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.
College Factual analyzed 64 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the highest-paying health and physical education schools.
What’s on this page:
Below are the schools whose health and physical education graduates go on to earn the most.
University Of The Pacific tops our 2026 list of the highest-paying health and physical education schools in the Far Western Region. Located in the city of Stockton, University Of The Pacific 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 $72,395.
San Jose State University came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying health and physical education schools. Located in the city of San Jose, San Jose State University is a public institution. After graduating, health and physical education degree recipients from San Jose State University typically earn about $69,505 annually.
Pacific Union College produces some of the highest-paid graduates in health and physical education, landing the #3 spot this year. Located in the rural area of Angwin, Pacific Union College is a private not-for-profit institution. After graduating, health and physical education degree recipients from Pacific Union College typically earn about $67,066 annually.
Students chasing top earnings in health and physical education will find them at International Sports Sciences Association, which ranked #4. International Sports Sciences Association is a private for-profit school located in the suburb of Carpinteria. Early-career health and physical education graduates from International Sports Sciences Association make a median of around $46,831 per year.
Strong graduate earnings at Linfield College earned it the #5 place for health and physical education. Set in the town of McMinnville, Linfield College is a private not-for-profit institution. Health And Physical Education graduates of Linfield College earn a median of about $99,698 a year early in their careers.
Vanguard University Of Southern California ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying health and physical education schools. Set in the city of Costa Mesa, Vanguard University Of Southern California is a private not-for-profit institution. After graduating, health and physical education degree recipients from Vanguard University Of Southern California typically earn about $55,233 annually.
California State University Bakersfield landed the #7 spot for health and physical education salaries this year. Set in the city of Bakersfield, California State University Bakersfield is a public institution. Health And Physical Education graduates of California State University Bakersfield earn a median of about $52,896 a year early in their careers.
Pepperdine University came in at #8 for health and physical education graduate earnings this year. Set in the suburb of Malibu, Pepperdine University is a private not-for-profit institution. After graduating, health and physical education degree recipients from Pepperdine University typically earn about $78,198 annually.
Cabrillo College placed #9 among the highest-paying schools for health and physical education. Set in the suburb of Aptos, Cabrillo College is a public institution. Students who complete the health and physical education program here go on to a median salary of roughly $38,985.
Willamette University placed #10 among the highest-paying schools for health and physical education. Located in the city of Salem, Willamette University is a private not-for-profit institution. Early-career health and physical education graduates from Willamette University make a median of around $49,142 per year.
Citrus College landed the #11 spot for health and physical education salaries this year. Set in the suburb of Glendora, Citrus College is a public institution. After graduating, health and physical education degree recipients from Citrus College typically earn about $42,821 annually.
Saint Marys College Of California earned the #12 position for health and physical education graduate earnings this year. Saint Marys College Of California is a private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Moraga. Early-career health and physical education graduates from Saint Marys College Of California make a median of around $63,474 per year.
Ashford University ranked #13 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying health and physical education schools. Set in the city of San Diego, Ashford University is a private for-profit institution. After graduating, health and physical education degree recipients from Ashford University typically earn about $48,277 annually.
Whitworth University landed the #14 spot for health and physical education salaries this year. Whitworth University is a private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Spokane. Early-career health and physical education graduates from Whitworth University make a median of around $45,506 per year.
University Of Puget Sound ranked #15 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying health and physical education schools. University Of Puget Sound is a private not-for-profit school located in the city of Tacoma. Students who complete the health and physical education program here go on to a median salary of roughly $78,034.
Sonoma State University landed the #16 spot for health and physical education salaries this year. Located in the suburb of Rohnert Park, Sonoma State University is a public institution. Students who complete the health and physical education program here go on to a median salary of roughly $61,799.
Pacific Lutheran University ranked #17 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying health and physical education schools. Located in the suburb of Tacoma, Pacific Lutheran University 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 $61,136.
Washington State University ranked #18 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying health and physical education schools. Set in the town of Pullman, Washington State University is a public institution. Health And Physical Education graduates of Washington State University earn a median of about $64,225 a year early in their careers.
University Of San Francisco ranked #19 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying health and physical education schools. Set in the city of San Francisco, University Of San Francisco 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 $70,495.
California State University East Bay earned the #20 position for health and physical education graduate earnings this year. Located in the suburb of Hayward, California State University East Bay is a public institution. Early-career health and physical education graduates from California State University East Bay make a median of around $60,234 per year.
California State University Sacramento ranked #21 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying health and physical education schools. California State University Sacramento is a public school located in the city of Sacramento. After graduating, health and physical education degree recipients from California State University Sacramento typically earn about $61,913 annually.
California Lutheran University earned the #22 position for health and physical education graduate earnings this year. Set in the city of Thousand Oaks, California Lutheran University is a private not-for-profit institution. Early-career health and physical education graduates from California Lutheran University make a median of around $56,496 per year.
Oregon State University landed the #23 spot for health and physical education salaries this year. Set in the city of Corvallis, Oregon State University is a public institution. Early-career health and physical education graduates from Oregon State University make a median of around $60,964 per year.
San Diego State University landed the #24 spot for health and physical education salaries this year. San Diego State University is a public school located in the city of San Diego. Students who complete the health and physical education program here go on to a median salary of roughly $64,740.
California State University Monterey Bay came in at #25 for health and physical education graduate earnings this year. California State University Monterey Bay is a public school located in the suburb of Seaside. Health And Physical Education graduates of California State University Monterey Bay earn a median of about $59,223 a year early in their careers.
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s highest-paid health and physical education ranking:
This list is compiled by College Factual, 2026 edition. Schools are ranked on the median early-career earnings of their health and physical education graduates, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (College Scorecard field-of-study earnings and IPEDS).
Ranking method: College Major Earnings · 64 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.
