Program Analysis
At $45,519 per year, Health & Physical Education graduates from Southern Methodist University significantly outpace the $31,057 national average for this major, reflecting strong employer demand for this program's graduates.
The financial case is thin at 2.6x — decade earnings barely exceed the cost of attendance. The value proposition here is driven by factors beyond pure ROI.
Some AI exposure exists in Health & Physical Education's typical career paths, with 25% of job tasks potentially affected. The pessimistic scenario still projects solid returns, with a 9% gap from the optimistic case.
The median debt load of $22,581 represents less than half a year of starting salary — among the lightest debt-to-income ratios we track.
At #76 of 529 nationally, this is a top-5% Health & Physical Education program. Financial outcomes consistently outperform the vast majority of peers.
Five-year earnings of $80,147 show a 76% jump from the $45,519 starting point — strong upward trajectory suggesting real career acceleration.