The List of All U.S Colleges With a Health and Physical Education Major   (2023)

It’s no secret that America is suffering through a crisis of obesity. With studies showing that up to 18.5% of children and teens are overweight, society clearly needs to take steps to combat this issue. As a health and physical education major, you’ll have a valuable opportunity to reverse this trend, helping improve health and wellness for America’s young people.

So what does it take to get accepted into a health and PE program? And what are the benefits of pursuing a career in this field? Read on for a complete list of U.S. colleges and universities with health and physical education majors, along with strategies you can enact in high school to boost your odds of being admitted.

Why Should You Major in Health and Physical Education in College?

Health and physical education programs prepare students to teach exercise and nutrition in a variety of settings. While many phys ed grads work in elementary and secondary schools providing fitness instruction for young people, students with this degree can also find employment with gyms, recreation centers, and athletic teams. Job titles for phys ed majors include gym teacher, physical fitness technician, personal trainer, and coach.

Additionally, some individuals with a health and physical education degree go on to pursue careers in the healthcare field. Thanks to their background in exercise science and anatomy, students in this discipline are uniquely suited to careers in physical therapy, kinesiology, and nutrition. Phys ed students may also go back to school to pursue advanced degrees in the field.

Another benefit of majoring in health and physical education is the opportunity to develop interpersonal skills. In order to teach health and fitness, individuals must be able to communicate about sensitive topics like diet and weight. This skill can serve students in a wide range of fields and workplaces.

How Can You Boost Your Odds of Getting Accepted Into a Health and Physical Education Program?

Applicants can increase their odds of getting into a top health and physical education program by taking the right coursework in high school. Because most phys ed programs involve a strong health curriculum, teens can benefit by taking classes related to nutrition, alcohol and drug prevention, first aid, and community health. For students whose high schools don’t offer these types of classes, it might be worth taking a first aid or CPR course at your local community center.

Extracurricular activities can also help students gain admission to top health and phys ed programs. While athletics are a natural choice for PE majors, students may want to target sports that emphasize teamwork, like soccer or basketball. You can also consider less traditional forms of physical activity, such as fencing, sailing, or even ballroom dance.

For families seeking support on the college admissions journey, CollegeVine’s Early Advising Program is a great place to turn. Designed to help freshmen and sophomores get a head start on the applications process, this program offers students a targeted road map to achieving their goals. Working with a counselor from a top 30 college or university, students will gain invaluable advice regarding curriculum, extracurriculars, and standardized tests, among other factors.

What Colleges Have a Health and Physical Education Major?

A large number of schools around the U.S. offer programs in health and physical education. If you’re passionate about fitness, check out the complete list of colleges and universities with health and PE majors below:

Adams State University

Agnes Scott College

Alabama A&M | AAMU

Alabama A&M University | AAMU

Alcorn State University

Alderson Broaddus University | AB

Anderson University (South Carolina)

Appalachian State University

Aquinas College (Michigan)

Arizona State University | ASU

Arkansas State University | A–State

Arkansas Tech University | ATU

Asbury University

Ashland University

Auburn University

Auburn University at Montgomery | AUM

Augsburg University

Austin Peay State University | APSU

Averett University

Bacone College

Baldwin Wallace University | BW

Ball State University | BSU

Barton College

Becker College

Belhaven University

Bellevue University

Benedictine University

Berry College

Bethel College (Indiana)

Bismarck State College | BSC

Blackburn College

Blue Mountain College | BMC

Bluefield College

Bluffton University

Boise State University | BSU

Boston University | BU

Bowling Green State University | BGSU

Bradley University

Brenau University

Brevard College

Bridgewater State University

Brigham Young University | BYU

Brooklyn College

C.W. Post Campus of Long Island University | LIU Post

Cabrini University

Cairn University

Caldwell University

California State University, Chico | CSU Chico

California State University, Dominguez Hills | CSUDH

California State University, Long Beach | Long Beach State

California State University, Monterey Bay | CSUMB

California State University, Sacramento | Sacramento State

California State University, Stanislaus | Stanislaus State

California University of Pennsylvania | Cal U

Calvin College

Campbell University

Canisius College

Cardinal Stritch University

Carroll University

Carson–Newman University

Catawba College

Cedar Crest College

Cedarville University

Central Baptist College | CBC

Central Christian College of Kansas

Central Connecticut State University | CCSU

Central Michigan University | CMU

Central Washington University | CWU

Chadron State College | CSC

Chapman University

Charleston Southern University | CSU

Chestnut Hill College | CHC

Chicago State University | CSU

Chowan University

Cleveland State University | CSU

Coastal Carolina University | Coastal

Coker College

College of Charleston

College of Coastal Georgia | CCGA

College of the Ozarks

College of William & Mary | William & Mary

Colorado Mesa University

Colorado State University | CSU

Columbia College (South Carolina)

