Health and Physical Education/Fitness at William & Mary

William & Mary graduates in this program face a challenging first year—$27,114 puts them well below both Virginia's $29,068 median and the national average of $30,554. While the school's selective admissions (33% acceptance rate, 1458 SAT average) suggest strong academics, this program lands in just the 40th percentile among Virginia's 21 health and physical education programs, trailing schools like Longwood ($39,479) and JMU ($35,955) by significant margins. The debt load of $21,413 is actually lower than both state and national medians, but that 0.79 debt-to-earnings ratio still means graduates are starting with debt that nearly equals their first-year income.

The dramatic turnaround to $58,114 by year four—a 114% earnings jump—suggests graduates may be transitioning into coaching, athletic administration, or related fields with better pay. However, this growth pattern also raises questions about whether the initial years involve lower-paid positions that could strain recent graduates managing loan payments and living expenses. By comparison, top programs in Virginia offer much stronger starting salaries that ease those early financial pressures.

For families paying William & Mary's premium tuition, this program's below-average initial outcomes deserve careful consideration. The four-year earnings are solid, but students could find stronger value at Virginia public universities that deliver better starting salaries in this field without the wait.