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Most Popular Health & Physical Education Schools in California

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2023 Most Popular Health & Physical Education Schools in California

164 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.

The Most Popular Health & Physical Education Schools in California ranking is one of many tools that Course Advisor has developed to help you make your educational decision. This report analyzed 164 schools in California to see which ones were the most popular programs for students. To create this ranking we looked at how many students graduated from the Health & Physical Education program at each school on the list.

Check out the phys ed programs at these schools if you want to attend one of the most popular in California.

Our 2023 rankings named California State University - Fullerton the most popular school in California for health and physical education students. Cal State Fullerton is a fairly large public school located in the large suburb of Fullerton.

While working on their degree, phys ed majors at Cal State Fullerton accumulate an average of around $15,000 in student debt. This translates to an average monthly loan payment of $196, based on a 10-year repayment plan.

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Out of the 164 schools in California that were part of this year’s ranking, Mt. San Antonio College landed the # 2 spot on the list. Mt. SAC is a fairly large public school located in the suburb of Walnut.

After completing their degree, phys ed graduates from Mt. SAC carry an average student debt load of $7,677.

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You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend California State University - Northridge. It ranked #3 on our 2023 Most Popular Health & Physical Education Schools in California list. Located in the city of Northridge, CSUN is a public college with a fairly large student population.

While working on their degree, phys ed majors at CSUN accumulate an average of around $16,000 in student debt.

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Out of the 164 schools in California that were part of this year’s ranking, Concordia University, Irvine landed the # 4 spot on the list. Concordia University, Irvine is a small private not-for-profit school located in the city of Irvine.

After completing their degree, phys ed graduates from Concordia University, Irvine carry an average student debt load of $26,000. Assuming that a graduate chooses a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly loan payment is $602.

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#5

San Diego State University

San Diego, CA

Out of the 164 schools in California that were part of this year’s ranking, San Diego State University landed the # 5 spot on the list. Located in the city of San Diego, SDSU is a public school with a very large student population.

After completing their degree, phys ed graduates from SDSU carry an average student debt load of $17,745. Assuming that a graduate chooses a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly loan payment is $241.

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California State University - Long Beach ranked #6 on this year’s Most Popular Health & Physical Education Schools in California list. CSULB is a fairly large public school located in the large city of Long Beach.

On average, phys ed graduates from CSULB take out $17,500 in student loans while working on their degree.

Read full report on Health & Physical Education at California State University - Long Beach

#7

College of the Canyons

Santa Clarita, CA

College of the Canyons came in at #7 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Health & Physical Education Schools in California ranking. College of the Canyons is a large public school located in the suburb of Santa Clarita.

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With a ranking of #8, California State University - Los Angeles did quite well on this year’s most popular schools for health and physical education students. Located in the city of Los Angeles, Cal State LA is a public college with a fairly large student population.

Phys Ed majors at Cal State LA take out an average of $14,592 in student loans while working on their egree.

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California State University - Sacramento ranked #9 on this year’s Most Popular Health & Physical Education Schools in California list. Located in the city of Sacramento, Sac State is a public school with a very large student population.

While working on their degree, phys ed majors at Sac State accumulate an average of around $16,812 in student debt. When it comes time to repay the loan, graduates who are on a 10-year repayment plan pay an average monthly payment of $199.

Read full report on Health & Physical Education at California State University - Sacramento

California State University - Fresno did quite well in this year’s ranking of the most popular schools for health and physical education students. It came in at #10 on the list. Located in the large city of Fresno, Fresno State is a public school with a very large student population.

After completing their degree, phys ed graduates from Fresno State carry an average student debt load of $14,050.

Read full report on Health & Physical Education at California State University - Fresno

California Baptist University came in at #11 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Health & Physical Education Schools in California ranking. Cal Baptist is a fairly large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Riverside.

On average, phys ed graduates from Cal Baptist take out $29,470 in student loans while working on their degree. The average monthly payment of a loan this size is about $487, assuming that the borrower is on a 10-year repayment plan.

Full Health & Physical Education at California Baptist University Report

#12

San Jose State University

San Jose, CA

With a ranking of #12, San Jose State University did quite well on this year’s most popular schools for health and physical education students. San Jose State is a very large public school located in the city of San Jose.

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#13

San Francisco State University

San Francisco, CA

San Francisco State University landed the #13 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular health and physical education programs. Located in the city of San Francisco, SFSU is a public college with a fairly large student population.

The average amount in student loans that phys ed majors at SFSU take out is $17,625. Assuming that a graduate chooses a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly loan payment is $204.

