Physical Education Teaching and Coaching: Program Overview, Universities, Careers & Salaries
Program Overview
Prepared for careers in education and athletic leadership, this program equips students with the foundational knowledge and practical skills needed to design, deliver, and manage effective physical education curricula and coaching initiatives across K–12 and postsecondary settings. Emphasis is placed on fostering lifelong physical activity, promoting health and wellness, and developing leadership in diverse learning environments.
- Motor Development and Learning: Explores the stages and principles of physical growth and skill acquisition across the lifespan, enabling educators to tailor instruction to developmental needs.
- Exercise Physiology: Investigates how the body responds to physical activity, including energy systems, cardiovascular function, and adaptation to training.
- Biomechanics: Applies principles of physics to human movement, helping to analyze and optimize performance and reduce injury risk in sports and exercise.
- Methods of Teaching Physical Education: Focuses on curriculum design, instructional strategies, assessment techniques, and inclusive practices for diverse learners.
- Sports Coaching and Leadership: Covers team dynamics, tactical planning, athlete development, ethics, and the psychological aspects of coaching performance and motivation.
- Health and Wellness Education: Integrates concepts of nutrition, mental health, injury prevention, and healthy lifestyle promotion into physical activity programming.
- Adapted Physical Education: Addresses strategies for designing accessible and equitable physical education experiences for individuals with disabilities or special needs.
Physical Education Teaching and Coaching Graduate Trends (2010-2024)
Physical Education Teaching and Coaching Career Pathways & Salary Outlook
The following table presents salary data for occupations typically aligned with Physical Education Teaching and Coaching degrees, including Recreation and Fitness Studies Teachers, Postsecondary, Education Teachers, Postsecondary and Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education. These career paths represent common employment outcomes but are not guaranteed for all graduates. Salary ranges vary by location, employer, experience level, and specific role requirements. Nationally, these occupations employ approximately 2,319,240 professionals.
National Average Salaries
| Occupation | Median Salary | Salary Range | Total Employment | Hourly Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Recreation and Fitness Studies Teachers, Postsecondary 25-1193 | $75,890 | $44,150 - $158,240 | 12,680 | N/A |
| Education Teachers, Postsecondary 25-1081 | $72,090 | $38,650 - $126,450 | 59,090 | N/A |
| Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education 25-2031 | $64,580 | $47,330 - $104,670 | 1,072,540 | N/A |
| Middle School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education 25-2022 | $62,970 | $47,050 - $100,980 | 620,370 | N/A |
| Exercise Trainers and Group Fitness Instructors 39-9031 | $46,180 | $27,580 - $82,050 | 303,620 | $22.20 |
| Coaches and Scouts 27-2022 | $45,920 | $27,490 - $93,980 | 250,940 | N/A |
Physical Education Teaching and Coaching Salary Map by State
Geographic location significantly impacts earning potential for these careers. Average salaries range from $48,792 in South Dakota to $85,692 in California—a 76% difference. The highest-paying states include California, New York, and Massachusetts. Nationwide, these occupations employ over 2,319,240 professionals across all states. Explore the interactive map below to compare regional compensation and identify optimal markets for your career goals.
Average Salary Range:
Top Universities for Physical Education Teaching and Coaching by Graduate Enrollment
Below are the top 100 institutions offering Physical Education Teaching and Coaching programs for the 2023-2024 academic year (the most recent data reported as of 2025), ranked by the number of graduates. The highest graduate enrollment in Physical Education Teaching and Coaching is found at Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College (LSU) (440 graduates), University of Kentucky (UK) (189 graduates), University of Louisiana (UL Lafayette), Lafayette (167 graduates), State University of New York, Cortland (164 graduates), and West Virginia University (WVU) (144 graduates). Combined, these colleges produced 5,075 graduates across all degree levels. Program availability varies by award level, including Associate, Bachelor's, Master's, and Doctoral degrees at participating universities and schools.
| College Name | Award Levels | Graduates | Location | Control | Website |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College (LSU) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
440 | Baton Rouge, Louisiana | Public | lsu.edu |
| University of Kentucky (UK) |
Bachelor's
|
189 | Lexington, Kentucky | Public | uky.edu |
| University of Louisiana (UL Lafayette) |
Bachelor's
Postbac Cert.
