2027 Best Value Exercise Physiology Schools in the Great Lakes Region
[Exercise Physiology](/majors/biological-biomedical-sciences/physiology-and-pathology-sciences/exercise-physiology/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
To produce this 2027 ranking, College Factual evaluated 22 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for exercise physiology students.
What’s on this page:
2027 Best Value Exercise Physiology Schools in the Great Lakes Region
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the exercise physiology degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Exercise Physiology Schools
Oakland University earned the #1 spot for value among exercise physiology schools in the Great Lakes Region. Oakland University is a large public school located in the suburb of Rochester Hills. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $17,167, while out-of-state students pay about $24,735. Students borrow a median of $25,972 to complete the exercise physiology program here. Soon after graduation, exercise physiology degree recipients from Oakland University generally make around $54,785. Set against $25,972 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Oakland University admits about 88% of applicants.
Purdue University Main Campus is a great value for students pursuing a degree in exercise physiology, landing the #2 spot this year. Set in the city of West Lafayette, Purdue University Main Campus is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $9,992 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $28,794. Students borrow a median of $19,844 to complete the exercise physiology program here. Soon after graduation, exercise physiology degree recipients from Purdue University Main Campus generally make around $63,111. Set against $19,844 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 50% of applicants are accepted.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Ball State University earned it the #3 place for exercise physiology. Set in the city of Muncie, Ball State University is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $11,082, while out-of-state students pay about $29,630. Typical student debt for exercise physiology graduates is $24,518. Exercise Physiology graduates of Ball State University earn a median of $47,863 early in their careers. Set against $24,518 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 86% of applicants are accepted.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Cleveland State University earned it the #4 place for exercise physiology. Located in the city of Cleveland, Cleveland State University is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $12,982, compared with $18,502 for out-of-state students. Exercise Physiology graduates carry a median of $26,336 in student loans. Exercise Physiology graduates of Cleveland State University earn a median of $49,648 early in their careers. Set against $26,336 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 91% of applicants are accepted.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at University Of Wisconsin Madison earned it the #5 place for exercise physiology. Set in the city of Madison, University Of Wisconsin Madison is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $11,603, with out-of-state students paying around $42,103. Exercise Physiology graduates carry a median of $21,813 in student loans. Early-career exercise physiology graduates make about $59,877. That is a strong return on a $21,813 median debt. Roughly 45% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Toledo ranked #6 on our 2027 list of the best value exercise physiology schools. Set in the city of Toledo, University Of Toledo is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $12,157, while out-of-state students pay about $21,517. Exercise Physiology graduates carry a median of $24,923 in student loans. Exercise Physiology graduates of University Of Toledo earn a median of $52,675 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of Toledo admits about 92% of applicants.
Eastern Michigan University landed the #7 spot for exercise physiology value this year. Eastern Michigan University is a large public school located in the suburb of Ypsilanti. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $16,990. Exercise Physiology graduates carry a median of $28,781 in student loans. Exercise Physiology graduates of Eastern Michigan University earn a median of $47,887 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $28,781 median debt. Eastern Michigan University admits about 80% of applicants.
Wright State University Main Campus ranked #8 on our 2027 list of the best value exercise physiology schools. Set in the suburb of Dayton, Wright State University Main Campus is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $10,991 in tuition and fees, compared with $20,691 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for exercise physiology graduates is $25,836. Exercise Physiology graduates of Wright State University Main Campus earn a median of $49,077 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Wright State University Main Campus admits about 96% of applicants.
Central Michigan University came in at #9 for value in exercise physiology this year. Set in the town of Mount Pleasant, Central Michigan University is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $15,480. Exercise Physiology graduates carry a median of $27,857 in student loans. Exercise Physiology graduates of Central Michigan University earn a median of $38,003 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $27,857 median debt. Roughly 90% of applicants are accepted.
Illinois College placed #10 among the best values for exercise physiology. Located in the town of Jacksonville, Illinois College is a small private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $38,676 in tuition and fees. Exercise Physiology graduates carry a median of $26,922 in student loans. Exercise Physiology graduates of Illinois College earn a median of $41,184 early in their careers. Set against $26,922 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Illinois College admits about 78% of applicants.
