Health and Physical Education/Fitness at Southern Oregon University

Southern Oregon University's health and physical education program outperforms most of its competition despite the field's modest starting salaries. At $35,222 first-year earnings, graduates here earn more than 81% of similar programs nationally and beat the Oregon median by nearly $4,000—ranking them solidly in the middle of the state's offerings. The $23,000 median debt sits below both state and national averages, creating a manageable debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.65 that students can realistically handle on an entry-level fitness or education salary.

The bigger question is whether any health and physical education degree justifies the investment. This field typically leads to K-12 teaching, coaching, or fitness instruction—careers with limited salary growth in the early years. Southern Oregon's graduates are doing about as well as anyone can expect in this profession, but that still means starting around $35,000. For students passionate about physical education and committed to teaching or coaching, this program delivers competitive preparation at a reasonable debt load. Those seeking higher earning potential should consider adding a teaching credential or specialized certifications that can boost salary prospects beyond the baseline.