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

California State University - Chico landed the #14 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular health and physical education programs. Chico State is a fairly large public school located in the medium-sized city of Chico.

The average amount in student loans that phys ed majors at Chico State take out is $21,049.

Read full report on Health & Physical Education at California State University - Chico

With a ranking of #15, California State University - East Bay did quite well on this year’s most popular schools for health and physical education students. Located in the large suburb of Hayward, Cal State East Bay is a public college with a fairly large student population.

The average amount in student loans that phys ed majors at Cal State East Bay take out is $16,500. The average monthly payment of a loan this size is about $188, assuming that the borrower is on a 10-year repayment plan.

Full Health & Physical Education at California State University - East Bay Report

California State University - San Bernardino came in at #16 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Health & Physical Education Schools in California ranking. Located in the medium-sized city of San Bernardino, CSUSB is a public school with a fairly large student population.

After completing their degree, phys ed graduates from CSUSB carry an average student debt load of $15,500. This translates to an average monthly loan payment of $127, based on a 10-year repayment plan.

Read full report on Health & Physical Education at California State University - San Bernardino

California State Polytechnic University - Pomona did quite well in this year’s ranking of the most popular schools for health and physical education students. It came in at #17 on the list. Located in the large suburb of Pomona, Cal Poly Pomona is a public school with a very large student population.

On average, phys ed graduates from Cal Poly Pomona take out $21,326 in student loans while working on their degree.

Read full report on Health & Physical Education at California State Polytechnic University - Pomona

California State University - San Marcos landed the #18 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular health and physical education programs. Located in the suburb of San Marcos, CSUSM is a public school with a large student population.

While working on their degree, phys ed majors at CSUSM accumulate an average of around $18,963 in student debt. The average monthly payment of a loan this size is about $185, assuming that the borrower is on a 10-year repayment plan.

Full Health & Physical Education at California State University - San Marcos Report

#19

Riverside City College

Riverside, CA

Riverside City College ranked #19 on this year’s Most Popular Health & Physical Education Schools in California list. Riverside City College is a fairly large public school located in the city of Riverside.

While working on their degree, phys ed majors at Riverside City College accumulate an average of around $8,230 in student debt.

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California State University - Dominguez Hills landed the #20 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular health and physical education programs. CSUDH is a fairly large public school located in the small city of Carson.

While working on their degree, phys ed majors at CSUDH accumulate an average of around $14,556 in student debt.

Full Health & Physical Education at California State University - Dominguez Hills Report

#21

Cabrillo College

Aptos, CA

With a ranking of #21, Cabrillo College did quite well on this year’s most popular schools for health and physical education students. Cabrillo College is a medium-sized public school located in the midsize suburb of Aptos.

On average, phys ed graduates from Cabrillo College take out $7,930 in student loans while working on their degree.

Read More…

With a ranking of #22, California State University - Monterey Bay did quite well on this year’s most popular schools for health and physical education students. Located in the suburb of Seaside, CSUMB is a public college with a medium-sized student population.

Phys Ed majors at CSUMB take out an average of $13,500 in student loans while working on their egree. The average monthly payment of a loan this size is about $153, assuming that the borrower is on a 10-year repayment plan.

Full Health & Physical Education at California State University - Monterey Bay Report

#23

University of San Francisco

San Francisco, CA

University of San Francisco landed the #23 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular health and physical education programs. Located in the large city of San Francisco, USFCA is a private not-for-profit college with a fairly large student population.

After completing their degree, phys ed graduates from USFCA carry an average student debt load of $25,000.

Read full report on Health & Physical Education at University of San Francisco

California State University - Bakersfield came in at #24 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Health & Physical Education Schools in California ranking. CSUB is a large public school located in the large city of Bakersfield.

Read full report on Health & Physical Education at California State University - Bakersfield

Honorable Mentions

These are some additional schools worth mentioning that are also popular but just didn't quite make the cut to earn our top Most Popular Health & Physical Education Schools in California award.

Rank College Location
25 International Sports Sciences Association Carpinteria, CA
26 Pasadena City College Pasadena, CA
27 California Polytechnic State University - San Luis Obispo San Luis Obispo, CA
28 California State University - Stanislaus Turlock, CA
29 MiraCosta College Oceanside, CA
30 Long Beach City College Long Beach, CA
31 Humboldt State University Arcata, CA
32 Diablo Valley College Pleasant Hill, CA

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

Explore all the Most Popular 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.

  • 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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