2027 Best Value Exercise Physiology Schools in the The Plains States Region
[Exercise Physiology](/majors/biological-biomedical-sciences/physiology-and-pathology-sciences/exercise-physiology/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
To produce this 2027 ranking, College Factual evaluated 13 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for exercise physiology students.
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2027 Best Value Exercise Physiology Schools in the The Plains States 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
University Of Minnesota Twin Cities tops our 2027 list of the best value exercise physiology schools in the The Plains States Region. University Of Minnesota Twin Cities is a very large public school located in the city of Minneapolis. In-state tuition and fees average $17,214, compared with $38,362 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $22,500 to complete the exercise physiology program here. Exercise Physiology graduates of University Of Minnesota Twin Cities earn a median of $31,613 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $22,500 median debt. University Of Minnesota Twin Cities admits about 80% of applicants.
A rank of #2 makes Wichita State University one of the best values for exercise physiology. Located in the city of Wichita, Wichita State University is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $9,684, compared with $19,869 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for exercise physiology graduates is $20,500. Exercise Physiology graduates of Wichita State University earn a median of $32,196 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 94%.
Northern State University came in at #3 on our 2027 list of the best value exercise physiology schools. Set in the town of Aberdeen, Northern State University is a moderately-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $8,845, while out-of-state students pay about $11,947. Exercise Physiology graduates carry a median of $26,143 in student loans. Early-career exercise physiology graduates make about $45,824. Set against $26,143 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 93%.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at University Of Mary earned it the #4 place for exercise physiology. University Of Mary is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the rural area of Bismarck. Students from in state pay about $22,356 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $26,983 to complete the exercise physiology program here. Early-career exercise physiology graduates make about $65,565. Set against $26,983 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of Mary admits about 75% of applicants.
A rank of #5 makes Minnesota State University Mankato one of the best values for exercise physiology. Located in the city of Mankato, Minnesota State University Mankato is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,572, while out-of-state students pay about $18,942. Exercise Physiology graduates carry a median of $25,260 in student loans. Early-career exercise physiology graduates make about $53,088. Set against $25,260 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Minnesota State University Mankato admits about 88% of applicants.
Kansas State University landed the #6 spot for exercise physiology value this year. Kansas State University is a very large public school located in the city of Manhattan. Students from in state pay about $11,221 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $28,568. Exercise Physiology graduates carry a median of $22,775 in student loans. Early-career exercise physiology graduates make about $31,958. Set against $22,775 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 82% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Missouri Columbia ranked #7 on our 2027 list of the best value exercise physiology schools. Located in the city of Columbia, University Of Missouri Columbia is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $14,837, with out-of-state students paying around $36,056. Exercise Physiology graduates carry a median of $21,818 in student loans. Early-career exercise physiology graduates make about $53,134. That is a strong return on a $21,818 median debt. The acceptance rate is 78%.
Drury University placed #8 among the best values for exercise physiology. Drury University is a small private not-for-profit school located in the city of Springfield. In-state tuition and fees average $36,745. Exercise Physiology graduates carry a median of $26,641 in student loans. Exercise Physiology graduates of Drury University earn a median of $37,267 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 58% of applicants are accepted.
Augustana College South Dakota placed #9 among the best values for exercise physiology. Set in the city of Sioux Falls, Augustana College South Dakota is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $40,160. Exercise Physiology graduates carry a median of $26,217 in student loans. Exercise Physiology graduates of Augustana College South Dakota earn a median of $50,088 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $26,217 median debt. Augustana College South Dakota admits about 68% of applicants.
Saint Johns University landed the #10 spot for exercise physiology value this year. Saint Johns University is a small private not-for-profit school located in the rural area of Collegeville. In-state tuition and fees average $55,816. Students borrow a median of $26,646 to complete the exercise physiology program here. Exercise Physiology graduates of Saint Johns University earn a median of $47,238 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Saint Johns University admits about 91% of applicants.
College Of Saint Benedict ranked #11 on our 2027 list of the best value exercise physiology schools. Set in the suburb of Saint Joseph, College Of Saint Benedict is a small private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $55,756. Typical student debt for exercise physiology graduates is $26,619. Early-career exercise physiology graduates make about $47,105. Set against $26,619 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. College Of Saint Benedict admits about 92% of applicants.
The College Of Saint Scholastica came in at #12 for value in exercise physiology this year. Set in the city of Duluth, The College Of Saint Scholastica is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $41,778. Exercise Physiology graduates carry a median of $24,250 in student loans. Soon after graduation, exercise physiology degree recipients from The College Of Saint Scholastica generally make around $45,718. That is a strong return on a $24,250 median debt. The acceptance rate is 93%.
Creighton University ranked #13 on our 2027 list of the best value exercise physiology schools. Located in the city of Omaha, Creighton University is a large private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $48,856. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the exercise physiology program here. Exercise Physiology graduates of Creighton University earn a median of $23,926 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. Creighton University admits about 80% of applicants.
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Notes and References
This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 edition. Schools are scored on the balance of cost (tuition and student debt) against student outcomes (post-graduation earnings) — a measure of return on investment, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 13 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 13 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.
