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2024 Best Health & Physical Education Bachelor's Degree Schools in the Plains States Region

64 Colleges in the Plains States Region
4,303 Bachelor's Degrees
$30,003 Avg Early-Career Salary
Ranked #9 in popularity, health & physical education is one of the most sought-after bachelor's degree programs in the nation. This means there are lots of options to choose from when you decide to get your degree.

In 2024, College Factual analyzed 64 schools in order to identify the top ones for its Best Health & Physical Education Bachelor's Degree Schools in the Plains States Region ranking. Combined, these schools handed out 4,303 bachelor's degrees in health & physical education to qualified students.

What's on this page: * Our Methodology

Choosing a Great Health & Physical Education School for Your Bachelor's Degree

Best Health & Physical Education Bachelor's Degree Schools in the Plains States Region The phys ed bachelor's degree program you select can have a big impact on your future. This section explores some of the factors we include in our ranking and how much they vary depending on the school you select. To make it into this list, a school must excel in the following areas.

A Great Overall School

The overall quality of a bachelor's degree school is important to ensure a good education, not just how well they do in a particular major. To take this into account we include a school's overall Best Colleges ranking which itself looks at a host of various factors like degree completion, educational resources, student body caliber and post-graduation earnings for the school as a whole.

Early-Career Earnings

One measure we use to determine the quality of a school is to look at the average salary of bachelor's graduates during the early years of their career. That is, everyone wants their bachelor's degree to be worth something, and salaries are one measure of determining that.

Other Factors We Consider

The metrics below are just some of the other metrics that we use to determine our rankings.

Our complete ranking methodology documents in more detail how we consider these factors to identify the best schools for health & physical education students working on their bachelor's degree.

One Size Does Not Fit All

Rankings by Location Check Out Other Locales
More Phys Ed Rankings Other Ranking Categories

Since picking the right college can be one of the most important decisions of your life, we've developed the Best Health & Physical Education Bachelor's Degree Schools in the Plains States Region ranking, along with many other major-related rankings, to help you make that decision.

In addition to our rankings, you can take two colleges and compare them based on the criteria that matters most to you in our unique tool, College Combat. Test it out when you get a chance! You may also want to bookmark the link and share it with others who are trying to make the college decision.

Best Schools for Bachelor’s Students to Study Health & Physical Education in the Plains States Region

The following list ranks the best colleges and universities for pursuing a bachelor's degree in health & physical education.

10 Top Plains States Region Schools for a Bachelor's in Phys Ed

1
Iowa crest
University of Iowa
Iowa City, IA
555 Annual Graduates
$31,109 Median Starting Salary
$24,250 Median Student Debt

It's difficult to beat University of Iowa if you wish to pursue a bachelor's degree in health & physical education. Located in the small city of Iowa City, Iowa is a public university with a very large student population.

Soon after graduating, phys ed bachelor's recipients typically earn around $31,109 in the first five years of their career.

More information about a bachelor’s in health & physical education from University of Iowa

2
242 Annual Graduates
$32,074 Median Starting Salary
$25,425 Median Student Debt

It is hard to beat Iowa State University if you wish to pursue a bachelor's degree in health & physical education. Iowa State is a very large public university located in the city of Ames.

Those health & physical education students who get their bachelor's degree from Iowa State University make $2,071 more than the average phys ed graduate.

More information about a bachelor’s in health & physical education from Iowa State University

3
85 Annual Graduates
$33,230 Median Starting Salary
$23,000 Median Student Debt

Any student pursuing a degree in a bachelor's degree in health & physical education has to check out University of Minnesota - Twin Cities. UMN Twin Cities is a very large public university located in the city of Minneapolis.

Bachelor's recipients from the health & physical education degree program at University of Minnesota - Twin Cities make $3,227 more than the standard college graduate in this field when they enter the workforce.

More information about a bachelor’s in health & physical education from University of Minnesota - Twin Cities

4
100 Annual Graduates
$33,524 Median Starting Salary
$24,420 Median Student Debt

Minnesota State University - Mankato is a great decision for students interested in a bachelor's degree in health & physical education. Minnesota State Mankato is a large public university located in the city of Mankato.