Columbus State University

Concordia College (Minnesota)

Concordia University Ann Arbor

Concordia University Irvine

Concordia University Nebraska

Concordia University Wisconsin | CUW

Corban University

Creighton University

Crowley’s Ridge College

Crown College (Minnesota)

Culver–Stockton College

Cumberland University

Dakota State University | DSU

Dallas Baptist University | DBU

Delaware State University | Del State

Delta State University

DePaul University

Dickinson State University | DSU

Dordt College

Duquesne University

East Carolina University | ECU

East Stroudsburg University of Pennsylvania | ESU

East Texas Baptist University | ETBU

Eastern Connecticut State University | ECSU

Eastern Mennonite University | EMU

Eastern Michigan University | EMU

Eastern New Mexico University | ENMU

Eastern University

Eastern Washington University | EWU

Edinboro University

Elizabeth City State University | ECSU

Elizabethtown College | E-town

Elon University

Emmanuel College (Georgia)

Emporia State University

Endicott College

Evangel University

Fairfield University

Fairmont State University

Fayetteville State University | FSU

Fitchburg State University

Florida A&M University | FAMU

Florida Atlantic University | FAU

Florida Gulf Coast University | FGCU

Florida International University | FIU

Florida Southern College

Fontbonne University

Fort Valley State University | FVSU

Friends University

Frostburg State University

Gallaudet University

Gardner–Webb University

George Fox University | GFU

George Mason University

Georgia Gwinnett College | GGC

Georgia Southern University

Georgia Southwestern State University | GSW

Glenville State College | GSC

Gonzaga University

Goshen College

Governors State University

Grace College & Seminary

Graceland University

Grand Valley State University | GVSU

Grand View University

Greensboro College

Gulf Coast State College | GCSC

Gustavus Adolphus College

Hamline University

Hannibal–LaGrange University | HLGU

Hardin–Simmons University | HSU

Heidelberg University (Ohio)

Henderson State University | HSU

Hendrix College

High Point University

Hillsdale College

Hofstra University

Hope College

Houston Baptist University | HBU

Hunter College | CUNY Hunter

Huntingdon College

Huntington University

Husson University

Huston–Tillotson University | HTU

Illinois State University | ISU

Immaculata University

Indiana State University | ISU

Indiana University – Purdue University Indianapolis | IUPUI

Indiana University East | IU East

Indiana University Kokomo | IU Kokomo

Indiana University of Pennsylvania | IUP

Indiana Wesleyan University | IWU

Iowa Wesleyan University

Ithaca College

Jackson College

Jackson State University | JSU

Jacksonville State University | JSU

Johnson & Wales University | JWU

Judson University

Kansas Wesleyan University | KWU

Keene State College

Kennesaw State University | KSU

Kentucky State University | KSU

Kentucky Wesleyan College | KWC

King’s College

La Sierra University | LSU

Lander University

Langston University | LU

Lasell College | LC

Lebanon Valley College | LVC

Lehman College | CUNY Lehman

Lewis University

Limestone College

Lincoln Memorial University | LMU

Lincoln University (Missouri)

