Best Master's in Physical Education Teaching and Coaching Programs by Local Teacher Pay

1. 1

   Azusa Pacific University

   Azusa, CAPrivate nonprofit

   • 59Master's/yr
   • $101,860Metro teacher pay
   • Master of Science in Kinesiology, Sport and Physical Education concentration
   • Online
   About the program

   Azusa Pacific University offers a Master of Science in Kinesiology with a Sport and Physical Education concentration, delivered fully online and asynchronously for maximum flexibility. The 30-unit concentration leans toward curriculum design, leadership and administration, ethics, and sport psychology, and small cohorts of roughly 15 to 20 students keep the student-to-faculty ratio near ten to one. Candidates finish with a capstone project rather than a thesis, an applied endpoint that fits professionals building expertise for coaching, program leadership, or advanced teaching. This is a non-licensure degree; educators seeking a credential pursue APU's separate M.A. in Physical Education, which pairs with a Single Subject Teaching Credential leading to an SB 2042 Preliminary credential to teach and coach across K-12 and beyond. Offered by an institution accredited through WSCUC, the MS reads as a practice-focused path for those who already hold or do not need licensure. Earning a master's degree in physical education teaching and coaching is a common route toward becoming one of California's secondary school teachers.

   Why it ranks here

   A master's degree earns its rank on program-appropriate signals, not undergraduate ones: established scale, local teacher pay, and institutional strength. On the first, it is clearly established, turning out 59 master's degrees a year, a steady if smaller cohort. Its graduates step into Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA, where elementary teachers earn a median $101,860, roughly $89,692 once local cost of living is factored in, a real-world read on what the credential is worth in that market.

   Area teacher pay: Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics May 2025, adjusted for local cost of living via U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities. A location figure, not this program's graduate earnings.

   School site
2. 2

   Bridgewater State University

   Bridgewater, MAPublic

   • 9Master's/yr
   • $98,060Metro teacher pay
   • Master's Degree in Physical Education
   • Hybrid
   About the program

   Bridgewater State University offers a master's degree in Physical Education whose eight concentrations make it one of the broadest programs of its kind, spanning Applied Kinesiology, Human Performance and Health Fitness, Coaching Education, Strength and Conditioning, and Adapted Physical Education and Sport. That range lets students align the degree with distinctly different destinations, from performance training to teaching to sport coaching, with the Coaching Education track offered fully online. For those pursuing the classroom, the program provides initial teaching licensure pathways in Massachusetts for PreK-8 and grades 5-12 health and physical education. Students work in state-of-the-art biomechanics and exercise physiology labs at the Adrian Tinsley Center, giving the degree a strong hands-on, science-grounded character. Full-time students can finish in as little as two years, and a 4+1 early acceptance pathway lets Bridgewater undergraduates get a head start. Graduates of this physical education teaching and coaching program at the master's level often go on to work as secondary school teachers.

   Why it ranks here

   A master's degree earns its rank on program-appropriate signals, not undergraduate ones: established scale, local teacher pay, and institutional strength. On the first, it is clearly established, turning out 9 master's degrees a year, a steady if smaller cohort. Its graduates step into Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH, where elementary teachers earn a median $98,060, roughly $90,573 once local cost of living is factored in, a real-world read on what the credential is worth in that market.

   Area teacher pay: Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics May 2025, adjusted for local cost of living via U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities. A location figure, not this program's graduate earnings.

   School site
3. 3

   Salem State University

   Salem, MAPublic

   • 16Master's/yr
   • $98,060Metro teacher pay
   • Leadership in Physical Education and Movement Studies, Master of Education (MEd)
   • Hybrid
   About the program

   Salem State University offers a Master of Education in Leadership in Physical Education and Movement Studies, a 30-credit degree built for physical educators who already hold an initial license and are working toward a Massachusetts DESE professional license. Students devote 12 credits to a chosen focus area among Physical Education, Adapted Physical Education, and Adventure Education, letting them deepen expertise while sharing a common leadership core. The physical education and adapted PE tracks can be completed fully online, while Adventure Education requires one in-person course in Beverly, a practical accommodation for its outdoor, experiential content. Throughout, the program emphasizes culturally sustaining teaching practices, positioning graduates to lead inclusively in diverse schools. For those seeking entry to the profession instead, Salem State offers a separate Master of Arts in Teaching in Physical Education that leads to initial licensure. Earning a master's degree in physical education teaching and coaching is a common route toward becoming one of Massachusetts's secondary school teachers.

   Why it ranks here

   A master's degree earns its rank on program-appropriate signals, not undergraduate ones: established scale, local teacher pay, and institutional strength. On the first, it is clearly established, turning out 16 master's degrees a year, a steady if smaller cohort. Its graduates step into Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH, where elementary teachers earn a median $98,060, roughly $90,573 once local cost of living is factored in, a real-world read on what the credential is worth in that market.

