Health and Physical Education/Fitness at Southeastern Louisiana University

Southeastern Louisiana's health and physical education program outperforms more than half of Louisiana programs in a field where that comparison matters—most graduates will work in-state schools or recreation departments. Starting at $30,315, graduates earn $2,300 more than Louisiana's median for this major and see solid wage growth (28%) to reach $38,782 by year four, though they still trail LSU and Louisiana Tech graduates who start near $32,000.

The $25,000 debt load sits right at the national average, creating a manageable debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.82. That means graduates will owe less than one year's salary, reasonable for a field where career paths typically include teaching (requiring additional certification) or fitness/recreation management roles. The real question is whether your child plans to pursue teaching certification or stay in fitness—teachers with additional credentials typically see better long-term earnings, while fitness professionals face a more variable income trajectory.

For families keeping their child in Louisiana, this program delivers decent value relative to in-state alternatives, particularly if your student doesn't gain admission to LSU or Louisiana Tech. The accessible admissions (94% acceptance rate) and moderate sample size suggest a stable, established program, not a small experimental one. If teaching is the goal, budget for certification costs and expect the initial $30,000 salary to climb meaningfully within a few years.