Lindenwood University

Lipscomb University

Lock Haven University of Pennsylvania | LHU

Longwood University

Loras College

Louisiana College

Louisiana State University Shreveport | LSUS

Louisiana Tech University | La. Tech

Loyola Marymount University | LMU

Lubbock Christian University | LCU

Luther College

MacMurray College

Madonna University

Malone University

Manchester University

Manhattanville College

Mansfield University of Pennsylvania

Maranatha Baptist University

Marian University

Marquette University

Mars Hill University

Marshall University

Martin Methodist College

Mary Baldwin University | MBU

Marymount University

Maryville University

Marywood University

Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences | MCPHS

Mayville State University | MSU

McKendree University | McK

McMurry University

McNeese State University

McPherson College

Medgar Evers College | CUNY MEC

Mercy College

Messiah College

Metropolitan State University of Denver | MSU Denver

Michigan Technological University | Michigan Tech

Mid-America Christian University | MACU

MidAmerica Nazarene University | MNU

Middle Tennessee State University | MTSU

Midland College | MC

Midland University

Milligan College

Minnesota State University Moorhead | MSUM

Minnesota State University, Mankato | MNSU

Minot State University | MSU

Mississippi Valley State University | MVSU

Missouri Baptist University

Missouri Southern State University

Missouri State University | MSU

Missouri Western State University

Monmouth University

Montana State University | MSU

Montana State University–Northern | MSU–Northern

Montclair State University | MSU

Mount Marty College

Mount Mary University

Mount Saint Mary College

Mount St. Mary’s University

Mount Vernon Nazarene University | MVNU

Murray State University | MSU

Nebraska Wesleyan University | NWU

Nevada State College | NSC

New England College | NEC

New School

New York City College of Technology | CUNY City Tech

New York University | NYU

Norfolk State University | NSU

North Carolina A&T State University | N.C. A&T

North Carolina Central University | NCCU

North Carolina State University | NC State

North Dakota State University | NDSU

Northcentral University

Northeastern State University | NSU

Northeastern University

Northern Illinois University | NIU

Northern Michigan University | NMU

Northern Vermont University–Johnson | NVU Johnson

Northwestern Oklahoma State University | NWOSU

Northwestern State University of Louisiana | NSU

Nova Southeastern University | NSU

Oakland City University | OCU

Oakwood University

Oberlin College

Oklahoma Baptist University | OBU

Oklahoma Christian University | OC

Oklahoma City University | OCU

Oklahoma Panhandle State University | OPSU

Oklahoma Wesleyan University | OKWU

Olivet Nazarene University | ONU

Olympic College

Oregon Institute of Technology | Oregon Tech

Otterbein University

Palm Beach Atlantic University | PBA

Paul Smith’s College

Peninsula College

Pennsylvania State University | PSU

Pensacola State College

Peru State College

Pfeiffer University

Piedmont College

Pittsburg State University | PSU

Plymouth State University | PSU

Point University

Portland State University | PSU

Purdue University

Queens College, City University of New York | CUNY QC

Queens University of Charlotte

Quinnipiac University

Regis University

Rhode Island College | RIC

Robert Morris University Illinois

Rochester Institute of Technology | RIT

Rockford University

Rockhurst University

Rocky Mountain College | RMC

Rutgers University–New Brunswick | Rutgers

Sacred Heart University | SHU

Saginaw Valley State University | SVSU

Saint Francis University | SFU

Saint Joseph’s College of Maine

Saint Mary’s College of California | St. Mary’s

Saint Peter’s University

Salem State University

San Jose State University | SJSU

Seattle Pacific University | SPU

Seminole State College of Florida

Shawnee State University | SSU

Shenandoah University

Simmons College

Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania | SRU

South Dakota State University

South Georgia State College

Southeastern Louisiana University

Southeastern Oklahoma State University | SOSU

Southern Adventist University

Southern Arkansas University | SAU

Southern Connecticut State University | SCSU

Southern Illinois University Carbondale | SIU

Southern Methodist University | SMU

Southern New Hampshire University | SNHU

Southern Oregon University | SOU

Southern Wesleyan University

Southwest Baptist University | SBU

Southwest Minnesota State University | SMSU

Southwestern Assemblies of God University | SAGU

Southwestern Christian College | SwCC

Southwestern Christian University

Southwestern Oklahoma State University | SWOSU

Spalding University

Spring Arbor University | SAU

Springfield College

St. Ambrose University

St. Augustine’s University

St. Cloud State University | SCSU

St. Francis College | SFC

St. Joseph’s College (New York) | SJC

St. Thomas University | STU

State University of New York at Canton | SUNY Canton

State University of New York at Cortland | SUNY Cortland

State University of New York at Morrisville | SUNY Morrisville

State University of New York at Oneonta | SUNY Oneonta

State University of New York at Plattsburgh | SUNY Plattsburgh

State University of New York at Potsdam | SUNY Potsdam

Sterling College

Stetson University

Stonehill College

Syracuse University

Tabor College

Tennessee State University | TSU

Tennessee Technological University | Tennessee Tech

Tennessee Wesleyan University | TWU

Texas A&M University–Kingsville

Texas Tech University | TTU

Texas Wesleyan University

The Citadel, The Military College of South Carolina | The Citadel

The College at Brockport, State University of New York | SUNY Brockport

The College of New Jersey | TCNJ

Tougaloo College

Transylvania University

Trevecca Nazarene University

Troy University (Alabama)