   Area teacher pay: Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics May 2025, adjusted for local cost of living via U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities. A location figure, not this program's graduate earnings.

   School site
4. 4

   Hofstra University

   Hempstead, NYPrivate nonprofit

   • 21Master's/yr
   • $96,900Metro teacher pay
   • Physical Education, Master of Science
   • On-campus
   About the program

   Hofstra University offers a Master of Science in Physical Education that prepares candidates to meet New York State initial teacher certification requirements for PreK-12 physical education. The 36 to 39 credit program is heavily field-based, requiring two semesters of student teaching and an internship in which candidates coach a middle or high school interscholastic team for at least one full season. That combination of classroom teaching and competitive coaching signals a preparation aimed at educators who will lead both PE instruction and athletics. Admission includes an interview with the graduate program director, adding a personal, selective step to entry. Taught on campus, it reads as a hands-on, teaching-and-coaching pathway into New York's schools. Earning a master's degree in physical education teaching and coaching is a common route toward becoming one of New York's secondary school teachers.

   Why it ranks here

   For a graduate program we set aside undergraduate figures and weigh three things instead: how established it is, the local market its graduates enter, and the institution's standing. On the first, it is clearly established, turning out 21 master's degrees a year, a steady if smaller cohort. Its graduates step into New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ, where elementary teachers earn a median $96,900, roughly $86,085 once local cost of living is factored in, a real-world read on what the credential is worth in that market.

   Area teacher pay: Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics May 2025, adjusted for local cost of living via U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities. A location figure, not this program's graduate earnings.

   School site
5. 5

   Adelphi University

   Garden City, NYPrivate nonprofit

   • 31Master's/yr
   • $96,900Metro teacher pay
   • Master of Arts in Physical Education
   • On-campus
   About the program

   Adelphi University offers a Master of Arts in Physical Education that leads to New York State Teacher Certification and openly serves candidates at very different starting points. Three tracks, Professional, In-Service, and Pre-Service, sort applicants by whether they already hold PE certification, are certified in another area, or are career changers entering the field for the first time, with the Pre-Service path requiring full-time student teaching five days a week. Fieldwork sits at the center of the experience, including an internship course with placements in New York City and Long Island schools, and graduates must pass the Content Specialty Test in Physical Education to complete certification. Evening classes and rolling admission with five entry points a year signal a program engineered around working adults and shifting schedules. Depending on prior certification, students typically finish in one and a half to two years. As a master's degree in physical education teaching and coaching, it is one of the programs that lead to careers as secondary school teachers in New York.

   Why it ranks here

   For a graduate program we set aside undergraduate figures and weigh three things instead: how established it is, the local market its graduates enter, and the institution's standing. On the first, it is clearly established, turning out 31 master's degrees a year, a steady if smaller cohort. Its graduates step into New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ, where elementary teachers earn a median $96,900, roughly $86,085 once local cost of living is factored in, a real-world read on what the credential is worth in that market.

   Area teacher pay: Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics May 2025, adjusted for local cost of living via U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities. A location figure, not this program's graduate earnings.

   School site
6. 6

   CUNY Brooklyn College

   Brooklyn, NYPublic

   • 39Master's/yr
   • $96,900Metro teacher pay
   • Physical Education Teacher, Master of Science in Education
   • Licensed by the New York State Education Department-accredited
   • On-campus
   About the program

   Brooklyn College offers a Master of Science in Education for physical education teachers, licensed by the New York State Education Department and structured around three tracks that meet candidates wherever they stand on the certification ladder. The Professional Track carries students directly to Professional certification, the Pre-Professional Track builds toward Initial and then Professional certification after three years of full-time teaching, and the TransB Certificate Program routes candidates to Transitional B certification. A supervised student teaching practicum in public and private schools anchors the degree in real classrooms, and fingerprint verification is required for placements with the New York City Department of Education. The program's deep roots in the city are evident in its graduates, who make up a large share of New York City's Pre-K-12 physical education teachers. Delivered on campus, it functions as a direct pipeline into the city's public schools. A master's-level path in physical education teaching and coaching, it builds toward a career among secondary school teachers in New York.

   Why it ranks here

   For a graduate program we set aside undergraduate figures and weigh three things instead: how established it is, the local market its graduates enter, and the institution's standing. On the first, it is clearly established, turning out 39 master's degrees a year, a steady if smaller cohort. Its graduates step into New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ, where elementary teachers earn a median $96,900, roughly $86,085 once local cost of living is factored in, a real-world read on what the credential is worth in that market.

   Area teacher pay: Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics May 2025, adjusted for local cost of living via U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities. A location figure, not this program's graduate earnings.

