by our College Data Analytics TeamIn the latest year, 419 U.S. colleges awarded 7,130 degrees and certificates in Physical Education Teaching & Coaching. Bachelor’s degrees are the most popular award, at 66% of graduates. College Factual ranks 169 schools in its 2027 Best Physical Education Teaching & Coaching Schools ranking and compares their cost in a Best Value ranking. Graduates earn a median $50,000 one year after completing, rising to $58,727 after four years.
A degree in Physical Education Teaching & Coaching covers Physical Education Teaching And Coaching. A Program That Prepares Individuals To Teach Physical Education Programs And/or To Coach Sports At Various Educational Levels.
Source: IPEDS 2025; College Scorecard July 2026; BLS; O*NET; College Factual rankings 2027. Data as of: July 2026.
Nationwide, physical education teaching & coaching is a popular field of study, with 7,130 degrees awarded annually. 419 colleges award physical education teaching & coaching degrees, an average of 17 graduates per school; the largest program awarded 409.
By level, the 7,130 awards include 52 certificates, 190 associate degrees, 4,721 bachelor’s degrees, 1,968 master’s degrees and 16 doctorates.
Women earned 40% of physical education teaching & coaching degrees and certificates in the latest year (2,875 of 7,130). The largest groups of graduates by race and ethnicity are White (4,674) and Black or African American (990), and international students earned 173.
College Factual ranks 169 schools in its 2027 Best Physical Education Teaching & Coaching Schools ranking, including 6 for associate degrees, 126 for bachelor’s degrees, 86 for master’s degrees and 3 for doctorates. It also ranks physical education teaching & coaching schools within 43 states. In all, 419 colleges offer physical education teaching & coaching programs; compare them by degree level below or in the Best Value Physical Education Teaching & Coaching Colleges ranking, which weighs quality against cost.
The most common physical education teaching & coaching credential is the bachelor’s degree: 4,721 of the 7,130 awarded in the latest year. Jobs related to physical education teaching & coaching call most for Speaking, Instructing and Learning Strategies, and for knowledge of Education and Training, English Language and Psychology, according to O*NET. The most important abilities are Oral Expression, Speech Clarity and Oral Comprehension.
Top skills, rated 0–5:
Top knowledge areas, rated 0–5:
How long a physical education teaching & coaching degree takes:
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Certificate | Varies | 52 |
| Associate Degree | 2 years | 190 |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 4,721 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 1,968 |
| Doctorate | At least 4 years | 16 |
Doctoral degree is the most common level of education among workers in jobs related to physical education teaching & coaching, at 46.6%.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Doctoral degree | 46.6% |
| Bachelor’s degree | 30.9% |
| Master’s degree | 9.7% |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 5.6% |
| Less than a high school diploma | 2.4% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 2.3% |
| Post-master’s certificate | 1.3% |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 0.9% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 0.4% |
Source: O*NET Online.
6 occupations are related to Physical Education Teaching & Coaching, with an average median salary of $79,533; the strongest outlook belongs to Recreation and Fitness Studies Teachers, Postsecondary, at 11.6% projected job growth. Typical job titles include Educator, Professor, College Professor and Associate Professor.
The occupation related to physical education teaching & coaching with the most projected jobs is Education Teachers, Postsecondary, at 1,441,246.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Education Teachers, Postsecondary | 1,441,246 | 2.4% |
| Middle School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education | 692,039 | -1.4% |
| Recreation and Fitness Studies Teachers, Postsecondary | 596,959 | 11.6% |
| Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education | 571,954 | 1.8% |
| Coaches and Scouts | 332,603 | -0.5% |
| Exercise Trainers and Group Fitness Instructors | 35,993 | -1.5% |
Physical Education Teaching & Coaching graduates earn a median $50,000 one year after completing their program, $58,727 after four years and $56,439 after five years, according to the U.S. Department of Education’s College Scorecard.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $50,000 |
| 4 years | $58,727 |
| 5 years | $56,439 |
Source: College Scorecard.
The same occupation is also the highest-paying one related to physical education teaching & coaching, with a median salary of $98,329.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Education Teachers, Postsecondary | $98,329 |
| Recreation and Fitness Studies Teachers, Postsecondary | $84,688 |
| Middle School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education | $83,105 |
| Coaches and Scouts | $78,709 |
| Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education | $77,927 |
| Exercise Trainers and Group Fitness Instructors | $54,441 |
Physical Education Teaching & Coaching has 37 similar majors in the Education field, which together award 33,265 degrees a year; the largest are Reading Teacher Education (6,129), Music Teacher Education (4,149) and Mathematics Teacher Education (3,405). Browse all Education majors or the full list of college majors.
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Reading Teacher Education | 6,129 |
| Music Teacher Education | 4,149 |
| Mathematics Teacher Education | 3,405 |
| English/Language Arts Teacher Education | 2,933 |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas, Other | 2,470 |
| Social Studies Teacher Education | 2,020 |
| Art Teacher Education | 1,898 |
| Health Teacher Education | 1,560 |
| Agricultural Teacher Education | 1,054 |
| Science Teacher Education/General Science Teacher Education | 1,048 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.