Master's
|
167 | Lafayette, Louisiana | Public | louisiana.edu |
| State University of New York |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
164 | Cortland, New York | Public | www2.cortland.edu |
| West Virginia University (WVU) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Professional)
|
144 | Morgantown, West Virginia | Public | wvu.edu |
| Georgia State University |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
121 | Atlanta, Georgia | Public | gsu.edu |
| University of Alabama (UAB) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
117 | Birmingham, Alabama | Public | uab.edu |
| Ohio State University |
Bachelor's
|
115 | Columbus, Ohio | Public | osu.edu |
| Fort Hays State University (FHSU) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
105 | Hays, Kansas | Public | fhsu.edu |
| SUNY Brockport |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
95 | Brockport, New York | Public | brockport.edu |
| The University of Texas |
Master's
|
86 | Austin, Texas | Public | utexas.edu |
| CUNY Brooklyn College |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
83 | Brooklyn, New York | Public | brooklyn.cuny.edu |
| Bridgewater State University (BSU) |
Bachelor's
Postbac Cert.
Master's
|
75 | Bridgewater, Massachusetts | Public | bridgew.edu |
| Emporia State University (ESU) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
74 | Emporia, Kansas | Public | emporia.edu |
| Ohio University (OHIO) |
Bachelor's
Postbac Cert.
Master's
|
68 | Athens, Ohio | Public | ohio.edu |
| Adelphi University |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
66 | Garden City, New York | Private | adelphi.edu |
| Western Iowa Tech Community College (WITCC) |
Residency
|
64 | Sioux City, Iowa | Public | witcc.edu |
| University of Maine (UMaine) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
64 | Orono, Maine | Public | umaine.edu |
| Northern Illinois University (NIU) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
63 | Dekalb, Illinois | Public | niu.edu |
| Delta State University (DSU) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
63 | Cleveland, Mississippi | Public | deltastate.edu |
| Northwest Missouri State University |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
63 | Maryville, Missouri | Public | nwmissouri.edu |
| Illinois State University (ISU) |
Bachelor's
|
62 | Normal, Illinois | Public | illinoisstate.edu |
| Azusa Pacific University (APU) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
61 | Azusa, California | Private | apu.edu |
| Florida International University (FIU) |
Bachelor's
|
60 | Miami, Florida | Public | fiu.edu |
| Valdosta State University (VSU) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
60 | Valdosta, Georgia | Public | valdosta.edu |
| Springfield College |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
59 | Springfield, Massachusetts | Private | springfield.edu |
| CUNY Queens College |
Bachelor's
Postbac Cert.
Master's
|
56 | Queens, New York | Public | qc.cuny.edu |
| Montclair State University |
Bachelor's
|
55 | Montclair, New Jersey | Public | montclair.edu |
| University of South Florida (USF) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
53 | Tampa, Florida | Public | usf.edu |
| University of Kansas (KU) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
53 | Lawrence, Kansas | Public | ku.edu |
| University of Wisconsin-River Falls (UWRF) |
Bachelor's
|
53 | River Falls, Wisconsin | Public | uwrf.edu |
| William Carey University (WCU) |
Bachelor's
|
52 | Hattiesburg, Mississippi | Private | wmcarey.edu |
| North Iowa Area Community College (NIACC) |
Residency
|
51 | Mason City, Iowa | Public | niacc.edu |
| University of Arkansas (U of A) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
49 | Fayetteville, Arkansas | Public | uark.edu |
| University of Nebraska (UNK) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
49 | Kearney, Nebraska | Public | unk.edu |
| University of South Carolina (USC) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
49 | Columbia, South Carolina | Public | sc.edu |
| Idaho State University (ISU) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
48 | Pocatello, Idaho | Public | isu.edu |
| Kean University |
Bachelor's
|
48 | Union, New Jersey | Public | kean.edu |
| Virginia State University (VSU) |
Bachelor's
|
47 | Petersburg, Virginia | Public | vsu.edu |
| University of West Alabama (UWA) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
44 | Livingston, Alabama | Public | uwa.edu |
| University of Connecticut (UConn) |
Bachelor's
|
44 | Storrs, Connecticut | Public | uconn.edu |
| Old Dominion University (ODU) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
42 | Norfolk, Virginia | Public | odu.edu |
| Huertas College |
Other Award
|
42 | Caguas, Puerto Rico | Private | huertas.edu |
| Copiah-Lincoln Community College (Co-Lin) |
Associate's
|
40 | Wesson, Mississippi | Public | colin.edu |
| University of Wisconsin |
Bachelor's
|
40 | Whitewater, Wisconsin | Public | uww.edu |
| University of Wisconsin-Superior |
Bachelor's
|
40 | Superior, Wisconsin | Public | uwsuper.edu |
| Michigan State University (MSU) |
Postbac Cert.