   School site
7. 7

   CUNY Queens College

   Queens, NYPublic

   • 15Master's/yr
   • $96,900Metro teacher pay
   • Master of Science in Education in Physical Education (Pre-K-12)
   • On-campus
   About the program

   Queens College offers a Master of Science in Education in Physical Education for Pre-K-12, accredited by the Council for Accreditation of Educator Preparation and aligned to SHAPE America's National Standards for Initial Physical Education Teacher Education. The program uses a two-pathway structure that pairs a Post-Baccalaureate Advanced Certificate with the MSEd, so applicants who lack a physical education teaching background first complete the certificate to earn New York State Initial Certification before entering the master's for their Professional certificate. That design makes clear who each stage serves, guiding newcomers and already-certified teachers along a single coherent route to New York State certification. The curriculum weaves theoretical study of curriculum and teaching together with the study of human movement, mapped to New York State Learning Standards for Physical Education. Taught on campus, it offers a standards-driven, sequential preparation for the state's physical education classrooms. Graduates of this physical education teaching and coaching program at the master's level often go on to work as secondary school teachers.

   Why it ranks here

   Master's programs are judged differently here. Undergraduate stats do not apply, so the ranking looks at whether the program is established, the pay its graduates walk into locally, and how the university stands behind it. On the first, it is clearly established, turning out 15 master's degrees a year, a steady if smaller cohort. Its graduates step into New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ, where elementary teachers earn a median $96,900, roughly $86,085 once local cost of living is factored in, a real-world read on what the credential is worth in that market.

   Area teacher pay: Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics May 2025, adjusted for local cost of living via U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities. A location figure, not this program's graduate earnings.

   School site
8. 8

   CUNY Lehman College

   Bronx, NYPublic

   • 6Master's/yr
   • $96,900Metro teacher pay
   • Master of Science in Education in Recreation Education, Physical Education Teachers option
   • On-campus
   About the program

   Lehman College offers a Master of Science in Education in Recreation Education, and its Physical Education Teachers option is built specifically for certified PE teachers advancing their careers. That option, one of three specializations alongside Recreation and Park Administration and Therapeutic Recreation Service, leads to New York State professional certification for candidates who already hold initial certification in physical education. The degree responds directly to New York's requirement that public school teachers earn a master's to continue their employment, positioning it as a credential-completion route for in-service educators. Delivered fully online, it stands apart from Lehman's on-campus Human Performance and Fitness master's and offers the scheduling flexibility working teachers need. As a master's degree in physical education teaching and coaching, it is one of the programs that lead to careers as secondary school teachers in New York.

   Why it ranks here

   For a graduate program we set aside undergraduate figures and weigh three things instead: how established it is, the local market its graduates enter, and the institution's standing. On the first, it is clearly established, turning out 6 master's degrees a year, a steady if smaller cohort. Its graduates step into New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ, where elementary teachers earn a median $96,900, roughly $86,085 once local cost of living is factored in, a real-world read on what the credential is worth in that market.

   Area teacher pay: Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics May 2025, adjusted for local cost of living via U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities. A location figure, not this program's graduate earnings.

   School site
9. 9

   Manhattanville University

   Purchase, NYPrivate nonprofit

   • 34Master's/yr
   • $96,900Metro teacher pay
   • Master of Arts in Teaching in Physical Education and Sport Pedagogy
   • On-campus
   About the program

   Manhattanville offers a Master of Arts in Teaching in Physical Education and Sport Pedagogy that leads to New York State physical education teacher certification. The non-thesis structure, capped by a comprehensive exam and a student teaching semester in the final term, keeps the focus on classroom readiness rather than a research project. Credit requirements range from 39 to 57 depending on the prerequisite coursework a candidate still needs, and the average student finishes in about two and a half years, with a five-year maximum window. Classes meet on weeknight evenings, a schedule clearly designed to accommodate students who work during the day. Together these features frame it as a practice-oriented licensure pathway built for working adults entering the physical education profession. As a master's degree in physical education teaching and coaching, it is one of the programs that lead to careers as secondary school teachers in New York.

   Why it ranks here

   A master's degree earns its rank on program-appropriate signals, not undergraduate ones: established scale, local teacher pay, and institutional strength. On the first, it is clearly established, turning out 34 master's degrees a year, a steady if smaller cohort. Its graduates step into New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ, where elementary teachers earn a median $96,900, roughly $86,085 once local cost of living is factored in, a real-world read on what the credential is worth in that market.

   Area teacher pay: Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics May 2025, adjusted for local cost of living via U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities. A location figure, not this program's graduate earnings.

   School site
10. 10

    State University of New York at Cortland

    Cortland, NYPublic

    • 14Master's/yr
    • $85,760State teacher pay
    • Physical Education
    • On-campus
    About the program

    SUNY Cortland offers a Master of Science in Teaching in Physical Education built to move candidates into initial New York State teaching certification. Two tracks recognize where students begin, with Track A carrying 55 credit hours for those seeking their first certification and a leaner 43-hour Track B for candidates already certified in another subject area. The curriculum is aligned to SHAPE America and the Adapted Physical Education National Standards, signaling a program that holds its coursework to national benchmarks for the discipline. Students demonstrate their readiness through a comprehensive exam and a culminating master's thesis, and Track A candidates complete a full semester of student teaching. Taken together, the on-campus format and clinical residency make this a hands-on route into K-12 physical education classrooms. Earning a master's degree in physical education teaching and coaching is a common route toward becoming one of New York's secondary school teachers.

