Health and Physical Education/Fitness at University of Southern Mississippi

Can a health and physical education degree lead to solid earnings? At Southern Miss, the answer is a resounding yes. Graduates earn $39,049 right out of school—putting this program in the 95th percentile nationally and outperforming the typical Mississippi program in this field by over $11,000. That's not just marginally better; it's the top-performing program in the state among the 11 schools tracked, beating even Mississippi College and Mississippi State. For a university with a 99% acceptance rate serving a heavily Pell-eligible student body, these outcomes are exceptional.

The debt picture reinforces the value. At $23,770, graduates carry less than the national median for this field, creating a manageable 0.61 debt-to-earnings ratio that most can handle on a teacher or coach's salary. The catch? Earnings essentially flatline over the first four years, staying around $39,000. This reflects the reality of education and coaching careers, where salary schedules limit early growth regardless of performance.

For parents of kids genuinely interested in coaching, teaching PE, or fitness careers, Southern Miss delivers clear value—especially if staying in Mississippi. Your child won't get rich, but they'll graduate with reasonable debt and earnings that compare favorably to their peers across the country. That's a solid foundation for a career in a field that typically offers stability and summers off, even if the pay ceiling is modest.