Master's
|
39 | East Lansing, Michigan | Public | msu.edu |
| Eastern New Mexico University (ENMU) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
38 | Portales, New Mexico | Public | enmu.edu |
| Augusta University (AU) |
Postbac Cert.
|
38 | Augusta, Georgia | Public | augusta.edu |
| Jacksonville State University (JSU) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
37 | Jacksonville, Alabama | Public | jsu.edu |
| Pittsburg State University |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
36 | Pittsburg, Kansas | Public | pittstate.edu |
| University of Wisconsin (UWO) |
Bachelor's
Other Award
|
36 | Oshkosh, Wisconsin | Public | uwosh.edu |
| Upper Iowa University (UIU) |
Bachelor's
|
35 | Fayette, Iowa | Private | uiu.edu |
| University of West Georgia (UWG) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
34 | Carrollton, Georgia | Public | westga.edu |
| Manhattanville College |
Master's
|
34 | Purchase, New York | Private | mville.edu |
| Utica University |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
33 | Utica, New York | Private | utica.edu |
| East Stroudsburg University of Pennsylvania (ESU) |
Bachelor's
|
33 | East Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania | Public | esu.edu |
| California State University (CSULB) |
Bachelor's
|
32 | Long Beach, California | Public | csulb.edu |
| Grambling State University (GSU) |
Bachelor's
|
31 | Grambling, Louisiana | Public | gram.edu |
| Radford University |
Bachelor's
|
31 | Radford, Virginia | Public | radford.edu |
| Salisbury University (SU) |
Bachelor's
|
30 | Salisbury, Maryland | Public | salisbury.edu |
| New Mexico Highlands University (NMHU) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
30 | Las Vegas, New Mexico | Public | nmhu.edu |
| University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point (UWSP) |
Bachelor's
|
30 | Stevens Point, Wisconsin | Public | uwsp.edu |
| Central Connecticut State University (CCSU) |
Bachelor's
Postbac Cert.
Master's
|
29 | New Britain, Connecticut | Public | ccsu.edu |
| Wayne State University (WSU) |
Bachelor's
Doctorate (Research)
|
29 | Detroit, Michigan | Public | wayne.edu |
| Rowan University |
Bachelor's
|
29 | Glassboro, New Jersey | Public | rowan.edu |
| University of Arkansas (UAPB) |
Bachelor's
|
28 | Pine Bluff, Arkansas | Public | uapb.edu |
| Murray State College (MSC) |
Associate's
|
28 | Tishomingo, Oklahoma | Public | mscok.edu |
| Central Washington University (CWU) |
Bachelor's
|
28 | Ellensburg, Washington | Public | cwu.edu |
| Arkansas Tech University (ATU) |
Bachelor's
|
27 | Russellville, Arkansas | Public | atu.edu |
| Western Kentucky University (WKU) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Other Award
|
27 | Bowling Green, Kentucky | Public | wku.edu |
| Jackson State University (JSU) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
27 | Jackson, Mississippi | Public | jsums.edu |
| University of New Mexico (UNM) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
27 | Albuquerque, New Mexico | Public | unm.edu |
| Ball State University (BSU) |
Bachelor's
Postbac Cert.
