by our College Data Analytics Team
[Health And Physical Education](/majors/parks-recreation-fitness/health-and-physical-education/) graduates earn very different salaries depending on where they study. The highest-paying schools turn a health and physical education degree into the strongest early-career earnings.
For its 2026 highest-paid-graduates ranking, College Factual looked at 100 schools to find where health and physical education graduates earn the most.
What’s on this page:
Below are the schools whose health and physical education graduates go on to earn the most.
University Of Miami earned the #1 spot for highest-paid health and physical education graduates in the United States. University Of Miami is a private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Coral Gables. Health And Physical Education graduates of University Of Miami earn a median of about $79,920 a year early in their careers.
Strong graduate earnings at University Of Scranton earned it the #2 place for health and physical education. Set in the city of Scranton, University Of Scranton is a private not-for-profit institution. Students who complete the health and physical education program here go on to a median salary of roughly $78,403.
Saint Louis University Main Campus came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying health and physical education schools. Located in the city of Saint Louis, Saint Louis University Main Campus is a private not-for-profit institution. Students who complete the health and physical education program here go on to a median salary of roughly $77,984.
Strong graduate earnings at University Of The Pacific earned it the #4 place for health and physical education. University Of The Pacific is a private not-for-profit school located in the city of Stockton. Students who complete the health and physical education program here go on to a median salary of roughly $72,395.
Wisconsin Lutheran College came in at #5 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying health and physical education schools. Set in the city of Milwaukee, Wisconsin Lutheran College is a private not-for-profit institution. Health And Physical Education graduates of Wisconsin Lutheran College earn a median of about $69,604 a year early in their careers.
San Jose State University landed the #6 spot for health and physical education salaries this year. Located in the city of San Jose, San Jose State University is a public institution. Health And Physical Education graduates of San Jose State University earn a median of about $69,505 a year early in their careers.
Pacific Union College came in at #7 for health and physical education graduate earnings this year. Pacific Union College is a private not-for-profit school located in the rural area of Angwin. After graduating, health and physical education degree recipients from Pacific Union College typically earn about $67,066 annually.
Rockhurst University earned the #8 position for health and physical education graduate earnings this year. Set in the city of Kansas City, Rockhurst University is a private not-for-profit institution. After graduating, health and physical education degree recipients from Rockhurst University typically earn about $66,968 annually.
Depauw University placed #9 among the highest-paying schools for health and physical education. Located in the town of Greencastle, Depauw University is a private not-for-profit institution. Health And Physical Education graduates of Depauw University earn a median of about $65,572 a year early in their careers.
Marian University Wisconsin placed #10 among the highest-paying schools for health and physical education. Marian University Wisconsin is a private not-for-profit school located in the city of Fond Du Lac. Students who complete the health and physical education program here go on to a median salary of roughly $65,301.
St Catherine University came in at #11 for health and physical education graduate earnings this year. St Catherine University is a private not-for-profit school located in the city of Saint Paul. Health And Physical Education graduates of St Catherine University earn a median of about $65,125 a year early in their careers.
Walsh University earned the #12 position for health and physical education graduate earnings this year. Walsh University is a private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of North Canton. After graduating, health and physical education degree recipients from Walsh University typically earn about $64,683 annually.
Simmons College landed the #13 spot for health and physical education salaries this year. Set in the city of Boston, Simmons College is a private not-for-profit institution. After graduating, health and physical education degree recipients from Simmons College typically earn about $80,725 annually.
Schreiner University earned the #14 position for health and physical education graduate earnings this year. Located in the town of Kerrville, Schreiner University is a private not-for-profit institution. Early-career health and physical education graduates from Schreiner University make a median of around $61,235 per year.
Michigan Technological University landed the #15 spot for health and physical education salaries this year. Located in the town of Houghton, Michigan Technological University is a public institution. Health And Physical Education graduates of Michigan Technological University earn a median of about $60,932 a year early in their careers.
Gannon University ranked #16 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying health and physical education schools. Set in the city of Erie, Gannon University is a private not-for-profit institution. After graduating, health and physical education degree recipients from Gannon University typically earn about $60,778 annually.
Milligan College ranked #17 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying health and physical education schools. Set in the suburb of Milligan, Milligan College is a private not-for-profit institution. Early-career health and physical education graduates from Milligan College make a median of around $60,534 per year.
Dickinson State University earned the #18 position for health and physical education graduate earnings this year. Dickinson State University is a public school located in the town of Dickinson. Health And Physical Education graduates of Dickinson State University earn a median of about $60,523 a year early in their careers.
