Health and Physical Education/Fitness at Texas State University

Texas State's Health and Physical Education program stands out for its impressive earnings trajectory, with graduates seeing a 58% income boost from $33,033 to $52,099 between years one and four. This growth pattern significantly outpaces what's typical in this field and pushes four-year earnings well above both national and Texas medians.

The program performs solidly within Texas, ranking in the 60th percentile among the state's 63 health and physical education programs. While it doesn't crack the top tier occupied by private institutions like Rice ($51,110) or SMU ($45,519), it delivers competitive results at a public university price point. The $24,500 median debt load sits slightly below the Texas average and creates a manageable debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.74—meaning graduates typically owe less than their first year's salary.

For families considering this path, Texas State offers a compelling combination of accessibility (89% admission rate) and career growth potential. The robust sample size of 100+ graduates provides confidence in these outcomes. The key insight here is patience pays off—while starting salaries are modest, the strong four-year earnings growth suggests graduates successfully transition into higher-paying coaching, athletic director, or fitness management roles. This makes it a solid choice for students committed to careers in physical education and fitness.