by our College Data Analytics Team
[Health And Physical Education](/majors/parks-recreation-fitness/health-and-physical-education/) is a field where your choice of school can shape what you earn after graduation. The highest-paying schools turn a health and physical education degree into the strongest early-career earnings.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 22 schools on the early-career earnings of their health and physical education graduates.
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If you want to know which schools send health and physical education graduates into the highest-paying careers, see the list below.
For graduate earnings in health and physical education, no school beat Trinity International University Illinois this year. Set in the suburb of Deerfield, Trinity International University Illinois is a private not-for-profit institution. After graduating, health and physical education degree recipients from Trinity International University Illinois typically earn about $56,076 annually.
University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign produces some of the highest-paid graduates in health and physical education, landing the #2 spot this year. Located in the city of Champaign, University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign is a public institution. Health And Physical Education graduates of University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign earn a median of about $74,221 a year early in their careers.
A rank of #3 makes Illinois State University one of the highest-paying schools for health and physical education. Located in the suburb of Normal, Illinois State University is a public institution. Health And Physical Education graduates of Illinois State University earn a median of about $66,257 a year early in their careers.
Elmhurst College produces some of the highest-paid graduates in health and physical education, landing the #4 spot this year. Set in the suburb of Elmhurst, Elmhurst College is a private not-for-profit institution. Early-career health and physical education graduates from Elmhurst College make a median of around $63,657 per year.
Quincy University produces some of the highest-paid graduates in health and physical education, landing the #5 spot this year. Located in the town of Quincy, Quincy University is a private not-for-profit institution. Early-career health and physical education graduates from Quincy University make a median of around $44,301 per year.
University Of Illinois At Chicago landed the #6 spot for health and physical education salaries this year. Set in the city of Chicago, University Of Illinois At Chicago is a public institution. Early-career health and physical education graduates from University Of Illinois At Chicago make a median of around $62,018 per year.
Lewis University placed #7 among the highest-paying schools for health and physical education. Set in the suburb of Romeoville, Lewis University is a private not-for-profit institution. Health And Physical Education graduates of Lewis University earn a median of about $61,464 a year early in their careers.
North Central College landed the #8 spot for health and physical education salaries this year. Located in the city of Naperville, North Central College is a private not-for-profit institution. Health And Physical Education graduates of North Central College earn a median of about $50,987 a year early in their careers.
Eastern Illinois University ranked #9 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying health and physical education schools. Eastern Illinois University is a public school located in the town of Charleston. Students who complete the health and physical education program here go on to a median salary of roughly $50,730.
Western Illinois University landed the #10 spot for health and physical education salaries this year. Western Illinois University is a public school located in the town of Macomb. Early-career health and physical education graduates from Western Illinois University make a median of around $59,683 per year.
Northern Illinois University ranked #11 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying health and physical education schools. Set in the suburb of Dekalb, Northern Illinois University is a public institution. After graduating, health and physical education degree recipients from Northern Illinois University typically earn about $51,319 annually.
Southern Illinois University Edwardsville earned the #12 position for health and physical education graduate earnings this year. Set in the suburb of Edwardsville, Southern Illinois University Edwardsville is a public institution. After graduating, health and physical education degree recipients from Southern Illinois University Edwardsville typically earn about $55,851 annually.
North Park University ranked #13 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying health and physical education schools. Set in the city of Chicago, North Park 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 $52,061.
Concordia University Chicago ranked #14 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying health and physical education schools. Concordia University Chicago is a private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of River Forest. After graduating, health and physical education degree recipients from Concordia University Chicago typically earn about $50,705 annually.
Aurora University landed the #15 spot for health and physical education salaries this year. Set in the suburb of Aurora, Aurora University is a private not-for-profit institution. Early-career health and physical education graduates from Aurora University make a median of around $37,256 per year.
Greenville College placed #16 among the highest-paying schools for health and physical education. Located in the town of Greenville, Greenville College is a private not-for-profit institution. After graduating, health and physical education degree recipients from Greenville College typically earn about $36,619 annually.
Benedictine University placed #17 among the highest-paying schools for health and physical education. Set in the suburb of Lisle, Benedictine University is a private not-for-profit institution. Health And Physical Education graduates of Benedictine University earn a median of about $36,344 a year early in their careers.
Southern Illinois University Carbondale placed #18 among the highest-paying schools for health and physical education. Set in the town of Carbondale, Southern Illinois University Carbondale is a public institution. Students who complete the health and physical education program here go on to a median salary of roughly $42,513.
Millikin University placed #19 among the highest-paying schools for health and physical education. Set in the city of Decatur, Millikin University is a private not-for-profit institution. Early-career health and physical education graduates from Millikin University make a median of around $42,885 per year.
Monmouth College came in at #20 for health and physical education graduate earnings this year. Set in the town of Monmouth, Monmouth College 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 $37,152.
Mckendree University earned the #21 position for health and physical education graduate earnings this year. Set in the suburb of Lebanon, Mckendree University is a private not-for-profit institution. Early-career health and physical education graduates from Mckendree University make a median of around $31,259 per year.
Olivet Nazarene University earned the #22 position for health and physical education graduate earnings this year. Set in the suburb of Bourbonnais, Olivet Nazarene University is a private not-for-profit institution. After graduating, health and physical education degree recipients from Olivet Nazarene University typically earn about $28,990 annually.
This list is compiled 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 · 22 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.