Health and Physical Education/Fitness at University of Saint Mary

University of Saint Mary's health and physical education program produces first-year earnings just below Kansas benchmarks—$29,151 versus the state median of $30,086—but this comes with notably modest debt loads. At $27,946, graduates here carry slightly more debt than state peers but rank in the 5th percentile nationally for debt burden, meaning 95% of similar programs nationwide saddle students with higher loans. The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.96 suggests graduates can realistically manage their payments, even with below-average starting salaries.

The caveat? This data reflects fewer than 30 graduates, so individual outcomes may vary more than usual. Still, for parents comparing Kansas options, this program sits in the middle tier—trailing stronger performers like Pittsburg State ($36,393) and KU ($33,891) by roughly $5,000-$7,000 annually. That gap matters in a field where entry-level salaries hover around $30,000 statewide. The 90% admission rate and lower standardized test scores suggest Saint Mary serves students who might not access more selective programs, which adds context to the earnings picture.

If your student is committed to physical education and drawn to Saint Mary's environment, the manageable debt makes this workable. But if they're academically competitive for schools like Pittsburg State or KU, those programs offer meaningfully higher earning potential in the same field—a difference of $20,000-$30,000 over the first four years of their career.