Health and Physical Education/Fitness at Southern Arkansas University Main Campus

Southern Arkansas University's Health and Physical Education program produces outcomes that track remarkably close to Arkansas medians, though the debt load tells a more concerning story. Graduates earn $29,854 initially—exactly matching the state median and landing in the 60th percentile among Arkansas schools. That's respectable positioning in a competitive state market that includes larger programs at Arkansas State ($32,685) and UCA ($31,767). However, students here graduate with $20,169 in debt versus a state median of $24,550, which represents a meaningful advantage that offsets the slightly lower earnings.

The bigger question is whether $35,133 four years out represents adequate return for a four-year degree. That 18% earnings growth is encouraging, but the absolute numbers remain modest—you're looking at wages that, while typical for physical education fields, may make loan repayment challenging even with below-average debt. The 0.68 debt-to-earnings ratio isn't alarming, but it's not comfortable either for a field where many graduates pursue teaching positions with compressed salary scales.

Here's what matters: If your child is passionate about coaching, teaching PE, or fitness instruction in Arkansas, this program delivers credentials at a reasonable price point. But if they're exploring this degree without clear career direction, the modest earnings trajectory warrants serious conversation about alternatives. The small sample size means these numbers could shift significantly year to year, so verify current placement rates and starting salaries directly with the department.