    Why it ranks here

    Master's programs are judged differently here. Undergraduate stats do not apply, so the ranking looks at whether the program is established, the pay its graduates walk into locally, and how the university stands behind it. On the first, it is clearly established, turning out 14 master's degrees a year, a steady if smaller cohort. Its graduates step into New York statewide, where elementary teachers earn a median $85,760, roughly $79,466 once local cost of living is factored in, a real-world read on what the credential is worth in that market.

    Area teacher pay: Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics May 2025, adjusted for local cost of living via U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities. A location figure, not this program's graduate earnings.

    School site
11. 11

    Chicago State University

    Chicago, ILPublic

    • 7Master's/yr
    • $78,390Metro teacher pay
    • Master of Science in Education, Physical Education
    • Online
    About the program

    Chicago State University offers an online Master of Science in Education in Physical Education built as an advanced-study degree for teachers who are already licensed. Admission requires a current teaching license in any content area, and the program does not itself lead to licensure, so it functions as a route to deeper K-12 expertise rather than a first credential. Students choose between two 34-credit completion options, a thesis path culminating in PE 5910 or a capstone path culminating in PE 5900, which lets them lean toward research or applied project work depending on their goals. Electives extend the flexibility further, drawing from Physical Education, Health and Safety, or, with director permission, other departments. A six-year completion window gives working educators room to progress at a manageable pace. A master's-level path in physical education teaching and coaching, it builds toward a career among secondary school teachers in Illinois.

    Why it ranks here

    A master's degree earns its rank on program-appropriate signals, not undergraduate ones: established scale, local teacher pay, and institutional strength. On the first, it is clearly established, turning out 7 master's degrees a year, a steady if smaller cohort. Its graduates step into Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN, where elementary teachers earn a median $78,390, roughly $75,670 once local cost of living is factored in, a real-world read on what the credential is worth in that market.

    Area teacher pay: Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics May 2025, adjusted for local cost of living via U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities. A location figure, not this program's graduate earnings.

    School site
12. 12

    Concordia University-Chicago

    River Forest, ILPrivate nonprofitOnline available

    • 11Master's/yr
    • $78,390Metro teacher pay
    • Master of Arts in Teaching: PK-12 Physical Education
    • Online
    About the program

    Concordia University Chicago offers an online Master of Arts in Teaching in PK-12 Physical Education that splits into a Licensure pathway and a Non-Licensure pathway, letting candidates pursue state endorsement or advanced study without it. Licensure-track graduates become eligible to apply for an Illinois Professional Educator License with a PK-12 physical education endorsement, while the non-licensure track confers no state credential. Clinical experience is a defining feature: candidates log at least 100 embedded pre-professional clinical hours and then complete either a student teaching internship worth six semester hours or a three-hour capstone. The program can run at two speeds, an accelerated model that finishes coursework in one year plus a 16-week student teaching semester, or a traditional 2.5-year sequence. With 18 semester hours of content coursework required, it reads as a rigorous, field-intensive route into physical education teaching. Graduates of this physical education teaching and coaching program at the master's level often go on to work as secondary school teachers.

    Why it ranks here

    For a graduate program we set aside undergraduate figures and weigh three things instead: how established it is, the local market its graduates enter, and the institution's standing. On the first, it is clearly established, turning out 11 master's degrees a year, a steady if smaller cohort. Its graduates step into Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN, where elementary teachers earn a median $78,390, roughly $75,670 once local cost of living is factored in, a real-world read on what the credential is worth in that market.

    Area teacher pay: Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics May 2025, adjusted for local cost of living via U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities. A location figure, not this program's graduate earnings.

    School site
13. 13

    Utica University

    Utica, NYPrivate nonprofit

    • 9Master's/yr
    • $77,010Metro teacher pay
    • Health & Physical Education Teacher Prep
    • On-campus
    About the program

    Utica University offers a Master of Science in Health and Physical Education Teacher Prep that prepares candidates to teach both subjects and to coach interschool athletics. The program leads to New York State certification in physical education and health education, pairing the two closely related teaching areas in a single credential. Clinical work anchors the degree, with a minimum of 100 hours of fieldwork plus student teaching placements in both physical education and health. It is designed primarily as a continuation for graduates of Utica's undergraduate Health Education and Physical Education program, which gives the master's the feel of a capstone pathway rather than a standalone entry point. The on-campus, fieldwork-heavy structure suits candidates committed to a dual-subject teaching and coaching career. Earning a master's degree in physical education teaching and coaching is a common route toward becoming one of New York's secondary school teachers.

