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College Factual  by our College Data Analytics Team
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2026 Best Health & Physical Education Schools in North Carolina

33 Colleges in the United States
2,664 Health & Physical Education Degrees Awarded
$35,290 Avg Early-Career Salary

Health & Physical Education degree programs prepare students for a range of careers in the field. A focused field like this rewards careful comparison of the schools that offer it.

To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 55 schools to find the best for health & physical education students.

What’s on this page:

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Best Schools for Health & Physical Education in North Carolina

Below are the schools that deliver the strongest overall health & physical education education in North Carolina.

Top Schools in Health & Physical Education

1

North Carolina State University At Raleigh tops our 2026 ranking of the best health & physical education schools. Set in the city of Raleigh, North Carolina State University At Raleigh is a very large public institution. About 85% of students finish within six years. North Carolina State University At Raleigh awarded about 115 health & physical education degrees in the most recent data year. Health & Physical Education graduates of North Carolina State University At Raleigh earn a median of $33,717 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $21,500. See the full health & physical education program report for North Carolina State University At Raleigh

2

University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in health & physical education, ranking #2. University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill is a very large public school located in the city of Chapel Hill. Roughly 91% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 327 health & physical education students who graduated with this degree at University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill in the most recent data year. Graduates of the health & physical education program make about $39,401 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $16,575. More information about a degree in health & physical education from University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill

3
Wake Forest University crest
Wake Forest University
Winston-Salem, NC

Students looking for a strong health & physical education program will find one at Wake Forest University, which ranked #3. Wake Forest University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Winston-Salem. Roughly 89% of students complete a degree within six years here. Wake Forest University awarded about 103 health & physical education degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their health & physical education degree from Wake Forest University earn around $21,192 in the first couple years of their career. Wake Forest University graduates carry a median of $23,250 in student loans. See the full health & physical education program report for Wake Forest University

4
High Point University crest
High Point University
High Point, NC

High Point University came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the best health & physical education schools. Set in the city of High Point, High Point University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. High Point University graduates 72% of students within six years. There were roughly 101 health & physical education students who graduated with this degree at High Point University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, health & physical education degree recipients from High Point University generally make around $113,352. Typical student debt for the program is $23,785. Get the full health & physical education details for High Point University

5

A rank of #5 makes Elon University one of the top schools for health & physical education. Located in the suburb of Elon, Elon University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. The six-year graduation rate is 84%. About 101 health & physical education degrees were awarded at Elon University in the most recent year. Health & Physical Education graduates of Elon University earn a median of $21,440 early in their careers. Elon University graduates carry a median of $23,250 in student loans. See the full health & physical education program report for Elon University

6

Appalachian State University landed the #6 spot for health & physical education this year. This very large public university is located in the town of Boone. Roughly 74% of students complete a degree within six years here. Appalachian State University awarded about 69 health & physical education degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, health & physical education degree recipients from Appalachian State University generally make around $31,567. Typical student debt for the program is $21,000. Read more about the health & physical education program at Appalachian State University

7

University Of North Carolina At Wilmington earned the #7 position for health & physical education this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Wilmington. About 71% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 195 health & physical education students who graduated with this degree at University Of North Carolina At Wilmington in the most recent data year. Students who receive their health & physical education degree from University Of North Carolina At Wilmington earn around $46,164 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $23,013 to complete this degree. See the full health & physical education program report for University Of North Carolina At Wilmington

8
Meredith College crest
Meredith College
Raleigh, NC

Meredith College ranked #8 on our 2026 list of the best health & physical education schools. Located in the city of Raleigh, Meredith College is a small private not-for-profit university. About 70% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 12 health & physical education students who graduated with this degree at Meredith College in the most recent data year. Graduates of the health & physical education program make about $38,525 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $26,000. See the full health & physical education program report for Meredith College

9

Western Carolina University earned the #9 position for health & physical education this year. Set in the town of Cullowhee, Western Carolina University is a large public institution. Roughly 60% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 66 health & physical education degrees were awarded at Western Carolina University in the most recent year. Graduates of the health & physical education program make about $41,176 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $25,000. Get the full health & physical education details for Western Carolina University

