Health and Physical Education/Fitness at The University of Texas at Austin

UT Austin's Health and Physical Education program outperforms most similar programs nationwide, but there's an important Texas-specific story here. While graduates earn $35,583 initially—beating 83% of peer programs nationally—they're actually in the middle of the pack for Texas, ranking at the 60th percentile statewide. That gap matters because UT Austin's selectivity (29% admission rate) and prestige might suggest it would dominate the state rankings more decisively. Private universities like Rice and SMU place significantly higher, though they come with steeper tuition.

The real strength emerges over time. Earnings jump 61% to $57,339 by year four, suggesting graduates build valuable skills and connections that pay off mid-career. The $22,361 debt load is manageable—below both state and national medians—creating a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.63 that most borrowers can handle comfortably. For in-state students paying Texas public school tuition, this combination of moderate debt and strong long-term earnings potential makes sense.

If your child is choosing between UT Austin and other Texas public universities for this program, the UT degree offers better-than-average outcomes with the added benefits of a flagship campus. But temper expectations: this isn't a high-earning field, and even with UT's strong four-year numbers, graduates still earn less than the median Texas bachelor's degree holder across all fields.