below the Texas median for health and physical education programs—a significant gap in a state where the field already pays modestly. While the debt load of $25,562 appears manageable at first glance, it essentially equals a full year's salary, meaning graduates face a challenging financial position right out of college. For context, other Texas schools like West Texas A&M and University of the Incarnate Word place graduates into similar careers but with starting salaries in the low $40,000s, nearly 60% higher.

The small sample size here warrants caution—with fewer than 30 graduates in the data, a few outliers could skew the picture significantly. That said, the 25th percentile ranking among Texas programs suggests this isn't just statistical noise. Our Lady of the Lake serves a predominantly lower-income population (57% Pell recipients), which may partly explain the earnings pattern, but it doesn't change the financial reality for your child.

If your student is passionate about physical education or fitness careers, consider whether proximity to San Antonio or specific program features justify the earnings tradeoff. Otherwise, exploring programs at Texas public universities that show stronger graduate outcomes would provide a better financial foundation for launching a career in this already modest-paying field.