Physical Education · California

Physical Education colleges in California

CampusPin lists 262 U.S. colleges in California that offer Physical Education programs. Compare tuition, acceptance rate, and enrollment in the table below, every figure links back to the institution's official IPEDS data.

Physical Education prepares future teachers and coaches to lead movement, fitness, and sport instruction in schools, blending education with athletics and active learning.

Schools in California that offer Physical Education

Physical Education programs in California: by the numbers

A quick comparison of the 50 schools (of 262 total) listed above, drawn from each institution's published IPEDS data.

Schools listed

262

Public / private

15 / 35

Universities / 2-year

40 / 10

Cities represented

35

In-state tuition range

$1,124–$63,255

Median in-state tuition

$15,977

Lowest published in-state tuition

Antelope Valley Community College District

$1,124

Most selective

California Institute of Technology

3% acceptance

Largest by enrollment

California State University-Fullerton

41,793 students

Figures reflect the schools currently listed and each institution's most recent reported data. Verify current tuition and admissions details with the school before applying.

What you'll study in a Physical Education program

  • Motor development and movement skill acquisition across age groups
  • Curriculum design and lesson planning for physical education
  • Classroom and gymnasium management for large, active groups
  • Anatomy, exercise physiology, and biomechanics fundamentals
  • Methods for teaching team sports, individual sports, dance, and fitness activities
  • Adapted physical education for students with disabilities
  • Assessment of motor skills and health-related fitness
  • Coaching principles, sport safety, and first aid and emergency response
  • Supervised student-teaching practicum in a school setting

Where a Physical Education degree can lead

  • Physical Education Teacher
  • Athletic Coach
  • Health and Physical Education Teacher
  • Strength and Conditioning Coach
  • Athletic Director
  • Recreation Coordinator

Typical pay: Early-career wages vary by employer, region, and experience (BLS, 2024 coaches and scouts median $45,920).

Physical Education prepares students to teach movement, fitness, and sport at the elementary, middle, and high school levels, and to coach athletic programs. Coursework blends education theory with the science of how the body moves, so students study how to design developmentally appropriate lessons, manage a gymnasium or field full of active learners, assess motor skills, and teach lifelong wellness habits. Unlike a kinesiology or exercise science major, which leans toward the laboratory study of human movement and often points toward clinical or research paths, Physical Education centers on pedagogy: planning units, adapting activities for students of differing abilities, and meeting school health and fitness standards. Students typically learn to teach a wide range of activities, from team sports and individual skills to dance and outdoor recreation.

Most teaching roles in this field begin with a bachelor's degree, and programs that lead to a public-school teaching license generally include a supervised student-teaching practicum in a real classroom or gym, plus coursework that satisfies state certification requirements. Public-school teaching positions require a state-issued teaching license, and candidates should verify both programmatic accreditation and the specific licensure rules in the state where they intend to work, since requirements differ. Some graduates pair the teaching credential with a coaching endorsement or pursue strength-and-conditioning certification, which carries its own exam and credential. Graduates work in elementary and secondary schools, as athletic coaches and directors, in after-school and community recreation programs, in youth sport organizations, and in parks and recreation departments.

In federal data for the closely related occupation of coaches and scouts, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reports a 2024 median wage of $45,920 and projects employment to grow about 6.4% from 2024 to 2034; a bachelor's degree is the typical entry-level education for that occupation. National figures are occupation-wide medians across all experience levels, not starting wages or graduate outcomes.

Physical Education in other states

Other majors in California

Find more Physical Education schools

Use CampusPin's filter-first search to narrow 262+ Physical Education programs in California by tuition, school size, acceptance rate, and campus setting.

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