Truman State University | TSU

Tuskegee University

Union College (Kentucky)

Union College (Nebraska)

University of Akron

University of Alabama

University of Alabama at Birmingham | UAB

University of Alaska Anchorage | UAA

University of Arkansas at Little Rock | UA Little Rock

University of Arkansas at Monticello | UAM

University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff | UAPB

University of California, Irvine | UC Irvine

University of Central Florida | UCF

University of Cincinnati

University of Evansville

University of Findlay | UF

University of Florida

University of Georgia

University of Hawaii at Manoa | UH Manoa

University of Houston

University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign | UIUC

University of Jamestown

University of Kansas

University of Louisiana at Lafayette | UL Lafayette

University of Louisiana at Monroe | ULM

University of Lynchburg

University of Maine at Farmington | UMF

University of Maine at Presque Isle | UMPI

University of Mary | UMary

University of Maryland, Baltimore County | UMBC

University of Missouri–St. Louis | UMSL

University of Mobile

University of Montana Western | UMW

University of Mount Union

University of Nebraska at Kearney | UNK

University of Nebraska Omaha | UNO

University of Nebraska–Lincoln | UNL

University of New England | UNE

University of New Hampshire | UNH

University of New Mexico | UNM

University of North Alabama | UNA

University of North Carolina at Greensboro | UNC Greensboro

University of North Carolina at Wilmington | UNC Wilmington

University of Northern Iowa | UNI

University of Northwestern – St. Paul

University of Pittsburgh | Pitt

University of Providence | UP

University of Puget Sound

University of Rio Grande

University of South Alabama | South

University of South Carolina | USC

University of South Carolina Upstate | USC Upstate

University of South Dakota | USD

University of South Florida | USF

University of Southern Maine | USM

University of Southern Mississippi | Southern Miss

University of St. Thomas (Minnesota)

University of the Cumberlands

University of the Ozarks

University of Toledo

University of Tulsa

University of Vermont | UVM

University of West Georgia | UWG

University of Wisconsin-Madison | Wisconsin

University of Wisconsin–La Crosse | UW–La Crosse

University of Wisconsin–River Falls | UW–River Falls

University of Wisconsin–Stevens Point | UW–Stevens Point

University of Wisconsin–Superior | UW–Superior

University of Wisconsin–Whitewater | UW–Whitewater

Urbana University

Ursinus College

Utah State University

Utah Valley University | UVU

Valdosta State University | VSU

Virginia Commonwealth University | VCU

Virginia State University | VSU

Virginia Tech

Voorhees College

Wake Forest University

Waldorf University

Walla Walla University

Warner Pacific University

Warner University

Washburn University

Washington Adventist University

Washington State University | WSU

Wayland Baptist University | WBU

Wayne State College

Wayne State University | WSU

Waynesburg University

Weber State University

Webster University

Welch College

Wesley College

West Chester University | WCUPA

West Liberty University

West Virginia Wesleyan College

Western Carolina University | WCU

Western Connecticut State University | WCSU

Western Illinois University | WIU

Western Kentucky University | WKU

Western Michigan University | WMU

Western New Mexico University

Western Oregon University | WOU

Western Washington University | WWU

Westfield State University

Westminster College (Pennsylvania)

Wheeling Jesuit University | WJU

Wichita State University | WSU

Wiley College

Wilkes University

Willamette University

William Carey University | WCU

William Paterson University | WPUNJ

William Penn University

WIlliam Woods University | WWU

Wilmington College

Wilson College

Wingate University

Winona State University | WSU

Winston-Salem State University | WSSU

Winthrop University | WU

Worcester State University

Wright State University

York College, City University of New York | CUNY York

Youngstown State University

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