Health and Physical Education/Fitness at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville

The career trajectory here matters more than the disappointing starting salary. SIUE's health and physical education graduates begin earning just $28,795—below both state and national medians—but within four years they reach $50,586, a 76% jump that suggests many transition into coaching positions, administrative roles, or teaching jobs with better pay scales. That said, starting below $29,000 means the first few years will likely feel financially tight, even with relatively modest debt of $23,237.

Among Illinois programs in this field, SIUE sits at the 40th percentile—firmly middle-of-the-pack—trailing programs like Aurora University ($37,256 first-year earnings) by a significant margin. The gap narrows considerably by year four, but those initial years matter when you're making loan payments on entry-level educator wages. The school's 97% admission rate reflects open access rather than selectivity, which could be seen as either accessibility or a less competitive peer environment depending on your perspective.

The bottom line: This program works if your child can weather the challenging first few years financially, perhaps by living at home or working a second job. The strong earnings growth suggests the credential opens doors over time. But families banking on immediate financial independence after graduation should look elsewhere—those top-tier Illinois programs deliver $8,000-$9,000 more right out of the gate.