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.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 26 schools on the early-career earnings of their health and physical education graduates.
What’s on this page:
Below are the schools whose health and physical education graduates go on to earn the most.
Saint Thomas Aquinas College earned the #1 spot for highest-paid health and physical education graduates in New York. Located in the suburb of Sparkill, Saint Thomas Aquinas 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 $59,395.
Manhattan College came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying health and physical education schools. Set in the city of Riverdale, Manhattan College is a private not-for-profit institution. Health And Physical Education graduates of Manhattan College earn a median of about $58,772 a year early in their careers.
Niagara University produces some of the highest-paid graduates in health and physical education, landing the #3 spot this year. Niagara University is a private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Niagara University. Health And Physical Education graduates of Niagara University earn a median of about $53,000 a year early in their careers.
Suny College Of Technology At Alfred came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying health and physical education schools. 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 produces some of the highest-paid graduates in health and physical education, landing the #5 spot this year. Set in the city of Syracuse, Syracuse University is a private not-for-profit institution. After graduating, health and physical education degree recipients from Syracuse University typically earn about $69,954 annually.
Hudson Valley Community College ranked #6 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. Early-career health and physical education graduates from Hudson Valley Community College make a median of around $39,992 per year.
Saint John Fisher College earned the #7 position for health and physical education graduate earnings this year. Saint John Fisher College is a private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Rochester. Students who complete the health and physical education program here go on to a median salary of roughly $56,147.
Onondaga Community College ranked #8 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying health and physical education schools. Located in the suburb of Syracuse, Onondaga Community College is a public institution. Early-career health and physical education graduates from Onondaga Community College make a median of around $38,404 per year.
Cuny Brooklyn College ranked #9 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying health and physical education schools. Located in the city of Brooklyn, Cuny Brooklyn College is a public institution. Health And Physical Education graduates of Cuny Brooklyn College earn a median of about $67,383 a year early in their careers.
Adelphi University ranked #10 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying health and physical education schools. Adelphi University is a private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Garden City. Health And Physical Education graduates of Adelphi University earn a median of about $66,684 a year early in their careers.
Suny College At Cortland ranked #11 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying health and physical education schools. Located in the town of Cortland, Suny College At Cortland is a public institution. Early-career health and physical education graduates from Suny College At Cortland make a median of around $61,501 per year.
Farmingdale State College came in at #12 for health and physical education graduate earnings this year. Farmingdale State College is a public school located in the suburb of Farmingdale. After graduating, health and physical education degree recipients from Farmingdale State College typically earn about $57,536 annually.
Manhattanville College placed #13 among the highest-paying schools for health and physical education. Located in the suburb of Purchase, Manhattanville College is a private not-for-profit institution. After graduating, health and physical education degree recipients from Manhattanville College typically earn about $58,182 annually.
Dutchess Community College came in at #14 for health and physical education graduate earnings this year. Set in the suburb of Poughkeepsie, Dutchess Community College is a public institution. After graduating, health and physical education degree recipients from Dutchess Community College typically earn about $34,255 annually.
Canisius College placed #15 among the highest-paying schools for health and physical education. Canisius College is a private not-for-profit school located in the city of Buffalo. After graduating, health and physical education degree recipients from Canisius College typically earn about $57,161 annually.
Suny At Fredonia ranked #16 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying health and physical education schools. Suny At Fredonia is a public school located in the town of Fredonia. Students who complete the health and physical education program here go on to a median salary of roughly $49,403.
Saint Bonaventure University placed #17 among the highest-paying schools for health and physical education. Located in the town of Saint Bonaventure, Saint Bonaventure University is a private not-for-profit institution. Early-career health and physical education graduates from Saint Bonaventure University make a median of around $53,591 per year.
St Johns University New York ranked #18 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying health and physical education schools. Located in the city of Queens, St Johns University New York is a private not-for-profit institution. Health And Physical Education graduates of St Johns University New York earn a median of about $52,794 a year early in their careers.
Suny College At Oneonta ranked #19 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying health and physical education schools. Set in the town of Oneonta, Suny College At Oneonta is a public institution. Early-career health and physical education graduates from Suny College At Oneonta make a median of around $36,119 per year.
Suny College At Brockport placed #20 among the highest-paying schools for health and physical education. Set in the town of Brockport, Suny College At Brockport is a public institution. Health And Physical Education graduates of Suny College At Brockport earn a median of about $49,733 a year early in their careers.
Long Island University C W Post Campus earned the #21 position for health and physical education graduate earnings this year. Set in the suburb of Brookville, Long Island University C W Post 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 $47,889.
Focus Personal Training Institute placed #22 among the highest-paying schools for health and physical education. Focus Personal Training Institute is a private for-profit school located in the city of New York. After graduating, health and physical education degree recipients from Focus Personal Training Institute typically earn about $17,562 annually.
Cuny Lehman College ranked #23 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying health and physical education schools. Set in the city of Bronx, Cuny Lehman College is a public institution. Health And Physical Education graduates of Cuny Lehman College earn a median of about $29,538 a year early in their careers.
Cuny Queens College ranked #24 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying health and physical education schools. Cuny Queens College is a public school located in the city of Queens. Early-career health and physical education graduates from Cuny Queens College make a median of around $49,077 per year.
Mercy College earned the #25 position for health and physical education graduate earnings this year. Set in the suburb of Dobbs Ferry, Mercy 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 $23,094.
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 · 26 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.