Health and Physical Education/Fitness at William Carey University

William Carey's Health and Physical Education program starts graduates at $24,000—a figure that falls below both the Mississippi state median ($27,578) and considerably behind in-state competitors like Southern Miss ($39,049) and Mississippi State ($29,654). While the program ranks in the 40th percentile among Mississippi schools, that's misleading context: it's placing in the bottom 5% nationally, and half the state's programs deliver significantly better outcomes.

The modest debt load of $22,916 is one bright spot, sitting below state and national averages. Combined with 16% earnings growth over four years, graduates at least see improving financial trajectories. However, starting at $24,000 with nearly $23,000 in debt means year one is financially tight, even with the favorable debt ratio. The small sample size (under 30 graduates) adds uncertainty—these numbers could shift considerably with more data, for better or worse.

If your child is committed to PE/Fitness education in Mississippi, this program costs less than alternatives but delivers earnings that lag peer institutions by $5,000-$15,000 annually. That gap compounds over a career. Unless William Carey offers specific advantages—location, scholarship money, or program features that matter to your family—the data suggests looking at Mississippi State or Southern Miss first, where graduates earn meaningfully more from day one.