by our College Data Analytics Team
[Health And Physical Education](/majors/parks-recreation-fitness/health-and-physical-education/) programs reward a close look at where graduates go on to earn the most. 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 68 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.
Union County College earned the #1 spot for highest-paid health and physical education graduates in the Middle Atlantic Region. Located in the suburb of Cranford, Union County College is a public institution. After graduating, health and physical education degree recipients from Union County College typically earn about $51,721 annually.
University Of Scranton came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying health and physical education schools. University Of Scranton is a private not-for-profit school located in the city of Scranton. Early-career health and physical education graduates from University Of Scranton make a median of around $78,403 per year.
Gannon University produces some of the highest-paid graduates in health and physical education, landing the #3 spot this year. Gannon University is a private not-for-profit school located in the city of Erie. Early-career health and physical education graduates from Gannon University make a median of around $60,778 per year.
West Chester University Of Pennsylvania came in at #4 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. After graduating, health and physical education degree recipients from West Chester University Of Pennsylvania typically earn about $60,201 annually.
Strong graduate earnings at Saint Thomas Aquinas College earned it the #5 place for health and physical education. Set in the suburb of Sparkill, Saint Thomas Aquinas College is a private not-for-profit institution. Early-career health and physical education graduates from Saint Thomas Aquinas College make a median of around $59,395 per year.
Manhattan College came in at #6 for health and physical education graduate earnings this year. Manhattan College is a private not-for-profit school located in the city of Riverdale. Early-career health and physical education graduates from Manhattan College make a median of around $58,772 per year.
Georgian Court University earned the #7 position for health and physical education graduate earnings this year. Georgian Court University is a private not-for-profit school located in the city of Lakewood. Early-career health and physical education graduates from Georgian Court University make a median of around $57,350 per year.
Niagara University came in at #8 for health and physical education graduate earnings this year. Located in the suburb of Niagara University, Niagara University is a private not-for-profit institution. After graduating, health and physical education degree recipients from Niagara University typically earn about $53,000 annually.
Seton Hall University landed the #9 spot for health and physical education salaries this year. Located in the suburb of South Orange, Seton Hall 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 $73,182.
Suny College Of Technology At Alfred came in at #10 for health and physical education graduate earnings this year. Suny College Of Technology At Alfred is a public school located in the rural area of Alfred. Students who complete the health and physical education program here go on to a median salary of roughly $44,497.
Syracuse University ranked #11 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying health and physical education schools. Syracuse University is a private not-for-profit school located in the city of Syracuse. Early-career health and physical education graduates from Syracuse University make a median of around $69,954 per year.
University Of Delaware came in at #12 for health and physical education graduate earnings this year. Set in the suburb of Newark, University Of Delaware is a public institution. Early-career health and physical education graduates from University Of Delaware make a median of around $81,053 per year.
University Of Maryland College Park came in at #13 for health and physical education graduate earnings this year. Set in the suburb of College Park, University Of Maryland College Park is a public institution. Health And Physical Education graduates of University Of Maryland College Park earn a median of about $73,118 a year early in their careers.
Drexel University landed the #14 spot for health and physical education salaries this year. Drexel University is a private not-for-profit school located in the city of Philadelphia. Early-career health and physical education graduates from Drexel University make a median of around $74,145 per year.
Rutgers University New Brunswick placed #15 among the highest-paying schools for health and physical education. Set in the city of New Brunswick, Rutgers University New Brunswick is a public institution. After graduating, health and physical education degree recipients from Rutgers University New Brunswick typically earn about $70,465 annually.
York College Pennsylvania landed the #16 spot for health and physical education salaries this year. Located in the suburb of York, York College Pennsylvania is a private not-for-profit institution. Early-career health and physical education graduates from York College Pennsylvania make a median of around $57,821 per year.
Hudson Valley Community College ranked #17 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying health and physical education schools. Located in the city of Troy, Hudson Valley Community College is a public institution. Health And Physical Education graduates of Hudson Valley Community College earn a median of about $39,992 a year early in their careers.
Saint John Fisher College landed the #18 spot for health and physical education salaries this year. Located in the suburb of Rochester, Saint John Fisher College is a private not-for-profit institution. After graduating, health and physical education degree recipients from Saint John Fisher College typically earn about $56,147 annually.
William Paterson University Of New Jersey earned the #19 position for health and physical education graduate earnings this year. Set in the suburb of Wayne, William Paterson University Of New Jersey is a public institution. Students who complete the health and physical education program here go on to a median salary of roughly $61,432.
Towson University placed #20 among the highest-paying schools for health and physical education. Towson University is a public school located in the city of Towson. Early-career health and physical education graduates from Towson University make a median of around $60,108 per year.
Desales University placed #21 among the highest-paying schools for health and physical education. Desales University is a private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Center Valley. Students who complete the health and physical education program here go on to a median salary of roughly $67,421.
Temple University earned the #22 position for health and physical education graduate earnings this year. Located in the city of Philadelphia, Temple University is a public institution. After graduating, health and physical education degree recipients from Temple University typically earn about $63,192 annually.
Salisbury University earned the #23 position for health and physical education graduate earnings this year. Salisbury University is a public school located in the suburb of Salisbury. After graduating, health and physical education degree recipients from Salisbury University typically earn about $62,669 annually.
Coppin State University earned the #24 position for health and physical education graduate earnings this year. Located in the city of Baltimore, Coppin State University is a public institution. After graduating, health and physical education degree recipients from Coppin State University typically earn about $42,332 annually.
Onondaga Community College placed #25 among the highest-paying schools for health and physical education. Onondaga Community College is a public school located in the suburb of Syracuse. Health And Physical Education graduates of Onondaga Community College earn a median of about $38,404 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. 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 · 68 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.
