Health and Physical Education/Fitness at University of Arkansas

The University of Arkansas's health and physical education program starts slow but demonstrates strong trajectory, with graduates nearly doubling their earnings from $28,934 to $50,455 within four years—a 74% jump that significantly outpaces typical career progression in this field. That year-four figure pushes well past not just the national average but also tops every competing Arkansas program by a considerable margin, suggesting that U of A graduates find better opportunities or advance more quickly than peers from other state schools.

The initial earnings do lag behind competitors like Arkansas State ($32,685) and Central Arkansas ($31,767), placing this program around the 40th percentile statewide. However, the $24,550 in median debt is manageable—just 85% of first-year earnings—and matches the state median exactly. The real story emerges in that year-four number, which reaches a level that none of the other Arkansas programs in our data can match.

For parents, this program represents a bet on delayed payoff rather than immediate returns. If your student can weather lower starting salaries (perhaps by living at home or working part-time), the career trajectory looks promising. The moderate debt load won't become crushing, and the mid-career earnings suggest graduates are moving into coaching, administration, or other roles that pay substantially better than entry-level teaching positions. It's not the fastest route to financial independence, but the growth pattern is genuinely encouraging.