Health and Physical Education/Fitness at Utah Tech University

The small sample size here is a significant caveat, but the available data suggests Utah Tech's Health and Physical Education program struggles relative to other options in the state. First-year earnings of $30,912 land below Utah's state median of $31,408, placing this program in just the 40th percentile among Utah's eight schools offering this degree. When students at Weber State and University of Utah start nearly $7,000-$8,000 higher, that gap matters—especially since health and physical education careers rarely see explosive salary growth in later years.

The debt picture offers a sliver of good news: $18,437 is manageable and well below the national median of $25,757. However, that 0.60 debt-to-earnings ratio still means graduates are borrowing more than half their first-year salary, which can feel tight when covering rent and loan payments on a $31K income. The fact that this debt level ranks in the 95th percentile nationally (meaning only 5% of similar programs carry higher debt) suggests Utah Tech students are borrowing more aggressively than peers elsewhere, even if the absolute dollar amount seems reasonable.

For families considering this program, the real question is whether there's a compelling reason to choose Utah Tech over nearby alternatives. Weber State graduates earn 26% more right out of the gate with similar debt burdens. Unless location in St. George is essential or your student has received substantial scholarship aid, stronger-performing programs within Utah offer better financial prospects in this field.