10

East Carolina University placed #10 among the best health & physical education schools. East Carolina University is a very large public school located in the city of Greenville. The six-year graduation rate is 63%. About 115 health & physical education degrees were awarded at East Carolina University in the most recent year. Graduates of the health & physical education program make about $38,488 in their early career. East Carolina University graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. See the full health & physical education program report for East Carolina University

11
Gardner Webb University crest
Gardner Webb University
Boiling Springs, NC

Gardner Webb University landed the #11 spot for health & physical education this year. Set in the rural area of Boiling Springs, Gardner Webb University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 54%. There were roughly 41 health & physical education students who graduated with this degree at Gardner Webb University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their health & physical education degree from Gardner Webb University earn around $63,220 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $25,033. Get the full health & physical education details for Gardner Webb University

12
Campbell University crest
Campbell University
Buies Creek, NC

Campbell University placed #12 among the best health & physical education schools. This moderately-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the town of Buies Creek. About 60% of students finish within six years. Campbell University awarded about 92 health & physical education degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their health & physical education degree from Campbell University earn around $32,167 in the first couple years of their career. Campbell University graduates carry a median of $25,250 in student loans. More information about a degree in health & physical education from Campbell University

13

University Of North Carolina At Greensboro came in at #13 for health & physical education this year. Located in the city of Greensboro, University Of North Carolina At Greensboro is a large public university. The six-year graduation rate is 56%. About 181 health & physical education degrees were awarded at University Of North Carolina At Greensboro in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, health & physical education degree recipients from University Of North Carolina At Greensboro generally make around $48,012. Typical student debt for the program is $25,000. See the full health & physical education program report for University Of North Carolina At Greensboro

14
Wingate University crest
Wingate University
Wingate, NC

Wingate University ranked #14 on our 2026 list of the best health & physical education schools. Set in the suburb of Wingate, Wingate University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Wingate University graduates 46% of students within six years. There were roughly 127 health & physical education students who graduated with this degree at Wingate University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their health & physical education degree from Wingate University earn around $34,936 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $25,000. Read more about the health & physical education program at Wingate University

15
Lees Mcrae College crest
Lees Mcrae College
Banner Elk, NC

Lees Mcrae College came in at #15 for health & physical education this year. Located in the rural area of Banner Elk, Lees Mcrae College is a small private not-for-profit university. Roughly 42% of students complete a degree within six years here. Lees Mcrae College awarded about 13 health & physical education degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their health & physical education degree from Lees Mcrae College earn around $40,268 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $19,821. More information about a degree in health & physical education from Lees Mcrae College

16

Wake Technical Community College earned the #16 position for health & physical education this year. Located in the suburb of Raleigh, Wake Technical Community College is a very large public university. About 28 health & physical education degrees were awarded at Wake Technical Community College in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, health & physical education degree recipients from Wake Technical Community College generally make around $38,673. Students borrow a median of $17,900 to complete this degree. Read more about the health & physical education program at Wake Technical Community College

17
Gaston College crest
Gaston College
Dallas, NC

Gaston College ranked #17 on our 2026 list of the best health & physical education schools. Located in the suburb of Dallas, Gaston College is a moderately-sized public university. There were roughly 16 health & physical education students who graduated with this degree at Gaston College in the most recent data year. Health & Physical Education graduates of Gaston College earn a median of $39,937 early in their careers. Gaston College graduates carry a median of $10,915 in student loans. Read more about the health & physical education program at Gaston College

18

Lenoir Rhyne University came in at #18 for health & physical education this year. Set in the city of Hickory, Lenoir Rhyne University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. About 48% of students finish within six years. About 71 health & physical education degrees were awarded at Lenoir Rhyne University in the most recent year. Graduates of the health & physical education program make about $22,695 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $27,000. More information about a degree in health & physical education from Lenoir Rhyne University