Valparaiso University came in at #11 for value in exercise physiology this year. Located in the suburb of Valparaiso, Valparaiso University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $48,450 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $26,724 to complete the exercise physiology program here. Early-career exercise physiology graduates make about $51,987. Set against $26,724 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Valparaiso University admits about 89% of applicants.
Kent State University At Kent placed #12 among the best values for exercise physiology. Kent State University At Kent is a very large public school located in the suburb of Kent. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $12,220, compared with $21,575 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for exercise physiology graduates is $25,174. Exercise Physiology graduates of Kent State University At Kent earn a median of $44,776 early in their careers. Set against $25,174 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 86% of applicants are accepted.
Ohio University Main Campus placed #13 among the best values for exercise physiology. Located in the town of Athens, Ohio University Main Campus is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $14,158, compared with $24,838 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $26,786 to complete the exercise physiology program here. Soon after graduation, exercise physiology degree recipients from Ohio University Main Campus generally make around $36,886. That is a strong return on a $26,786 median debt. Ohio University Main Campus admits about 85% of applicants.
Benedictine University ranked #14 on our 2027 list of the best value exercise physiology schools. Set in the suburb of Lisle, Benedictine University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $32,648 in tuition and fees. Exercise Physiology graduates carry a median of $25,338 in student loans. Early-career exercise physiology graduates make about $54,212. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 95%.
Hiram College landed the #15 spot for exercise physiology value this year. Located in the rural area of Hiram, Hiram College is a small private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $27,397. Exercise Physiology graduates carry a median of $27,144 in student loans. Soon after graduation, exercise physiology degree recipients from Hiram College generally make around $48,572. That is a strong return on a $27,144 median debt. Roughly 94% of applicants are accepted.
Ashland University earned the #16 position for value in exercise physiology this year. Ashland University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the town of Ashland. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $31,210. Typical student debt for exercise physiology graduates is $27,000. Exercise Physiology graduates of Ashland University earn a median of $31,192 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. Roughly 76% of applicants are accepted.
Augustana College Illinois landed the #17 spot for exercise physiology value this year. Set in the city of Rock Island, Augustana College Illinois is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $51,598 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $26,764 to complete the exercise physiology program here. Exercise Physiology graduates of Augustana College Illinois earn a median of $39,096 early in their careers. Set against $26,764 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 63%.
Indiana Wesleyan University earned the #18 position for value in exercise physiology this year. Set in the town of Marion, Indiana Wesleyan University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $32,352. Exercise Physiology graduates carry a median of $24,613 in student loans. Exercise Physiology graduates of Indiana Wesleyan University earn a median of $52,449 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $24,613 median debt. Roughly 89% of applicants are accepted.
Taylor University earned the #19 position for value in exercise physiology this year. Taylor University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the rural area of Upland. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $40,490. Typical student debt for exercise physiology graduates is $22,786. Exercise Physiology graduates of Taylor University earn a median of $30,723 early in their careers. Set against $22,786 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Taylor University admits about 74% of applicants.
Baldwin Wallace College landed the #20 spot for exercise physiology value this year. Located in the suburb of Berea, Baldwin Wallace College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $39,832. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the exercise physiology program here. Exercise Physiology graduates of Baldwin Wallace College earn a median of $21,454 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 76% of applicants are accepted.
Marquette University placed #21 among the best values for exercise physiology. Marquette University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Milwaukee. In-state tuition and fees average $51,170. Exercise Physiology graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Early-career exercise physiology graduates make about $31,173. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 81% of applicants are accepted.
Concordia University Wisconsin ranked #22 on our 2027 list of the best value exercise physiology schools. Set in the suburb of Mequon, Concordia University Wisconsin is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $35,470 in tuition and fees. Exercise Physiology graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Early-career exercise physiology graduates make about $58,227. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 78%.
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Notes and References
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 edition. The methodology weighs the cost of a degree against the earnings graduates go on to achieve, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 22 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 22 ranked schools only.
- The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a branch of the U.S. Department of Education (DOE), serves as the core of our data about colleges.
- Some other college data, including much of the graduate earnings data, comes from the U.S. Department of Education’s (College Scorecard).
More about our data sources and methodologies.
