Health and Physical Education/Fitness at University of North Georgia

University of North Georgia graduates earning $36,740 within a year of finishing this degree are outearning 80% of similar programs across Georgia—including students from UGA and several private competitors. That's particularly impressive given UNG's 72% admission rate and notably more affordable debt load. At $20,500, graduates carry about $5,500 less debt than the typical Georgia kinesiology or physical education graduate, creating a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.56 that's quite manageable for a field that doesn't typically command premium starting salaries.

The comparison to Emory is instructive: UNG graduates earn just $1,234 less annually while likely saving tens of thousands in total college costs. For a field where most bachelor's programs nationally produce median earnings around $30,500, clearing $36,000 represents meaningful outperformance. The moderate sample size (30-100 graduates) suggests these aren't outlier results.

Parents should recognize this as one of the stronger health and fitness programs in the state, delivering above-average outcomes without the debt burden that can make education-adjacent careers financially stressful. If your student is considering teaching PE, personal training, or related fields, this program's combination of earnings and affordability makes it worth serious consideration over better-known names.