Those health & physical education students who get their bachelor's degree from Minnesota State University - Mankato receive $3,521 more than the average phys ed grad.

More information about a bachelor’s in health & physical education from Minnesota State University - Mankato

5
KU crest
University of Kansas
Lawrence, KS
214 Annual Graduates
$28,152 Median Starting Salary
$22,125 Median Student Debt

Located in the small city of Lawrence, KU is a public university with a very large student population.

Bachelor's graduates who receive their degree from the phys ed program earn around $28,152 for their early career.

More information about a bachelor’s in health & physical education from University of Kansas

6
Loras crest
Loras College
Dubuque, IA
32 Annual Graduates
$33,391 Median Starting Salary
$27,000 Median Student Debt

Loras is a small private not-for-profit college located in the city of Dubuque.

Bachelor's recipients from the health & physical education major at Loras College earn $3,388 more than the average graduate with the same degree shortly after graduation.

More information about a bachelor’s in health & physical education from Loras College

7
69 Annual Graduates
$25,757 Median Starting Salary
$26,000 Median Student Debt

St. Ambrose University is a small private not-for-profit university located in the city of Davenport.

Bachelor's students who receive their degree from the phys ed program earn about $25,757 in their early career salary.

More information about a bachelor’s in health & physical education from Saint Ambrose University

8
63 Annual Graduates
$37,552 Median Starting Salary
$25,550 Median Student Debt

Located in the town of Winona, Winona State is a public university with a medium-sized student population.

Bachelor's recipients from the health & physical education major at Winona State University make $7,549 more than the typical college grad in this field when they enter the workforce.

More information about a bachelor’s in health & physical education from Winona State University

9
64 Annual Graduates
$29,830 Median Starting Salary
$22,500 Median Student Debt

UNI is a medium-sized public university located in the small city of Cedar Falls.

After graduation, phys ed bachelor's recipients typically make around $29,830 at the beginning of their careers.

More information about a bachelor’s in health & physical education from University of Northern Iowa

10
Lindenwood University crest
Lindenwood University
Saint Charles, MO
99 Annual Graduates
$27,629 Median Starting Salary
$28,000 Median Student Debt

Located in the city of Saint Charles, Lindenwood University is a private not-for-profit university with a medium-sized student population.

Bachelor's graduates who receive their degree from the phys ed program make about $27,629 in the first couple years of their career.

More information about a bachelor’s in health & physical education from Lindenwood University

Honorable Mentions

These are some additional schools worth mentioning that are also great but just didn't quite make the cut to earn our top Best Health & Physical Education Bachelor's Degree Schools in the Plains States Region award.

Rank College Location
11 Maryville University of Saint Louis Saint Louis, MO
12 University of North Dakota Grand Forks, ND
13 Gustavus Adolphus College Saint Peter, MN
14 North Dakota State University - Main Campus Fargo, ND
15 Simpson College Indianola, IA
16 Dickinson State University Dickinson, ND

Best Health & Physical Education Colleges by State

Explore the best health & physical education schools for a specific state in the Plains States Region .

State Colleges Degrees Awarded
Missouri 228 882
Minnesota 215 815
Iowa 197 1,241
Kansas 184 589
Nebraska 180 297
North Dakota 149 220
South Dakota 148 259

View All Rankings >

One of 4 majors within the Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies area of study, Health & Physical Education has other similar majors worth exploring.

Phys Ed Focus Areas

Major Annual Graduates
Exercise Science and Kinesiology 2,552
Sports Management 1,130
Sports Kinesiology and Physical Education/Fitness General 408
Outdoor Health & Physical Education/Fitness 131
Sports Studies 54
Physical Fitness Technician 28

Majors Similar to Phys Ed

Related Major Annual Graduates
Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies 430
Recreation Administration 137
Other Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies 7
Outdoor Education 6

Notes and References

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