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.
For its 2026 highest-paid-graduates ranking, College Factual looked at 37 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.
Our analysis ranked Walsh University the top school for health and physical education graduate earnings in Ohio. Walsh University is a private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of North Canton. Students who complete the health and physical education program here go on to a median salary of roughly $64,683.
Strong graduate earnings at Shawnee State University earned it the #2 place for health and physical education. Located in the town of Portsmouth, Shawnee State University is a public institution. Students who complete the health and physical education program here go on to a median salary of roughly $58,904.
Strong graduate earnings at Heidelberg University earned it the #3 place for health and physical education. Heidelberg University is a private not-for-profit school located in the town of Tiffin. After graduating, health and physical education degree recipients from Heidelberg University typically earn about $55,764 annually.
University Of Dayton produces some of the highest-paid graduates in health and physical education, landing the #4 spot this year. Located in the city of Dayton, University Of Dayton 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 $69,228.
Ohio University Main Campus came in at #5 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying health and physical education schools. Located in the town of Athens, Ohio University Main Campus is a public institution. Health And Physical Education graduates of Ohio University Main Campus earn a median of about $62,384 a year early in their careers.
Miami University Oxford placed #6 among the highest-paying schools for health and physical education. Located in the town of Oxford, Miami University Oxford is a public institution. After graduating, health and physical education degree recipients from Miami University Oxford typically earn about $59,063 annually.
Ohio University Chillicothe Campus earned the #7 position for health and physical education graduate earnings this year. Set in the town of Chillicothe, Ohio University Chillicothe Campus is a public institution. Health And Physical Education graduates of Ohio University Chillicothe Campus earn a median of about $60,673 a year early in their careers.
Ohio University Eastern Campus landed the #8 spot for health and physical education salaries this year. Located in the rural area of Saint Clairsville, Ohio University Eastern Campus is a public institution. Students who complete the health and physical education program here go on to a median salary of roughly $60,673.
Ohio University Zanesville Campus landed the #9 spot for health and physical education salaries this year. Set in the town of Zanesville, Ohio University Zanesville Campus is a public institution. After graduating, health and physical education degree recipients from Ohio University Zanesville Campus typically earn about $60,673 annually.
Ohio Dominican University ranked #10 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying health and physical education schools. Located in the city of Columbus, Ohio Dominican University is a private not-for-profit institution. Early-career health and physical education graduates from Ohio Dominican University make a median of around $52,640 per year.
Lake Erie College ranked #11 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying health and physical education schools. Located in the suburb of Painesville, Lake Erie 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 $45,059.
The University Of Findlay came in at #12 for health and physical education graduate earnings this year. Located in the town of Findlay, The University Of Findlay is a private not-for-profit institution. After graduating, health and physical education degree recipients from The University Of Findlay typically earn about $43,262 annually.
Cuyahoga Community College District earned the #13 position for health and physical education graduate earnings this year. Located in the city of Cleveland, Cuyahoga Community College District is a public institution. Students who complete the health and physical education program here go on to a median salary of roughly $38,510.
Ohio Christian University landed the #14 spot for health and physical education salaries this year. Located in the rural area of Circleville, Ohio Christian University is a private not-for-profit institution. After graduating, health and physical education degree recipients from Ohio Christian University typically earn about $42,665 annually.
Kent State University At Kent earned the #15 position for health and physical education graduate earnings this year. Located in the suburb of Kent, Kent State University At Kent is a public institution. Health And Physical Education graduates of Kent State University At Kent earn a median of about $57,695 a year early in their careers.
University Of Mount Union ranked #16 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying health and physical education schools. University Of Mount Union is a private not-for-profit school located in the town of Alliance. Students who complete the health and physical education program here go on to a median salary of roughly $55,235.
Ohio State University Main Campus placed #17 among the highest-paying schools for health and physical education. Located in the city of Columbus, Ohio State University Main Campus is a public institution. Health And Physical Education graduates of Ohio State University Main Campus earn a median of about $54,863 a year early in their careers.
College Of Mount St Joseph earned the #18 position for health and physical education graduate earnings this year. Located in the suburb of Cincinnati, College Of Mount St Joseph is a private not-for-profit institution. Health And Physical Education graduates of College Of Mount St Joseph earn a median of about $56,008 a year early in their careers.
Otterbein University came in at #19 for health and physical education graduate earnings this year. Located in the suburb of Westerville, Otterbein University is a private not-for-profit institution. Early-career health and physical education graduates from Otterbein University make a median of around $55,035 per year.
Xavier University earned the #20 position for health and physical education graduate earnings this year. Located in the city of Cincinnati, Xavier 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 $53,678.
Baldwin Wallace College ranked #21 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying health and physical education schools. Baldwin Wallace College is a private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Berea. Health And Physical Education graduates of Baldwin Wallace College earn a median of about $46,267 a year early in their careers.
Bowling Green State University Main Campus placed #22 among the highest-paying schools for health and physical education. Located in the town of Bowling Green, Bowling Green State University Main Campus is a public institution. Students who complete the health and physical education program here go on to a median salary of roughly $51,116.
Capital University earned the #23 position for health and physical education graduate earnings this year. Capital University is a private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Columbus. After graduating, health and physical education degree recipients from Capital University typically earn about $54,904 annually.
University Of Cincinnati Main Campus came in at #24 for health and physical education graduate earnings this year. Located in the city of Cincinnati, University Of Cincinnati Main Campus is a public institution. After graduating, health and physical education degree recipients from University Of Cincinnati Main Campus typically earn about $43,997 annually.
Cleveland State University came in at #25 for health and physical education graduate earnings this year. Located in the city of Cleveland, Cleveland State University is a public institution. After graduating, health and physical education degree recipients from Cleveland State University typically earn about $58,545 annually.
Not far behind, these schools also produced high-earning health and physical education graduates:
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 · 37 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.