The prevalence of physical education in elite public universities of the United States of America

Abstract

Since the 1800s, physical education (PE) has been used to improve college students health. In the 1920s, it was a cornerstone to American academe, and 97 percent of colleges and universities required it. Over the last century, that number dropped to 31.7% nationally, but specific data on elite public institutions are unknown. We examined PE in the top-25 public institutions of higher education in the USA. Each institution offered PE, and 96% partially required while 12% required PE for undergraduate students. The 96% far surpasses the 43.7% found nationally, but the 12% is below the national rate. As such, PE is more prevalent in American elite institutions, but fewer require it of all undergraduates. Future research should examine PE programming in all tertiary educational institutions, on both regional and state bases as well as for elite private colleges and universities and those institutions serving specific populations.