West Chester University Of Pennsylvania ranked #19 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying health and physical education schools. Set in the suburb of West Chester, West Chester University Of Pennsylvania is a public institution. Health And Physical Education graduates of West Chester University Of Pennsylvania earn a median of about $60,201 a year early in their careers.
Saint Thomas Aquinas College landed the #20 spot for health and physical education salaries this year. Saint Thomas Aquinas College is a private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Sparkill. After graduating, health and physical education degree recipients from Saint Thomas Aquinas College typically earn about $59,395 annually.
Southern Methodist University earned the #21 position for health and physical education graduate earnings this year. Southern Methodist University is a private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Dallas. Students who complete the health and physical education program here go on to a median salary of roughly $80,147.
East Texas Baptist University placed #22 among the highest-paying schools for health and physical education. Set in the town of Marshall, East Texas Baptist University is a private not-for-profit institution. Health And Physical Education graduates of East Texas Baptist University earn a median of about $59,336 a year early in their careers.
Rice University placed #23 among the highest-paying schools for health and physical education. Rice University is a private not-for-profit school located in the city of Houston. Health And Physical Education graduates of Rice University earn a median of about $71,586 a year early in their careers.
Shawnee State University earned the #24 position for health and physical education graduate earnings this year. Set in the town of Portsmouth, Shawnee State University is a public institution. Health And Physical Education graduates of Shawnee State University earn a median of about $58,904 a year early in their careers.
Manhattan College ranked #25 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying health and physical education schools. Located in the city of Riverdale, Manhattan College is a private not-for-profit institution. After graduating, health and physical education degree recipients from Manhattan College typically earn about $58,772 annually.
Not far behind, these schools also produced high-earning health and physical education graduates:
These institutions also earned high marks for health and physical education graduate pay:
| Rank | College | Location | Avg Salary | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #76 | Barry University | Miami, FL | $49,205 | Full Report |
| #77 | Willamette University | Salem, OR | $49,142 | Full Report |
| #78 | Syracuse University | Syracuse, NY | $69,954 | Full Report |
| #79 | Culver Stockton College | Canton, MO | $48,772 | Full Report |
| #80 | Tennessee Wesleyan College | Athens, TN | $48,562 | Full Report |
| #81 | Emmanuel College Georgia | Franklin Springs, GA | $48,431 | Full Report |
| #82 | University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign | Champaign, IL | $74,221 | Full Report |
| #83 | Winona State University | Winona, MN | $58,281 | Full Report |
| #84 | University Of Delaware | Newark, DE | $81,053 | Full Report |
| #85 | Miami University Oxford | Oxford, OH | $60,114 | Full Report |
| #86 | The University Of Texas At Austin | Austin, TX | $67,127 | Full Report |
| #87 | University Of Maryland College Park | College Park, MD | $73,118 | Full Report |
| #88 | University Of Virginia Main Campus | Charlottesville, VA | $78,439 | Full Report |
| #89 | James Madison University | Harrisonburg, VA | $65,422 | Full Report |
Also worth considering for earnings in health and physical education:
| Rank | College | Location | Avg Salary | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #90 | Louisiana College | Pineville, LA | $47,455 | Full Report |
| #91 | Endicott College | Beverly, MA | $72,529 | Full Report |
| #92 | University Of Indianapolis | Indianapolis, IN | $59,965 | Full Report |
| #93 | Queens University Of Charlotte | Charlotte, NC | $46,964 | Full Report |
| #94 | Dordt College | Sioux Center, IA | $46,833 | Full Report |
| #95 | University Of New England | Biddeford, ME | $69,231 | Full Report |
| #96 | University Of Wisconsin Parkside | Kenosha, WI | $70,830 | Full Report |
| #97 | University Of Florida | Gainesville, FL | $57,216 | Full Report |
| #98 | University Of Florida Online | Gainesville, FL | $57,216 | Full Report |
| #99 | University Of Minnesota Twin Cities | Minneapolis, MN | $62,213 | Full Report |
| #100 | Iowa State University | Ames, IA | $61,453 | Full Report |
Looking for a different degree level? Compare highest-paid Health And Physical Education rankings across degree levels:
The ranking above is published by College Factual, 2026 edition. The methodology measures the salaries health and physical education graduates go on to earn early in their careers, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (College Scorecard field-of-study earnings and IPEDS).
Ranking method: College Major Earnings · 100 schools evaluated.
*Salary figures reflect median early-career earnings (about 5 years after graduation) and may vary by how long a person takes to complete their degree.
More about our data sources and methodologies.