by our College Data Analytics Team
It’s not easy to decide which college to attend when there so many options available for students. Our mission at College Factual is to arm you with as much information as we can to help you make that decision. Our “Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Phys Ed Major” ranking is one tool we have developed to help in this regard.
Health & Physical Education is the 11th most popular major in the country with 67,146 degrees awarded in 2020-2021. In 2019-2020, health and physical education graduates who were awarded their degree in 2017-2019, earned an average of $31,386 and had an average of $24,576 in loans still to pay off.
At the bachelor’s degree level specifically, there were 49,843 health and physical education graduates with average earnings and debt of $39,682 and $26,217 respectively.
For this year’s “Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Phys Ed Major” ranking, we looked at 921 colleges that offer a degree in health and physical education. The colleges and universities that top this list are recognized because their health and physical education program is one of the largest majors offered at the school.
See our ranking methodology to learn more.
The phys ed school you choose to invest your time and money in matters. To help you make the decision that is right for you, we’ve developed a number of major-specific rankings, including this list of “Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Phys Ed Major”.
We’ve created a tool called College Combat that lets you create your own customized comparisons based on the factors that matter the most to you. When you have some time, check it out - you may want to bookmark the link so you don’t forget it.
The colleges and universities below are the best for bachelor’s degree phys ed students.
Out of the 921 schools in the Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Phys Ed Major that were part of this year’s ranking, Jarvis Christian College landed the #1 spot on the list. Jarvis Christian College is a private not-for-profit institution located in Hawkins, Texas. The school has a small population, and it awarded 28 bachelors’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Out of the 921 schools in the Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Phys Ed Major that were part of this year’s ranking, Ottawa University - Ottawa landed the #2 spot on the list. Ottawa, Kansas is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out bachelors’s phys ed degrees to 25 students in 2020-2021.
The impressive undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools.
Read full report on Health & Physical Education at Ottawa University - Ottawa
Out of the 921 schools in the Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Phys Ed Major that were part of this year’s ranking, Emmanuel College landed the #3 spot on the list. Emmanuel College is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Franklin Springs, Georgia. It awarded 26 bachelors’s phys ed degrees in 2020-2021.
Read full report on Health & Physical Education at Emmanuel College
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Voorhees College. The school came in at #4 for the Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Phys Ed Major. Voorhees College is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Denmark, South Carolina. It awarded 15 bachelors’s phys ed degrees in 2020-2021.
Read more about Health & Physical Education at Voorhees College
Out of the 921 schools in the Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Phys Ed Major that were part of this year’s ranking, Huntingdon College landed the #5 spot on the list. Huntingdon College is located in Montgomery, Alabama and, has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 49 bachelors’s phys ed degrees to qualified students.
Alice Lloyd College did quite well in the 2023 Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Phys Ed Major ranking, coming in at #6. Alice Lloyd College is located in Pippa Passes, Kentucky and, has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 14 bachelors’s phys ed degrees to qualified students.
Ecclesia College did quite well in the 2023 Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Phys Ed Major ranking, coming in at #7. Ecclesia College is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Springdale, Arkansas. It awarded 8 bachelors’s phys ed degrees in 2020-2021.
The impressive undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools.
Read more about Health & Physical Education at Ecclesia College
Bethany College Kansas landed the #8 spot on the 2023 Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Phys Ed Major ranking. Located in Lindsborg, Kansas, this small private not-for-profit school handed out 29 degrees to qualified bachelors’s phys ed students in 2020-2021.
Read more about Health & Physical Education at Bethany College Kansas
Crowley’s Ridge College landed the #9 spot on the 2023 Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Phys Ed Major ranking. Crowley’s Ridge College is a small school located in Paragould, Arkansas that handed out 7 bachelors’s phys ed degrees in 2020-2021.
With a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed.
Read more about Health & Physical Education at Crowley’s Ridge College
Southwestern Christian University ranked #10 on this year’s Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Phys Ed Major list. Southwestern Christian University is a small school located in Bethany, Oklahoma that handed out 13 bachelors’s phys ed degrees in 2020-2021.
Full Southwestern Christian University Health & Physical Education Report
William Penn University landed the #11 spot on the 2023 Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Phys Ed Major ranking. This small school is located in Oskaloosa, Iowa, and it awarded 40 bachelors’s phys ed degrees in 2020-2021.
Read full report on Health & Physical Education at William Penn University
With a ranking of #12, Newberry College did quite well on the 2023 Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Phys Ed Major list. Newberry, South Carolina is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out bachelors’s phys ed degrees to 44 students in 2020-2021.
Wesley College landed the #13 spot on the 2023 Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Phys Ed Major ranking. Wesley College is a small school located in Dover, Delaware that handed out 45 bachelors’s phys ed degrees in 2020-2021.
The impressive undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 9 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools.
Read more about Health & Physical Education at Wesley College
Huston - Tillotson University came in at #14 in this year’s edition of the Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Phys Ed Major ranking. This small school is located in Austin, Texas, and it awarded 34 bachelors’s phys ed degrees in 2020-2021.
Read more about Health & Physical Education at Huston - Tillotson University
With a ranking of #15, United States Sports Academy did quite well on the 2023 Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Phys Ed Major list. United States Sports Academy is a private not-for-profit institution located in Daphne, Alabama. The school has a small population, and it awarded 10 bachelors’s degrees in 2020-2021.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 3.8%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. With a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 7 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed.
