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2025 Best Health & Physical Education Master's Degree Schools

193 Colleges in the United States
9,498 Master's Degrees
$45,545 Avg Early-Career Salary
Health & Physical Education is of the hottest master's degree programs in the United States, coming in as the #23 most popular major in the country. This means there are lots of options to choose from when you decide to get your degree.

For its 2025 ranking, College Factual looked at 193 schools in the United States to determine which ones were the best for health & physical education students pursuing a master's degree. Combined, these schools handed out 9,498 master's degrees in health & physical education to qualified students.

Jump to one of the following sections: * Our Methodology

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

Best Health & Physical Education Master's Degree Schools The phys ed master's degree program you select can have a big impact on your future. Important measures of a quality phys ed program can vary widely even among the top schools. To make it into this list, a school must excel in the following areas.

A Great Overall School

A school that excels in educating for a particular major and degree level must be a great school overall as well. To make it into this list a school must rank well in our overall Best Colleges for a Master's Degree ranking. This ranking considered factors such as graduation rates, overall graduate earnings and other educational resources to identify great colleges and universities.

Early-Career Earnings

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

Other Factors We Consider

In addition to the above, you should consider some of the following factors:

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

More Ways to Rank Health & Physical Education Schools

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

When choosing the right school for you, it's important to arm yourself with all the facts you can. To that end, we've created a number of major-specific rankings, including this Best Health & Physical Education Master's Degree Schools list to help you make the college decision.

Best Schools for Master’s Students to Study Health & Physical Education in the United States

Explore the top ranked colleges and universities for health & physical education students seeking a a master's degree. Only those schools that rank in the top 15% of all the schools we analyze get awarded with a place on this list.

25 Top Schools for a Master's in Phys Ed

1

It is difficult to beat Columbia University in the City of New York if you wish to pursue a master's degree in health & physical education. Located in the city of New York, Columbia is a private not-for-profit university with a very large student population.

Health & Physical Education master's degree recipients from Columbia University in the City of New York get an earnings boost of approximately $17,873 over the average income of health & physical education graduates.

More information about a master’s in health & physical education from Columbia University in the City of New York

1

University of Michigan - Ann Arbor is one of the best schools in the United States for getting a master's degree in health & physical education. U-M is a fairly large public university located in the medium-sized city of Ann Arbor.

After graduating, phys ed master's recipients generally make around $41,473 in the first five years of their career.

More information about a master’s in health & physical education from University of Michigan - Ann Arbor

2

Every student pursuing a degree in a master's degree in health & physical education needs to check out Texas A&M University - College Station. Located in the midsize city of College Station, Texas A&M College Station is a public university with a very large student population.

Master's recipients from the health & physical education degree program at Texas A&M University - College Station make $2,127 above the average college graduate with the same degree when they enter the workforce.

More information about a master’s in health & physical education from Texas A&M University - College Station

3
UF crest
University of Florida
Gainesville, FL

University of Florida is one of the finest schools in the country for getting a master's degree in health & physical education. Located in the midsize city of Gainesville, UF is a public university with a very large student population.

Master's recipients from the health & physical education program at University of Florida make $4,830 above the standard college graduate in this field when they enter the workforce.

More information about a master’s in health & physical education from University of Florida

3

Northwestern University is a wonderful option for students pursuing a master's degree in health & physical education. Northwestern is a fairly large private not-for-profit university located in the small city of Evanston.

Master's recipients from the health & physical education program at Northwestern University earn $12,992 more than the standard college graduate in this field shortly after graduation.

More information about a master’s in health & physical education from Northwestern University

4

Any student pursuing a degree in a master's degree in health & physical education has to check out Ohio University - Athens Campus. OHIO Athens is a fairly large public university located in the distant town of Athens.

Those health & physical education students who get their master's degree from Ohio University - Athens Campus receive $10,130 more than the standard phys ed grad.

More information about a master’s in health & physical education from Ohio University - Athens Campus

5
12 Annual Graduates

Located in the city of Madison, UW - Madison is a public university with a fairly large student population.More information about a master’s in health & physical education from University of Wisconsin - Madison

6
Temple crest
Temple University
Philadelphia, PA

Located in the large city of Philadelphia, Temple is a public university with a very large student population.

After graduating, phys ed master's recipients usually earn about $45,198 at the beginning of their careers.

More information about a master’s in health & physical education from Temple University

7

Ohio State is a very large public university located in the large city of Columbus.

Health & Physical Education master's degree recipients from Ohio State University - Main Campus earn a boost of around $2,137 over the typical earnings of health & physical education graduates.

More information about a master’s in health & physical education from Ohio State University - Main Campus

8

Located in the large city of Irvine, Concordia University, Irvine is a private not-for-profit university with a small student population.

Master's recipients from the health & physical education degree program at Concordia University, Irvine get $16,237 above the average graduate in this field shortly after graduation.

More information about a master’s in health & physical education from Concordia University, Irvine

9

Concordia University, Chicago is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university located in the suburb of River Forest.

Those health & physical education students who get their master's degree from Concordia University, Chicago earn $5,539 more than the typical phys ed student.

