Health and Physical Education/Fitness at University of Houston

The story here isn't the starting salary—it's where graduates end up by year four. University of Houston's Health and Physical Education program starts at $30,035, slightly below the Texas median of $32,429, placing it around the 40th percentile among state programs. But earnings jump 59% to nearly $48,000 within four years, suggesting graduates either move into higher-paying coaching positions, health services roles, or school district jobs with experience-based pay scales.

The debt picture is reasonable at $22,298, lower than both national and Texas medians for this field. With a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.74, graduates owe less than one year's starting salary—manageable territory, especially given the strong earnings trajectory. The robust sample size (100+ graduates) means these numbers reflect genuine outcomes, not statistical noise.

However, Texas offers significantly better options for this major. Five programs in the state produce graduates earning $40,000+ by year one, with Rice topping out at $51,000. Unless location in Houston specifically matters for your family, or you're banking on UH's lower tuition for in-state students to keep total debt minimal, this program's value proposition looks modest compared to what's available elsewhere in Texas. The program works if you're cost-conscious and patient about earnings growth, but it's not a standout choice for this field.