Health and Physical Education/Fitness at The University of Tennessee Southern

With a sample size under 30 graduates, these numbers need careful interpretation, but they reveal an interesting pattern: this program sits at the state median for Health and Physical Education earnings, yet charges less debt than most Tennessee competitors. At $28,069 in first-year earnings, graduates from UT Southern match the state median exactly while taking on about $23,125 in debt—roughly $1,000 less than the typical Tennessee program.

The challenge is that Tennessee's median for this degree already trails the national figure by $2,500, and even the state's top performers—Tennessee Tech and Middle Tennessee State—only reach $33,000. That creates a narrow earnings band where UT Southern graduates start $4,000-$5,000 behind the best programs in Tennessee. The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.82 is manageable but leaves little margin for error, especially given that P.E. and fitness careers often involve coaching or teaching positions with modest salary growth in rural areas like Pulaski.

For families committed to this field and wanting to stay near southern Tennessee, the lower debt load compared to peers matters. But parents should verify that their child has a clear path to certification or employment that justifies even this moderate investment, particularly since the small sample size means these outcomes could shift significantly year to year. If coaching or teaching positions aren't lined up, the math gets tighter.