Master's
|
24 | Muncie, Indiana | Public | bsu.edu |
| Georgia Southern University |
Bachelor's
|
23 | Statesboro, Georgia | Public | georgiasouthern.edu |
| University of Cincinnati (UC) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
23 | Cincinnati, Ohio | Public | uc.edu |
| Langston University (LU) |
Bachelor's
|
23 | Langston, Oklahoma | Public | langston.edu |
| Canisius University |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
22 | Buffalo, New York | Private | canisius.edu |
| Hofstra University |
Master's
|
21 | Hempstead, New York | Private | hofstra.edu |
| University of Pittsburgh |
Master's
|
21 | Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania | Public | pitt.edu |
| Southern Utah University (SUU) |
Bachelor's
|
21 | Cedar City, Utah | Public | suu.edu |
| Athens State University |
Bachelor's
|
20 | Athens, Alabama | Public | athens.edu |
| University of Central Arkansas (UCA) |
Bachelor's
|
20 | Conway, Arkansas | Public | uca.edu |
| University of Northern Iowa (UNI) |
Bachelor's
|
20 | Cedar Falls, Iowa | Public | uni.edu |
| Appalachian State University (App State) |
Bachelor's
|
20 | Boone, North Carolina | Public | appstate.edu |
| Baylor University |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
20 | Waco, Texas | Private | baylor.edu |
| Towson University (TU) |
Bachelor's
|
19 | Towson, Maryland | Public | towson.edu |
| Minnesota North College |
Other Award
|
19 | Hibbing, Minnesota | Public | minnesotanorth.edu |
| Winona State University (WSU) |
Bachelor's
|
19 | Winona, Minnesota | Public | winona.edu |
| The University of Montana (UMW) |
Bachelor's
Other Award
|
19 | Dillon, Montana | Public | umwestern.edu |
| Wayne State College (WSC) |
Bachelor's
|
19 | Wayne, Nebraska | Public | wsc.edu |
| William Paterson University of New Jersey |
Bachelor's
|
19 | Wayne, New Jersey | Public | wpunj.edu |
| East Carolina University (ECU) |
Bachelor's
Postbac Cert.
Master's
|
19 | Greenville, North Carolina | Public | ecu.edu |
| Grand Canyon University (GCU) |
Bachelor's
|
18 | Phoenix, Arizona | Private | gcu.edu |
| Georgia College & State University |
Master's
|
18 | Milledgeville, Georgia | Public | gcsu.edu |
| Wichita State University (WSU) |
Bachelor's
Residency
|
18 | Wichita, Kansas | Public | wichita.edu |
| East Mississippi Community College (EMCC) |
Associate's
|
18 | Scooba, Mississippi | Public | eastms.edu |
| North Dakota State University (NDSU) |
Bachelor's
|
18 | Fargo, North Dakota | Public | ndsu.edu |
| Carl Albert State College (CASC) |
Associate's
|
18 | Poteau, Oklahoma | Public | carlalbert.edu |
| Concordia University (CUC) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
17 | River Forest, Illinois | Private | cuchicago.edu |
Frequently Asked Questions
Find answers to the most common questions about Physical Education Teaching and Coaching programs
How much can I earn with a Physical Education Teaching and Coaching degree?
Salaries for Physical Education Teaching and Coaching graduates vary by role and location. Recreation and Fitness Studies Teachers, Postsecondary earn a median of $75,890 annually, while Education Teachers, Postsecondary earn around $72,090. Geographic location significantly impacts earnings—professionals in California average $85,692 compared to $48,792 in South Dakota. Approximately 2,319,240 professionals work in related occupations nationwide.
Salary data from U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS program, May 2024. Earnings vary by experience, employer, and market conditions.
Which universities have the largest Physical Education Teaching and Coaching programs?
Currently 439 accredited institutions offer Physical Education Teaching and Coaching degrees across the U.S. Programs with the highest enrollment include Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College (LSU) (440 graduates), University of Kentucky (UK) (189 graduates), and University of Louisiana (UL Lafayette), Lafayette (167 graduates).
Program size doesn't necessarily indicate quality—consider factors like faculty expertise, production opportunities, location, and available degree levels when choosing a school.
Data based on IPEDS program completions for 2023-2024 academic year. Numbers reflect programs where students graduated.
Is enrollment in Physical Education Teaching and Coaching growing or declining?
Graduate numbers have decreased over the past decade, rising from 12,307 in 2010 to a peak of 8,463 in 2020, before declining slightly to 6,964 in 2023-24. This represents a 43% decrease overall from 2010.
The field remains specialized with consistent demand, though opportunities are most concentrated in major metropolitan areas with active arts scenes like New York, California, and Illinois.
Graduate enrollment data from IPEDS, 2010-2024 academic years. Trends reflect reported completions at participating institutions.
What career paths are available with a Physical Education Teaching and Coaching degree?
This degree prepares you for roles such as Recreation and Fitness Studies Teachers, Postsecondary, Education Teachers, Postsecondary, and Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education. Related occupations employ approximately 2,319,240 professionals nationwide.
Skills in project management, creative leadership, and collaboration also transfer to event planning, arts administration, marketing, and corporate training roles. Many professionals work freelance or on a project basis across theatre, film, and live events.
Career pathways mapped using CIP-SOC crosswalk from the National Center for Education Statistics. Employment data from BLS OEWS May 2024.
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