by our College Data Analytics TeamIn the latest year, 64 U.S. colleges awarded 1,059 degrees and certificates in Outdoor Health & Physical Education/Fitness. Bachelor’s degrees are the most popular award, at 65% of graduates. College Factual ranks 23 schools in its 2027 Best Outdoor Health & Physical Education/Fitness Schools ranking and compares their cost in a Best Value ranking. Graduates earn a median $34,357 one year after completing, rising to $56,191 after four years.
A major in Outdoor Health & Physical Education/Fitness covers Sports, Kinesiology, And Physical Education/fitness, Other. Any Instructional Program In Sports, Kinesiology, And Physical Education/fitness Not Listed Above.
Source: IPEDS 2025; College Scorecard July 2026; BLS; O*NET; College Factual rankings 2027. Data as of: July 2026.
Across the country, outdoor health & physical education/fitness draws strong interest, with 1,059 degrees awarded annually. 64 colleges award outdoor health & physical education/fitness degrees, an average of 17 graduates per school; the largest program awarded 172.
By level, the 1,059 awards include 127 certificates, 65 associate degrees, 688 bachelor’s degrees, 151 master’s degrees and 15 doctorates.
Women earned 52% of outdoor health & physical education/fitness degrees and certificates in the latest year (551 of 1,059). The largest groups of graduates by race and ethnicity are White (629) and Hispanic or Latino (230), and international students earned 43.
College Factual ranks 23 schools in its 2027 Best Outdoor Health & Physical Education/Fitness Schools ranking, including 20 for bachelor’s degrees and 8 for master’s degrees. It also ranks outdoor health & physical education/fitness schools within 11 states. In all, 64 colleges offer outdoor health & physical education/fitness programs; compare them by degree level below or in the Best Value Outdoor Health & Physical Education/Fitness Colleges ranking, which weighs quality against cost.
How long an outdoor health & physical education/fitness degree takes:
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Certificate | Varies | 127 |
| Associate Degree | 2 years | 65 |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 688 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 151 |
| Doctorate | At least 4 years | 15 |
Outdoor Health & Physical Education/Fitness has 5 similar majors in the Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness field, which together award 67,111 degrees a year; the largest are Exercise Science and Kinesiology (32,999), Sport and Fitness Administration/Management (18,948) and Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness, General (13,141). Browse all Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness majors or the full list of college majors.
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Exercise Science and Kinesiology | 32,999 |
| Sport and Fitness Administration/Management | 18,948 |
| Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness, General | 13,141 |
| Physical Fitness Technician | 1,451 |
| Sports Studies | 572 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.