    Why it ranks here

    For a graduate program we set aside undergraduate figures and weigh three things instead: how established it is, the local market its graduates enter, and the institution's standing. On the first, it is clearly established, turning out 9 master's degrees a year, a steady if smaller cohort. Its graduates step into Utica-Rome, NY, where elementary teachers earn a median $77,010, roughly $83,094 once local cost of living is factored in, a real-world read on what the credential is worth in that market.

    Area teacher pay: Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics May 2025, adjusted for local cost of living via U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities. A location figure, not this program's graduate earnings.

    School site
14. 14

    University of West Georgia

    Carrollton, GAPublicOnline available

    • 19Master's/yr
    • $76,570Metro teacher pay
    • Master of Education with a Major in Physical Education
    • Online
    About the program

    The University of West Georgia offers an online Master of Education with a Major in Physical Education for teachers looking to deepen their expertise while staying in the classroom. The program is explicitly for educators who already hold a Level 4 Five-Year Induction or renewable Professional certificate in Health and Physical Education, so it advances existing licensure rather than granting initial certification. Its curriculum spans two disciplinary strands, Health and Physical Education, across 10 foundational courses that total 30 credit hours and conclude with a comprehensive exam. Because it is delivered online and structured for current K-12 faculty, students can continue working full- or part-time throughout enrollment. The overall shape is that of a practice-oriented advanced degree that refines what experienced teachers already do rather than preparing them to enter the field. Earning a master's degree in physical education teaching and coaching is a common route toward becoming one of Georgia's secondary school teachers.

    Why it ranks here

    Master's programs are judged differently here. Undergraduate stats do not apply, so the ranking looks at whether the program is established, the pay its graduates walk into locally, and how the university stands behind it. On the first, it is clearly established, turning out 19 master's degrees a year, a steady if smaller cohort. Its graduates step into Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA, where elementary teachers earn a median $76,570, roughly $76,526 once local cost of living is factored in, a real-world read on what the credential is worth in that market.

    Area teacher pay: Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics May 2025, adjusted for local cost of living via U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities. A location figure, not this program's graduate earnings.

    School site
15. 15

    Canisius University

    Buffalo, NYPrivate nonprofit

    • 21Master's/yr
    • $76,490Metro teacher pay
    • Master of Physical Education (Online)
    • Online
    About the program

    Canisius University offers a fully online Master's in Physical Education that splits into two pathways aimed at distinct audiences. The Physical Education Professional Certification track serves New York State certified PE teachers and leads to professional certification, while the Physical Education and Athletics track welcomes candidates without teaching certification who are drawn to teaching and coaching, with coursework that can later be applied toward state certification. The structure, a 30-credit, non-thesis program that culminates in an electronic portfolio, keeps the emphasis on applied competence and a demonstrable body of work rather than a research dissertation. Because it runs entirely online and can be completed in as few as four semesters, roughly fifteen months, it fits practicing educators and coaches balancing full-time work. University HQ ranked it No. 6 among 25 programs nationally for Best Online Physical Education Master's Programs in 2023. This master's-level physical education teaching and coaching program prepares graduates for work as secondary school teachers in New York.

    Why it ranks here

    Master's programs are judged differently here. Undergraduate stats do not apply, so the ranking looks at whether the program is established, the pay its graduates walk into locally, and how the university stands behind it. On the first, it is clearly established, turning out 21 master's degrees a year, a steady if smaller cohort. Its graduates step into Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY, where elementary teachers earn a median $76,490, roughly $79,807 once local cost of living is factored in, a real-world read on what the credential is worth in that market.

    Area teacher pay: Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics May 2025, adjusted for local cost of living via U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities. A location figure, not this program's graduate earnings.

    School site
16. 16

    McDaniel College

    Westminster, MDPrivate nonprofitOnline available

    • 11Master's/yr
    • $76,400Metro teacher pay
    • Master of Science in Kinesiology
    • Online
    About the program

    McDaniel College offers a Master of Science in Kinesiology, a 33-credit fully online program aimed at professionals who want to advance in sport and fitness industries while continuing to work. Students choose among Sport Management, Fitness Management, and Self-Designed specializations, the last of which signals genuine flexibility for those with focused career interests that cross traditional boundaries. Each track culminates in a capstone internship or special studies project, tying academic study to hands-on experience in the student's chosen setting. An accelerated BA to M.S. pathway lets qualified undergraduates move efficiently into the graduate degree. The combination of online delivery and applied capstones characterizes a program built around working adults advancing their management careers in kinesiology. Graduates of this physical education teaching and coaching program at the master's level often go on to work as secondary school teachers.

    Why it ranks here

    A master's degree earns its rank on program-appropriate signals, not undergraduate ones: established scale, local teacher pay, and institutional strength. On the first, it is clearly established, turning out 11 master's degrees a year, a steady if smaller cohort. Its graduates step into Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD, where elementary teachers earn a median $76,400, roughly $73,119 once local cost of living is factored in, a real-world read on what the credential is worth in that market.