Read full report on Health & Physical Education at United States Sports Academy
Saint Augustine’s University ranked #16 on this year’s Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Phys Ed Major list. Saint Augustine’s University is located in Raleigh, North Carolina and, has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 15 bachelors’s phys ed degrees to qualified students.
Read more about Health & Physical Education at Saint Augustine’s University
With a ranking of #16, Central Baptist College did quite well on the 2023 Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Phys Ed Major list. Located in Conway, Arkansas, this small private not-for-profit school handed out 20 degrees to qualified bachelors’s phys ed students in 2020-2021.
Alderson Broaddus University ranked #18 on this year’s Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Phys Ed Major list. This small school is located in Philippi, West Virginia, and it awarded 28 bachelors’s phys ed degrees in 2020-2021.
Full Alderson Broaddus University Health & Physical Education Report
With a ranking of #19, Lebanon Valley College did quite well on the 2023 Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Phys Ed Major list. Located in Annville, Pennsylvania, this small private not-for-profit school handed out 85 degrees to qualified bachelors’s phys ed students in 2020-2021.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.2% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.
Ottawa University - Surprise came in at #20 in this year’s edition of the Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Phys Ed Major ranking. Ottawa University - Surprise is a small school located in Surprise, Arizona that handed out 20 bachelors’s phys ed degrees in 2020-2021.
The undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one.
Read full report on Health & Physical Education at Ottawa University - Surprise
Missouri Valley College landed the #21 spot on the 2023 Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Phys Ed Major ranking. Missouri Valley College is a private not-for-profit institution located in Marshall, Missouri. The school has a small population, and it awarded 34 bachelors’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Full Missouri Valley College Health & Physical Education Report
With a ranking of #22, Bacone College did quite well on the 2023 Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Phys Ed Major list. Bacone College is located in Muskogee, Oklahoma and, has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 5 bachelors’s phys ed degrees to qualified students.
Read full report on Health & Physical Education at Bacone College
SUNY Cortland landed the #23 spot on the 2023 Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Phys Ed Major ranking. Cortland, New York is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s phys ed degrees to 265 students in 2020-2021.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 3.5%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 85%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.
Read full report on Health & Physical Education at SUNY Cortland
With a ranking of #24, Defiance College did quite well on the 2023 Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Phys Ed Major list. Defiance, Ohio is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out bachelors’s phys ed degrees to 13 students in 2020-2021.
Read more about Health & Physical Education at Defiance College
Chowan University landed the #25 spot on the 2023 Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Phys Ed Major ranking. Chowan University is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Murfreesboro, North Carolina. It awarded 26 bachelors’s phys ed degrees in 2020-2021.
Read full report on Health & Physical Education at Chowan University
Not only did these schools make the top 50 list, but they also landed in the top 15% of this year’s ranking:
While not in the ‘top 50’, these schools make the top 15% of this year’s ranking:
| Rank | College | Location |
|---|---|---|
| 51 | Belmont Abbey College | Belmont, NC |
| 52 | Westmont College | Santa Barbara, CA |
| 53 | Tougaloo College | Tougaloo, MS |
| 54 | Catawba College | Salisbury, NC |
| 55 | Franklin College | Franklin, IN |
| 56 | McPherson College | McPherson, KS |
| 57 | University of Memphis | Memphis, TN |
| 58 | Colby - Sawyer College | New London, NH |
| 59 | Martin Methodist College | Pulaski, TN |
| 60 | Castleton University | Castleton, VT |
| 61 | Blue Mountain College | Blue Mountain, MS |
| 62 | Mitchell College | New London, CT |
| 63 | Benedict College | Columbia, SC |
| 64 | Heidelberg University | Tiffin, OH |
| 65 | Brewton - Parker College | Mount Vernon, GA |
| Rank | College | Location |
|---|---|---|
| 66 | Randall University | Moore, OK |
| 67 | Bluffton University | Bluffton, OH |
| 68 | Wingate University | Wingate, NC |
| 69 | Springfield College | Springfield, MA |
| 70 | Olivet College | Olivet, MI |
| 71 | Nichols College | Dudley, MA |
| 72 | Wilmington College | Wilmington, OH |
| 73 | Mississippi Valley State University | Itta Bena, MS |
| 74 | Emory and Henry College | Emory, VA |
| 75 | Eureka College | Eureka, IL |
| 76 | Elizabeth City State University | Elizabeth City, NC |
| 77 | Winston - Salem State University | Winston-Salem, NC |
| 78 | Roanoke College | Salem, VA |
| 79 | Hanover College | Hanover, IN |
| 80 | St. Thomas Aquinas College | Sparkill, NY |
| 81 | Warner Pacific University | Portland, OR |
| 82 | Warner University | Lake Wales, FL |
| 83 | Grand View University | Des Moines, IA |
| 84 | Nebraska Wesleyan University | Lincoln, NE |
| 85 | Brevard College | Brevard, NC |
| 86 | Methodist University | Fayetteville, NC |
| 87 | Ohio Wesleyan University | Delaware, OH |
| 88 | University of Pittsburgh - Bradford | Bradford, PA |
| 89 | Fort Lewis College | Durango, CO |
| 90 | William Peace University | Raleigh, NC |
Read more about our data sources and methodologies