19
Peace College crest
Peace College
Raleigh, NC

Peace College placed #19 among the best health & physical education schools. Located in the city of Raleigh, Peace College is a small private not-for-profit university. Roughly 45% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 22 health & physical education degrees were awarded at Peace College in the most recent year. Students who receive their health & physical education degree from Peace College earn around $38,047 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $27,080 to complete this degree. Get the full health & physical education details for Peace College

20

Brunswick Community College came in at #20 for health & physical education this year. This mid-sized public university is located in the rural area of Bolivia. Brunswick Community College awarded about 48 health & physical education degrees in the most recent data year. Health & Physical Education graduates of Brunswick Community College earn a median of $47,493 early in their careers. Brunswick Community College graduates carry a median of $5,500 in student loans. More information about a degree in health & physical education from Brunswick Community College

21
Brevard College crest
Brevard College
Brevard, NC

Brevard College placed #21 among the best health & physical education schools. Set in the town of Brevard, Brevard College is a small private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 49% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 15 health & physical education degrees were awarded at Brevard College in the most recent year. Health & Physical Education graduates of Brevard College earn a median of $32,122 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $26,667 to complete this degree. More information about a degree in health & physical education from Brevard College

22

North Carolina Wesleyan College ranked #22 on our 2026 list of the best health & physical education schools. Set in the city of Rocky Mount, North Carolina Wesleyan College is a small private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 42% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 15 health & physical education students who graduated with this degree at North Carolina Wesleyan College in the most recent data year. Graduates of the health & physical education program make about $40,202 in their early career. North Carolina Wesleyan College graduates carry a median of $26,713 in student loans. See the full health & physical education program report for North Carolina Wesleyan College

23
Mars Hill College crest
Mars Hill College
Mars Hill, NC

Mars Hill College earned the #23 position for health & physical education this year. Mars Hill College is a small private not-for-profit school located in the rural area of Mars Hill. About 45% of students finish within six years. About 12 health & physical education degrees were awarded at Mars Hill College in the most recent year. Students who receive their health & physical education degree from Mars Hill College earn around $43,031 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $26,886 to complete this degree. More information about a degree in health & physical education from Mars Hill College

24

Belmont Abbey College placed #24 among the best health & physical education schools. Set in the suburb of Belmont, Belmont Abbey College is a small private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 47%. About 37 health & physical education degrees were awarded at Belmont Abbey College in the most recent year. Graduates of the health & physical education program make about $27,739 in their early career. Belmont Abbey College graduates carry a median of $25,250 in student loans. Get the full health & physical education details for Belmont Abbey College

25

University Of North Carolina At Pembroke ranked #25 on our 2026 list of the best health & physical education schools. Set in the town of Pembroke, University Of North Carolina At Pembroke is a moderately-sized public institution. Roughly 44% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 79 health & physical education degrees were awarded at University Of North Carolina At Pembroke in the most recent year. Students who receive their health & physical education degree from University Of North Carolina At Pembroke earn around $25,623 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $26,000. See the full health & physical education program report for University Of North Carolina At Pembroke

Rest of the Top 43 Health & Physical Education Schools

These schools rounded out the top of this year’s health & physical education ranking:

26
27
Catawba College crest
Catawba College
Salisbury, NC
28
Mount Olive College crest
Mount Olive College
Mount Olive, NC
29
Barton College crest
Barton College
Wilson, NC
30
Guilford College crest
Guilford College
Greensboro, NC
31
32
33
34
Methodist University crest
Methodist University
Fayetteville, NC
35
Greensboro College crest
Greensboro College
Greensboro, NC
36
37
Pfeiffer University crest
Pfeiffer University
Misenheimer, NC
38
39
Chowan University crest
Chowan University
Murfreesboro, NC
40
Shaw University crest
Shaw University
Raleigh, NC
41
42
Livingstone College crest
Livingstone College
Salisbury, NC
43

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Notes and References

This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. Schools are scored on a blend of student outcomes (graduation rate, post-graduation earnings), affordability, and program focus, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).

Ranking method: College Major Top Ranked · 55 schools evaluated.

More about our data sources and methodologies.

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