by our College Data Analytics TeamFor 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. When you put them all together, these colleges and universities awarded 9,192 master's degrees in health & physical education during the <nil> academic year.
Jump to one of the following sections: * Our Methodology
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 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.
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.
In addition to the above, you should consider some of the following factors:
Our full ranking methodology documents in more detail how we consider these factors to identify the best schools for health & physical education students working on their master's degree.
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.
Learn about start dates, transferring credits, availability of financial aid, and more by contacting the universities below.
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Pursue opportunities in collegiate and professional sport management organizations with the support of this well-established online master's degree from Southern New Hampshire University.
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 20% of all the schools we analyze get awarded with a place on this list.
University of Michigan - Ann Arbor is one of the finest schools in the country for getting a master's degree in health & physical education. U-M is a very large public university located in the city of Ann Arbor.
After graduation, phys ed master's recipients typically earn an average of $41,473 in their early careers.
More information about a master’s in health & physical education from University of Michigan - Ann Arbor
Every student who is interested in a master's degree in health & physical education needs to take a look at 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 fairly large student population.
Master's recipients from the health & physical education major at Texas A&M University - College Station earn $2,127 more than the typical college grad in this field shortly after graduation.
More information about a master’s in health & physical education from Texas A&M University - College Station
University of Florida is one of the best 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 fairly large student population.
Master's recipients from the health & physical education program at University of Florida earn $4,830 above the average college graduate in this field when they enter the workforce.
More information about a master’s in health & physical education from University of Florida
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 town of Athens.
Those health & physical education students who get their master's degree from Ohio University - Athens Campus earn $10,130 more than the average phys ed graduate.
More information about a master’s in health & physical education from Ohio University - Athens Campus
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
Located in the city of Philadelphia, Temple is a public university with a fairly large student population.
After graduation, phys ed master's recipients typically earn about $45,198 in the first five years of their career.
More information about a master’s in health & physical education from Temple University
Ohio State is a fairly large public university located in the city of Columbus.
Health & Physical Education master's degree recipients from Ohio State University - Main Campus receive an earnings boost of approximately $2,137 above the typical earnings of health & physical education majors.
More information about a master’s in health & physical education from Ohio State University - Main Campus
Located in the 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 make $16,237 above the typical graduate in this field shortly after graduation.
More information about a master’s in health & physical education from Concordia University, Irvine
Concordia University, Chicago is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university located in the large suburb of River Forest.
Those health & physical education students who get their master's degree from Concordia University, Chicago receive $5,539 more than the typical phys ed student.
More information about a master’s in health & physical education from Concordia University, Chicago
Iowa is a fairly large public university located in the city of Iowa City.
Students who graduate with their master's from the phys ed program state that they receive average early career wages of $42,017.
More information about a master’s in health & physical education from University of Iowa
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
Located in the city of Buffalo, Canisius is a private not-for-profit college with a small student population.
Soon after graduation, phys ed master's recipients typically make an average of $44,749 in their early careers.
More information about a master’s in health & physical education from Canisius College
UNC Chapel Hill is a fairly 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 receive $2,092 more than the average phys ed grad.
More information about a master’s in health & physical education from University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
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 approximately $24,536 above the typical income of health & physical education graduates.
More information about a master’s in health & physical education from Plymouth State University
Located in the city of Amherst, UMass Amherst is a public university with a fairly large student population.More information about a master’s in health & physical education from University of Massachusetts Amherst
Located in the city of Champaign, UIUC is a public university with a fairly large student population.More information about a master’s in health & physical education from University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
SMC is a small private not-for-profit college located in the suburb of Moraga.
Master's recipients from the health & physical education program at Saint Mary's College of California earn $18,905 above the standard graduate with the same degree shortly after graduation.
More information about a master’s in health & physical education from Saint Mary’s College of California
USFCA is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university located in the city of San Francisco.
Soon after graduating, phys ed master's recipients typically earn about $46,187 in their early careers.
More information about a master’s in health & physical education from University of San Francisco
Located in the medium-sized city of Tallahassee, Florida State is a public university with a fairly large student population.
Master's students who receive their degree from the phys ed program earn about $39,740 in their early career salary.
More information about a master’s in health & physical education from Florida State University
Colorado State is a very large public university located in the medium-sized city of Fort Collins.More information about a master’s in health & physical education from Colorado State University - Fort Collins
IU Bloomington is a fairly large public university located in the small city of Bloomington.
Health & Physical Education master's degree recipients from Indiana University - Bloomington receive an earnings boost of approximately $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
Rutgers New Brunswick is a fairly large public university located in the city of New Brunswick.
Master's recipients from the health & physical education major at Rutgers University - New Brunswick make $4,603 above the standard college grad with the same degree shortly after graduation.
More information about a master’s in health & physical education from Rutgers University - New Brunswick
Located in the midsize city of Athens, UGA is a public university with a very large student population.
Master's graduates who receive their degree from the phys ed program make about $39,610 in their early career salary.
More information about a master’s in health & physical education from University of Georgia
Miami University - Oxford is a fairly large public university located in the town of Oxford.
Master's graduates who receive their degree from the phys ed program make an average of $45,430 in their early career salary.
More information about a master’s in health & physical education from Miami University - Oxford
CSULB is a fairly large public university located in the city of Long Beach.
Health & Physical Education master's degree recipients from California State University - Long Beach receive an earnings boost of approximately $3,812 over the average income of health & physical education majors.
More information about a master’s in health & physical education from California State University - Long Beach
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.
View the Best Health & Physical Education Master's Degree Schools for a specific region near you.
Health & Physical Education is one of 4 different types of Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies programs to choose from.
| Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Sports Management | 4,864 |
| Exercise Science and Kinesiology | 2,880 |
| Sports Kinesiology and Physical Education/Fitness General | 1,102 |
| Sports Studies | 186 |
| Outdoor Health & Physical Education/Fitness | 150 |
| Physical Fitness Technician | 10 |
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Recreation Administration | 360 |
| Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies | 174 |
| Outdoor Education | 65 |
| Other Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies | 25 |
