by our College Data Analytics TeamPhysical Education Teaching & Coaching was the 104th most popular major in the 2020-2021 school year. Colleges in the United States reported awarding 8,121 degrees in this year alone. This represents a 3.8% reduction in physical education teaching degrees awarded over the prior year's total of 8,428.
Our 2023 Best Physical Education Teaching & Coaching Schools ranking analyzes 314 of these schools to determine the best overall colleges for physical education teaching and coaching students. Continue reading to check out one of our many unbiased rankings of physical education teaching programs later in this article.
When studying Physical Education Teaching, you’ll learn that teaching others how to do something will help you be successful in a wide range of jobs. Required skills include talking to others to convey information effectively and giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
A high school diploma or equivalent is typically required for most physical education teaching degree programs and many students will need a minimum GPA and SAT/ACT score depending on the school. Specific physical education teaching careers may require a certain level of degree attainment or additional certifications beyond that.
There are many different physical education teaching degree levels. Physical Education Teaching & Coaching programs offered by schools range from a to a , which is the highest physical education teaching degree you can get. The type of physical education teaching degree you choose will determine how long it takes to get your diploma.
| Degree | Credit Requirements | Typical Program Length |
|---|---|---|
| Associate Degree | 60-70 credits | 2 years |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 120 credits | 4 years |
| Master’s Degree | 50-70 credits | 1-3 years |
| Doctorate | Program required coursework including thesis or dissertation | At least 4 years |
A bachelor's degree is the most common level of education achieved by those in careers related to physical education teaching, with approximately 31.8% of workers getting one. Find out other typical degree levels for physical education teaching workers below.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Bachelor’s Degree | 37.3% |
| Doctoral Degree | 22.0% |
| Master’s Degree | 16.0% |
| Associate’s Degree (or other 2-year degree) | 7.3% |
| Post-Baccalaureate Certificate | 6.0% |
About 81.7% of workers in careers related to physical education teaching obtain at least bachelor's degrees. The chart below shows what degree level those who work in physical education teaching and coaching have obtained.
This of course varies depending on which physical education teaching career you choose.
Want a job when you graduate with your physical education teaching degree? Physical Education Teaching & Coaching careers are expected to grow 8.6% between 2016 and 2026.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to physical education teaching and coaching.
| Occupation Name | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| High School Teachers | 1,095,500 | 7.5% |
| Middle School Teachers | 677,700 | 7.5% |
| Fitness Trainers and Aerobics Instructors | 329,200 | 10.0% |
| Coaches and Scouts | 311,700 | 12.9% |
| Education Professors | 82,200 | 10.3% |
As you might expect, salaries for physical education teaching graduates vary depending on the level of education that was acquired.
Salaries for physical education teaching and coaching graduates can vary widely by the occupation you choose as well. The following table shows the top highest paying careers physical education teaching grads often go into.
| Occupation Name | Median Average Salary |
|---|---|
| Education Professors | $73,680 |
| Recreation and Fitness Studies Professors | $72,190 |
| High School Teachers | $64,340 |
| Middle School Teachers | $62,030 |
| Fitness Trainers and Aerobics Instructors | $44,580 |
With over 800 different physical education teaching degree programs to choose from, finding the best fit for you can be a challenge. Fortunately you have come to the right place. We have analyzed all of these schools to come up with hundreds of unbiased physical education teaching school rankings to help you with this.
Physical Education Teaching & Coaching is one of 37 different types of Teacher Education Subject Specific programs to choose from.
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Reading Teacher Education | 6,490 |
| Music Education | 4,761 |
| Mathematics Education | 3,395 |
| English & Language Arts Education | 3,113 |
| Other Teacher Education & Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas | 2,335 |
Image Credit: By Aparajita Datta under License More about our data sources and methodologies.
