Health and Physical Education/Fitness at Tennessee Technological University

Tennessee Tech's Health and Physical Education program stands out for doing something rare in this field: keeping graduates almost entirely debt-free. With median debt of just $15,653, this program carries roughly one-third the debt burden of typical health and PE programs nationally—putting it in the 95th percentile for affordability. That's a crucial advantage in a field where starting salaries hover around $33,000.

The earnings picture is solid, if not spectacular. Graduates earn about $5,000 more than the typical Tennessee PE program and rank above the 60th percentile statewide. Among Tennessee's largest programs, only Middle Tennessee State edges ahead by less than $1,000 annually. Four years out, earnings climb to nearly $40,000—a 20% increase that suggests stable career progression in coaching, teaching, or fitness training roles.

The math here works cleanly: with less than half a year's salary in debt, graduates can actually build financial stability on a teacher's or coach's income. For students drawn to sports education or athletic training, this represents one of the safer paths in Tennessee. The combination of manageable debt and earnings that beat most in-state alternatives makes this a straightforward choice for families who want their student working with kids and athletes without the financial burden that typically comes with education-adjacent degrees.