    Area teacher pay: Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics May 2025, adjusted for local cost of living via U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities. A location figure, not this program's graduate earnings.

    School site
17. 17

    University of New Mexico-Main Campus

    Albuquerque, NMPublic

    • 14Master's/yr
    • $75,520Metro teacher pay
    • Master of Science in Physical Education with a concentration in Curriculum and Instruction
    • Online
    About the program

    The University of New Mexico offers a Master of Science in Physical Education with a concentration in Curriculum and Instruction, an online degree designed for teachers who already hold K-12 certification and want to sharpen their practice rather than earn an initial license. Because it does not lead to New Mexico teacher licensure, the program can concentrate fully on deepening pedagogy, curriculum design, and the research skills that inform strong teaching. The 33 to 36 credit curriculum pairs approved physical education coursework with statistics and research design, culminating in either a thesis defense or a comprehensive examination. Many courses run in accelerated 8-week sessions, and no GRE is required for admission, lowering the barrier for busy working teachers. Motivated students can finish in as few as three semesters, making it a practical route for in-service educators seeking advancement. Earning a master's degree in physical education teaching and coaching is a common route toward becoming one of New Mexico's secondary school teachers.

    Why it ranks here

    A master's degree earns its rank on program-appropriate signals, not undergraduate ones: established scale, local teacher pay, and institutional strength. On the first, it is clearly established, turning out 14 master's degrees a year, a steady if smaller cohort. Its graduates step into Albuquerque, NM, where elementary teachers earn a median $75,520, roughly $79,040 once local cost of living is factored in, a real-world read on what the credential is worth in that market.

    Area teacher pay: Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics May 2025, adjusted for local cost of living via U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities. A location figure, not this program's graduate earnings.

    School site
18. 18

    Western Michigan University

    Kalamazoo, MIPublic

    • 1Master's/yr
    • $63,450Metro teacher pay
    • Master of Arts in Sports Coaching (Coaching Sport Performance)
    • Online
    About the program

    Western Michigan University offers a Master of Arts in Sports Coaching with a focus on coaching sport performance, an online degree built for coaches who want to formalize and advance the craft they already practice. The single-track curriculum is grounded in the National Standards for Sport Coaches, and the program holds the highest level of accreditation from the National Committee for Accreditation of Coaching Education, one of only twelve so recognized in the country. A prior learning assessment lets experienced coaches convert up to half of the thirty required credits from their own coaching knowledge and experience, which signals a design aimed squarely at working practitioners rather than newcomers. The degree does not lead to teaching licensure or a physical education endorsement, keeping its scope firmly on the coaching profession. As of the research date the program was listed as not currently accepting new applications. This master's-level physical education teaching and coaching program prepares graduates for work as secondary school teachers in Michigan.

    Why it ranks here

    For a graduate program we set aside undergraduate figures and weigh three things instead: how established it is, the local market its graduates enter, and the institution's standing. On the first, it is clearly established, turning out 1 master's degrees a year, a steady if smaller cohort. Its graduates step into Kalamazoo-Portage, MI, where elementary teachers earn a median $63,450, roughly $66,902 once local cost of living is factored in, a real-world read on what the credential is worth in that market.

    Area teacher pay: Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics May 2025, adjusted for local cost of living via U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities. A location figure, not this program's graduate earnings.

    School site
19. 19

    Old Dominion University

    Norfolk, VAPublic

    • 5Master's/yr
    • $63,380Metro teacher pay
    • Physical Education with a Concentration in Coaching, Master of Science in Education (MSEd)
    • On-campus
    About the program

    Old Dominion University offers a Master of Science in Education in Physical Education with a Coaching Education emphasis, one of several emphases within a broader physical education degree that also spans adapted physical education and curriculum and instruction. The 30 credit-hour program lets students choose a thesis or an internship as their culminating experience, with the internship and coursework route paired with a comprehensive exam, so candidates can weight the degree toward research or applied coaching work. Its coursework supports athletic coaching certification and the program draws students with playing, coaching, and teaching backgrounds, giving it a practitioner-heavy character. A linked Dominion pathway connects ODU's undergraduate physical education degree to this graduate program, and rolling admission with fall, spring, and summer starts keeps entry flexible. Taught on campus, it fits coaches and educators building formal credentials on top of hands-on experience. Earning a master's degree in physical education teaching and coaching is a common route toward becoming one of Virginia's secondary school teachers.

    Why it ranks here

    For a graduate program we set aside undergraduate figures and weigh three things instead: how established it is, the local market its graduates enter, and the institution's standing. On the first, it is clearly established, turning out 5 master's degrees a year, a steady if smaller cohort. Its graduates step into Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC, where elementary teachers earn a median $63,380, roughly $64,712 once local cost of living is factored in, a real-world read on what the credential is worth in that market.

