Health and Physical Education/Fitness at University of Nebraska at Kearney

UNK's Health and Physical Education program produces graduates who outperform three-quarters of similar programs nationally—impressive for an accessible state university with an 86% admission rate. Starting at $34,385 and climbing to $45,135 by year four represents solid 31% growth, though it's worth noting this sits in the middle of Nebraska's pack (60th percentile statewide), trailing UN-Omaha and Wayne State by meaningful margins.

The debt picture looks reasonable at $26,500, translating to a 0.77 debt-to-earnings ratio that most graduates should be able to manage on a physical education salary. This is slightly better than both state and national medians for the field. However, the caveat matters here: with fewer than 30 graduates in the dataset, individual circumstances could significantly skew these figures. A few coaching positions or corporate wellness jobs can pull averages up; conversely, part-time or substitute teaching roles common early in PE careers could drag them down.

For Nebraska families, this represents a sensible in-state option that performs competitively without breaking the bank. The earnings trajectory suggests career progression is happening—likely as graduates move from entry-level positions into full-time teaching or coaching roles with benefits. Just recognize you're looking at a small snapshot, and individual outcomes in this field depend heavily on landing full-time positions versus cobbling together part-time gigs.