More information about a master’s in health & physical education from Concordia University, Chicago

10
Iowa crest
University of Iowa
Iowa City, IA

Iowa is a very large public university located in the small city of Iowa City.

Students who graduate with their master's from the phys ed program report average early career income of $42,017.

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

11
31 Annual Graduates

Located in the city of Minneapolis, UMN Twin Cities is a public university with a very large student population.More information about a master’s in health & physical education from University of Minnesota - Twin Cities

12
Canisius crest
Canisius College
Buffalo, NY

Located in the city of Buffalo, Canisius is a private not-for-profit college with a small student population.

After graduation, phys ed master's recipients typically make an average of $44,749 in the first five years of their career.

More information about a master’s in health & physical education from Canisius College

13

UNC Chapel Hill is a very large public university located in the city of Chapel Hill.

Those health & physical education students who get their master's degree from University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill make $2,092 more than the average phys ed graduate.

More information about a master’s in health & physical education from University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

14

Located in the remote town of Plymouth, Plymouth State is a public university with a small student population.

Health & Physical Education master's degree recipients from Plymouth State University receive an earnings boost of around $24,536 over the average income of health & physical education majors.

More information about a master’s in health & physical education from Plymouth State University

15
23 Annual Graduates

Located in the small city of Amherst, UMass Amherst is a public university with a very large student population.More information about a master’s in health & physical education from University of Massachusetts Amherst

16
Georgetown crest
Georgetown University
Washington, DC

Located in the city of Washington, Georgetown is a private not-for-profit university with a fairly large student population.

Health & Physical Education master's degree recipients from Georgetown University get an earnings boost of about $9,123 over the average earnings of health & physical education majors.

More information about a master’s in health & physical education from Georgetown University

16
5 Annual Graduates

Located in the small city of Champaign, UIUC is a public university with a very large student population.More information about a master’s in health & physical education from University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

17

SMC is a small private not-for-profit college located in the large suburb of Moraga.

Master's recipients from the health & physical education program at Saint Mary's College of California earn $18,905 more than the typical graduate in this field shortly after graduation.

More information about a master’s in health & physical education from Saint Mary’s College of California

18
USFCA crest
University of San Francisco
San Francisco, CA

USFCA is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university located in the city of San Francisco.

After graduating, phys ed master's recipients generally make around $46,187 at the beginning of their careers.

More information about a master’s in health & physical education from University of San Francisco

19
Florida State crest
Florida State University
Tallahassee, FL

Located in the midsize city of Tallahassee, Florida State is a public university with a very large student population.

Master's students who receive their degree from the phys ed program make an average of $39,740 in the first couple years of their career.

More information about a master’s in health & physical education from Florida State University

20
25 Annual Graduates

Colorado State is a fairly large public university located in the city of Fort Collins.More information about a master’s in health & physical education from Colorado State University - Fort Collins

21

IU Bloomington is a very large public university located in the city of Bloomington.

Health & Physical Education master's degree recipients from Indiana University - Bloomington earn a boost of around $7,861 over the typical income of health & physical education graduates.

More information about a master’s in health & physical education from Indiana University - Bloomington

22

Rutgers New Brunswick is a very large public university located in the small city of New Brunswick.

Master's recipients from the health & physical education major at Rutgers University - New Brunswick earn $4,603 above the average college grad in this field when they enter the workforce.

More information about a master’s in health & physical education from Rutgers University - New Brunswick

Rest of the Top Best Health & Physical Education Master's Degree Schools

26
Liberty University crest
Liberty University
Lynchburg, VA
27
28
U Miami crest
University of Miami
Coral Gables, FL
29
32
37

Additional Noteworthy Schools

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 Master's Degree Schools award.

Rank College Location
29 Central Washington University Ellensburg, WA
30 James Madison University Harrisonburg, VA
31 American Public University System Charles Town, WV
32 Endicott College Beverly, MA
33 Ball State University Muncie, IN
34 San Francisco State University San Francisco, CA
35 University of Connecticut Storrs, CT
36 Minnesota State University - Mankato Mankato, MN
37 Georgia Southern University Statesboro, GA
38 Arkansas State University - Main Campus Jonesboro, AR
41 Springfield College Springfield, MA
44 University of North Dakota Grand Forks, ND
45 University of Cincinnati - Main Campus Cincinnati, OH
50 University of Kentucky Lexington, KY

Health & Physical Education by Region

View the Best Health & Physical Education Master's Degree Schools for a specific region near you.

Region
Southeast
New England
Rocky Mountains
Plains States
Middle Atlantic
Far Western US
Southwest
Other U.S. Territories
Great Lakes

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Health & Physical Education is one of 4 different types of Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies programs to choose from.

Phys Ed Concentrations

Major Annual Graduates
Sports Management 5,252
Exercise Science and Kinesiology 2,900
Sports Kinesiology and Physical Education/Fitness General 1,021
Sports Studies 165
Outdoor Health & Physical Education/Fitness 142
Physical Fitness Technician 18

Majors Similar to Phys Ed

Related Major Annual Graduates
Recreation Administration 344
Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies 196
Outdoor Education 61
Other Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies 40

Notes and References

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