    Area teacher pay: Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics May 2025, adjusted for local cost of living via U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities. A location figure, not this program's graduate earnings.

    School site
20. 20

    University of Alabama at Birmingham

    Birmingham, ALPublic

    • 16Master's/yr
    • $62,630Metro teacher pay
    • Master of Science in Kinesiology - Physical Education Teacher Certification
    • Online
    About the program

    The University of Alabama at Birmingham offers an online Master of Science in Kinesiology with Physical Education Teacher Certification, a degree that splits cleanly around a candidate's starting point. Teachers who already hold a Class B certificate enter the Traditional track, a 30 to 33 credit-hour program that emphasizes K-12 curriculum development, research methods, and current issues in physical education and closes with a thesis or portfolio option. Candidates without prior certification instead pursue the blended, non-thesis Alternative Master's of 45 to 48 hours, a fuller runway into the field. Traditional graduates become eligible to apply for Alabama Class A professional educator certification in physical education through the ALSDE, with a related EdS reaching Class AA. Accredited by CAEP and approved by the state department of education, the program reads as a research-informed path for licensed PE teachers advancing their credentials. Earning a master's degree in physical education teaching and coaching is a common route toward becoming one of Alabama's secondary school teachers.

    Why it ranks here

    For a graduate program we set aside undergraduate figures and weigh three things instead: how established it is, the local market its graduates enter, and the institution's standing. On the first, it is clearly established, turning out 16 master's degrees a year, a steady if smaller cohort. Its graduates step into Birmingham, AL, where elementary teachers earn a median $62,630, roughly $68,341 once local cost of living is factored in, a real-world read on what the credential is worth in that market.

    Area teacher pay: Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics May 2025, adjusted for local cost of living via U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities. A location figure, not this program's graduate earnings.

    School site
21. 21

    University of Nebraska at Kearney

    Kearney, NEPublic

    • 27Master's/yr
    • $62,380State teacher pay
    • Master of Arts in Education (M.A.Ed.) in Physical Education
    • Online
    About the program

    The University of Nebraska at Kearney offers a Master of Arts in Education in Physical Education, a fully online degree marketed as a master-teacher credential for educators deepening their practice. Its thirty-six credit hours let students choose between a Pedagogy emphasis and an Adapted Physical Education emphasis, and the degree culminates in a comprehensive project, comprehensive exam, or thesis. The program itself does not confer a PE teaching endorsement, but the Adapted Physical Education emphasis leads to a Nebraska Department of Education endorsement for students who already hold a Nebraska teaching certificate. That structure signals a program built for certified teachers extending their expertise rather than entering the profession. Graduates are also positioned to pursue National Board Certification in Physical Education, reinforcing its focus on advanced professional standing. Earning a master's degree in physical education teaching and coaching is a common route toward becoming one of Nebraska's secondary school teachers.

    Why it ranks here

    Master's programs are judged differently here. Undergraduate stats do not apply, so the ranking looks at whether the program is established, the pay its graduates walk into locally, and how the university stands behind it. On the first, it is clearly established, turning out 27 master's degrees a year, a steady if smaller cohort. Its graduates step into Nebraska statewide, where elementary teachers earn a median $62,380, roughly $69,232 once local cost of living is factored in, a real-world read on what the credential is worth in that market.

    Area teacher pay: Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics May 2025, adjusted for local cost of living via U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities. A location figure, not this program's graduate earnings.

    School site
22. 22

    University of Louisville

    Louisville, KYPublic

    • 3Master's/yr
    • $61,610Metro teacher pay
    • Master of Arts in Teaching in Health and Physical Education
    • On-campus
    About the program

    The University of Louisville offers an on-campus Master of Arts in Teaching in Health and Physical Education that leads to Kentucky certification for grades P-12. Its full-time cohort model moves candidates through a deliberate sequence: a fall semester of school-based methods coursework followed by 15 weeks of spring student teaching split across elementary and secondary placements, with 200 hours of field experience banked before that clinical term begins. This front-loaded, immersive structure reads as an initial-certification pathway for people committing wholly to becoming teachers rather than studying part-time. Candidates complete Praxis content and principles of learning and teaching exams as part of licensure. CAEP accreditation affirms the program's standing as a rigorous educator-preparation route into health and physical education classrooms. A master's-level path in physical education teaching and coaching, it builds toward a career among secondary school teachers in Kentucky.

    Why it ranks here

    A master's degree earns its rank on program-appropriate signals, not undergraduate ones: established scale, local teacher pay, and institutional strength. On the first, it is clearly established, turning out 3 master's degrees a year, a steady if smaller cohort. Its graduates step into Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN, where elementary teachers earn a median $61,610, roughly $66,195 once local cost of living is factored in, a real-world read on what the credential is worth in that market.

    Area teacher pay: Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics May 2025, adjusted for local cost of living via U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities. A location figure, not this program's graduate earnings.

