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Best Health & Physical Education Schools in California

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2023 Best Health & Physical Education Schools in California

36 Colleges
$31,463 Avg Salary
$20,533 Avg Student Debt

Finding the Best Health & Physical Education School for You

In 2020-2021, 10,519 degrees and certificates were awarded to health and physical education students who went to a California college or university. This makes it the #11 most popular major in the state.

Today's students have lots of options to pick from when considering higher education opportunities. As online education oppotunities continue to grow, you're not restricted to just schools in your local area anymore. Even some of the 'big name' schools are offering online courses. Also, there are a number of trade schools with offerings that you might find attractive.

To help you arm yourself with the information you need to make your decision, Course Advisor has developed this Best Health & Physical Education Schools in California ranking. This report analyzed 36 schools in California to see which ones offered the best programs for students.

View our full ranking methodology.

2023 Best Health & Physical Education Schools in California

The following schools top our list of the Best Health & Physical Education Colleges.

Top 10 Best Health & Physical Education Schools

Our 2023 rankings named International Sports Sciences Association the best school in California for health and physical education students. Located in the midsize suburb of Carpinteria, ISSA is a private for-profit school with a small student population.

After completing their degree, phys ed graduates from ISSA carry an average student debtload of $17,163.

Full Health & Physical Education at International Sports Sciences Association Report

The excellent programs at California Polytechnic State University - San Luis Obispo helped the school earn the #3 place on this year’s ranking of the best health and physical education schools in California. Cal Poly San Luis Obispo is a very large public school located in the small suburb of San Luis Obispo.

On average, phys ed graduates from Cal Poly San Luis Obispo take out $16,500 in student loans while working on their degree. When it comes time to repay the loan, graduates who are on a 10-year repayment plan pay an average monthly payment of $326.

Read More…

#4

Westmont College

Santa Barbara, CA

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around you if you attend Westmont College. The school came in at #4 on this year’s Best Health & Physical Education Schools in California list. Located in the suburb of Santa Barbara, Westmont is a private not-for-profit school with a small student population.

Phys Ed majors at Westmont take out an average of $25,500 in student loans while working on their egree. The average monthly payment of a loan this size is about $583, assuming that the borrower is on a 10-year repayment plan.

Full Health & Physical Education at Westmont College Report

The excellent programs at Concordia University, Irvine helped the school earn the #5 place on this year’s ranking of the best health and physical education schools in California. Concordia University, Irvine is a small private not-for-profit school located in the large city of Irvine.

The average amount in student loans that phys ed majors at Concordia University, Irvine take out is $26,000. Assuming that a graduate chooses a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly loan payment is $602.

Full Health & Physical Education at Concordia University, Irvine Report

Southern California Health Institute landed the #6 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best health and physical education programs. Located in the large city of Reseda, SOCHI is a private for-profit college with a small student population.

Phys Ed majors at SOCHI take out an average of $9,500 in student loans while working on their egree. For students who choose a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly student loan payment is $56.

Full Health & Physical Education at Southern California Health Institute Report

San Jose State University came in at #7 in this year’s edition of the Best Health & Physical Education Schools in California ranking. San Jose State is a very large public school located in the large city of San Jose.

Read full report on Health & Physical Education at San Jose State University

#8

University of San Francisco

San Francisco, CA

University of San Francisco did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best schools for health and physical education students. It came in at #8 on the list. Located in the large city of San Francisco, USFCA is a private not-for-profit school with a large student population.

The average amount in student loans that phys ed majors at USFCA take out is $25,000.

Read More…

Point Loma Nazarene University came in at #9 in this year’s edition of the Best Health & Physical Education Schools in California ranking. PLNU is a small private not-for-profit school located in the city of San Diego.

Full Health & Physical Education at Point Loma Nazarene University Report

#10

University of the Pacific

Stockton, CA

University of the Pacific came in at #10 in this year’s edition of the Best Health & Physical Education Schools in California ranking. Located in the city of Stockton, Pacific is a private not-for-profit school with a medium-sized student population.

The average amount in student loans that phys ed majors at Pacific take out is $23,179. Assuming that a graduate chooses a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly loan payment is $637.

Full Health & Physical Education at University of the Pacific Report

Best Health & Physical Education Colleges in the Far Western US Region

Explore all the Best Health & Physical Education Colleges in the Far Western US Area or other specific states within that region.

State Degrees Awarded
Washington 572
Oregon 582
Nevada 268
Hawaii 171
Alaska 19

Health & Physical Education is one of 4 different types of programs to choose from.

Majors Similar to Phys Ed

Related Major Annual Graduates
Recreation Administration 3,122
Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies 3,106
Outdoor Education 265
Other Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies 174

Notes and References

*These averages are for the top 25 schools only.

  • Read more about our ranking methodology.
  • The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a branch of the U.S. Department of Education (DOE) serves as the core of the rest of our data about colleges.
  • Some other college data, including much of the graduate earnings data, comes from the U.S. Department of Education’s (College Scorecard).

More about our data sources and methodologies.

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