    School site
23. 23

    University of West Alabama

    Livingston, ALPublic

    • 42Master's/yr
    • $61,380State teacher pay
    • Physical Education, Pre-School - Grade Twelve (P-12)
    • Online
    About the program

    The University of West Alabama offers a Master of Education in Physical Education, Pre-School through Grade Twelve, a fully online certification track designed around the schedules of working teachers. The M.Ed. is the licensure pathway, leading to Alabama P-12 teacher certification in physical education, and an Alt-A route opens the same destination to candidates who arrive without a prior education degree. Delivered online with an average one-year completion time, the program moves quickly for educators eager to add or elevate a credential. UWA keeps this certification track distinct from its non-licensure M.S. in Physical Education, which spreads across athletic training, exercise science, physical education, and sport management concentrations and does not lead to licensure. Accredited by CAEP and offered by an institution regionally accredited through SACSCOC, the M.Ed. reads as a focused, efficient route to state certification. A master's-level path in physical education teaching and coaching, it builds toward a career among secondary school teachers in Alabama.

    Why it ranks here

    A master's degree earns its rank on program-appropriate signals, not undergraduate ones: established scale, local teacher pay, and institutional strength. On the first, it is clearly established, turning out 42 master's degrees a year, a steady if smaller cohort. Its graduates step into Alabama statewide, where elementary teachers earn a median $61,380, roughly $69,104 once local cost of living is factored in, a real-world read on what the credential is worth in that market.

    Area teacher pay: Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics May 2025, adjusted for local cost of living via U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities. A location figure, not this program's graduate earnings.

    School site
24. 24

    Columbus State University

    Columbus, GAPublicOnline available

    • 8Master's/yr
    • $61,360Metro teacher pay
    • Master of Arts in Teaching in Health and Physical Education
    • On-campus
    About the program

    Columbus State University offers a Master of Arts in Teaching in Health and Physical Education built to move candidates into the P-12 classroom with a credential in hand. The 33-hour program follows a single track, though candidates tailor their focus by choosing coursework in either Teaching Health in P-8 Schools or Teaching Health in High School, letting the degree flex toward the setting they intend to work in. A 3-credit student teaching or internship component grounds the coursework in real teaching, and a required exit exam confirms readiness before completion. Graduates earn initial Georgia T-5 certification in Health and Physical Education for grades P-12, contingent on passing the GACE content assessment. Approved by the Georgia Professional Standards Commission and delivered on campus, it reads as a certification-first pathway for those entering the profession, with a seven-year window to finish. As a master's degree in physical education teaching and coaching, it is one of the programs that lead to careers as secondary school teachers in Georgia.

    Why it ranks here

    A master's degree earns its rank on program-appropriate signals, not undergraduate ones: established scale, local teacher pay, and institutional strength. On the first, it is clearly established, turning out 8 master's degrees a year, a steady if smaller cohort. Its graduates step into Columbus, GA-AL, where elementary teachers earn a median $61,360, roughly $68,715 once local cost of living is factored in, a real-world read on what the credential is worth in that market.

    Area teacher pay: Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics May 2025, adjusted for local cost of living via U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities. A location figure, not this program's graduate earnings.

    School site
25. 25

    Western Kentucky University

    Bowling Green, KYPublicOnline available

    • 5Master's/yr
    • $61,260Metro teacher pay
    • Master of Science in Kinesiology (0454), Physical Education Teacher Leader concentration
    • Online
    About the program

    Western Kentucky University offers a Master of Science in Kinesiology with a Physical Education Teacher Leader concentration, a 31-credit track designed for currently licensed PE teachers rather than newcomers to the field. Admission requires a current Kentucky teaching certificate in physical education or a statement of eligibility, and the program is built to raise the professional standards of teachers already in practice. Coursework is organized around Professional Learning Communities that bring PE educators together with graduate students from other content areas, reinforcing a leadership identity that reaches beyond a single subject. In place of a thesis, students complete an Action Research Project capstone, signaling a practice-focused orientation grounded in solving real classroom problems. Delivered through WKU Online and paired with a discounted Kentucky Educator tuition rate, it reads as an accessible advancement pathway for working teachers across the state. As a master's degree in physical education teaching and coaching, it is one of the programs that lead to careers as secondary school teachers in Kentucky.

    Why it ranks here

    For a graduate program we set aside undergraduate figures and weigh three things instead: how established it is, the local market its graduates enter, and the institution's standing. On the first, it is clearly established, turning out 5 master's degrees a year, a steady if smaller cohort. Its graduates step into Bowling Green, KY, where elementary teachers earn a median $61,260, roughly $67,932 once local cost of living is factored in, a real-world read on what the credential is worth in that market.

    Area teacher pay: Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics May 2025, adjusted for local cost of living via U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities. A location figure, not this program's graduate earnings.

    School site

← Back to the overall Best Master's in Physical Education Teaching and Coaching