2027 Best Value Exercise Science Associate’s Degree Schools
[Exercise Science](/majors/parks-recreation-fitness/health-and-physical-education/exercise-science/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
For its 2027 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 117 schools to find the best return on investment for exercise science students.
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2027 Best Value Exercise Science Schools in the United States
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the exercise science degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Exercise Science Schools
Moorpark College tops our 2027 list of the best value exercise science schools in the United States. Located in the suburb of Moorpark, Moorpark College is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $1,426 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $9,615. Exercise Science graduates carry a median of $17,075 in student loans. Soon after graduation, exercise science degree recipients from Moorpark College generally make around $105,599. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
A rank of #2 makes Citrus College one of the best values for exercise science. Located in the suburb of Glendora, Citrus College is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $1,204 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $10,636. Median earnings reach $42,065 ten years out.
A rank of #3 makes Shasta College one of the best values for exercise science. Shasta College is a large public school located in the suburb of Redding. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $1,197, compared with $8,853 for out-of-state students. Exercise Science graduates carry a median of $12,275 in student loans. Early-career exercise science graduates make about $50,330. That is a strong return on a $12,275 median debt.
College Of San Mateo came in at #4 on our 2027 list of the best value exercise science schools. College Of San Mateo is a large public school located in the city of San Mateo. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,332, compared with $11,428 for out-of-state students. Exercise Science graduates carry a median of $12,831 in student loans. Median earnings reach $54,172 ten years out. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Skyline College came in at #5 on our 2027 list of the best value exercise science schools. Located in the suburb of San Bruno, Skyline College is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $1,332, compared with $9,956 for out-of-state students. Graduates go on to earn a median of $55,702 ten years after entry.
Santiago Canyon College earned the #6 position for value in exercise science this year. Set in the city of Orange, Santiago Canyon College is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $1,164, while out-of-state students pay about $9,612. Students borrow a median of $5,500 to complete the exercise science program here. Early-career exercise science graduates make about $34,100. That is a strong return on a $5,500 median debt.
Pasadena City College earned the #7 position for value in exercise science this year. Located in the city of Pasadena, Pasadena City College is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $1,180, with out-of-state students paying around $10,924. Typical student debt for exercise science graduates is $9,191. Early-career exercise science graduates make about $38,841. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
San Diego Miramar College placed #8 among the best values for exercise science. San Diego Miramar College is a very large public school located in the city of San Diego. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,146, with out-of-state students paying around $10,002. Typical student debt for exercise science graduates is $8,098. Soon after graduation, exercise science degree recipients from San Diego Miramar College generally make around $41,038. Set against $8,098 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Middlesex County College came in at #9 for value in exercise science this year. Located in the suburb of Edison, Middlesex County College is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $4,764 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $7,356. Exercise Science graduates carry a median of $9,514 in student loans. Exercise Science graduates of Middlesex County College earn a median of $37,975 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Cypress College came in at #10 for value in exercise science this year. Set in the city of Cypress, Cypress College is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $1,150 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $12,379. Graduates go on to earn a median of $43,533 ten years after entry.
Santa Ana College placed #11 among the best values for exercise science. Set in the city of Santa Ana, Santa Ana College is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $1,180, with out-of-state students paying around $10,756. Exercise Science graduates carry a median of $11,196 in student loans. Exercise Science graduates of Santa Ana College earn a median of $39,633 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $11,196 median debt.
Santa Monica College landed the #12 spot for exercise science value this year. Santa Monica College is a very large public school located in the city of Santa Monica. In-state tuition and fees average $1,156, compared with $10,708 for out-of-state students. Median earnings reach $42,193 ten years out.
College Of The Canyons placed #13 among the best values for exercise science. College Of The Canyons is a very large public school located in the suburb of Santa Clarita. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,166, compared with $10,958 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $9,776 to complete the exercise science program here. Exercise Science graduates of College Of The Canyons earn a median of $51,913 early in their careers. Set against $9,776 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Cerritos College landed the #14 spot for exercise science value this year. Set in the suburb of Norwalk, Cerritos College is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,364, compared with $12,004 for out-of-state students. Exercise Science graduates carry a median of $11,306 in student loans. Soon after graduation, exercise science degree recipients from Cerritos College generally make around $29,495. Set against $11,306 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Oxnard College placed #15 among the best values for exercise science. Oxnard College is a large public school located in the city of Oxnard. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,426, with out-of-state students paying around $9,615. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $41,393.
West Valley College came in at #16 for value in exercise science this year. Located in the suburb of Saratoga, West Valley College is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $0, while out-of-state students pay about $9,320. Typical student debt for exercise science graduates is $14,308. Early-career exercise science graduates make about $25,378. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Santa Rosa Junior College earned the #17 position for value in exercise science this year. Located in the city of Santa Rosa, Santa Rosa Junior College is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,318, compared with $11,308 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for exercise science graduates is $14,692. Exercise Science graduates of Santa Rosa Junior College earn a median of $80,047 early in their careers. Set against $14,692 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Antelope Valley College landed the #18 spot for exercise science value this year. Antelope Valley College is a large public school located in the suburb of Lancaster. Students from in state pay about $1,124 in tuition and fees, compared with $9,548 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $10,729 to complete the exercise science program here. Early-career exercise science graduates make about $50,744. That is a strong return on a $10,729 median debt.
College Of The Sequoias came in at #19 for value in exercise science this year. Located in the city of Visalia, College Of The Sequoias is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,394, with out-of-state students paying around $9,038. Typical student debt for exercise science graduates is $10,288. Soon after graduation, exercise science degree recipients from College Of The Sequoias generally make around $37,749. That is a strong return on a $10,288 median debt.
Canada College landed the #20 spot for exercise science value this year. Canada College is a large public school located in the suburb of Redwood City. Students from in state pay about $1,332 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $11,384. Exercise Science graduates carry a median of $15,000 in student loans. Early-career exercise science graduates make about $106,691. That is a strong return on a $15,000 median debt.
Hartnell College placed #21 among the best values for exercise science. Located in the city of Salinas, Hartnell College is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $1,404, while out-of-state students pay about $10,398. Typical student debt for exercise science graduates is $6,000. Early-career exercise science graduates make about $35,080. That is a strong return on a $6,000 median debt.
De Anza College placed #22 among the best values for exercise science. De Anza College is a very large public school located in the city of Cupertino. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,571, while out-of-state students pay about $12,596. Exercise Science graduates carry a median of $7,271 in student loans. Median earnings reach $56,596 ten years out. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Saddleback College placed #23 among the best values for exercise science. Located in the suburb of Mission Viejo, Saddleback College is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $1,432 in tuition and fees, compared with $14,812 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for exercise science graduates is $5,707. Early-career exercise science graduates make about $15,890. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Ventura College landed the #24 spot for exercise science value this year. Ventura College is a large public school located in the city of Ventura. In-state tuition and fees average $1,426, with out-of-state students paying around $9,615. Typical student debt for exercise science graduates is $20,250. Exercise Science graduates of Ventura College earn a median of $99,778 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Irvine Valley College came in at #25 for value in exercise science this year. Set in the city of Irvine, Irvine Valley College is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $1,156, with out-of-state students paying around $11,860. Exercise Science graduates carry a median of $6,672 in student loans. Median earnings reach $49,156 ten years out. That is a strong return on a $6,672 median debt.
Rest of the Top 50 Best Value Exercise Science Schools
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s exercise science value ranking:
Other Exercise Science Degree Levels
Explore the best-value exercise science schools at other degree levels:
View All Exercise Science Rankings >
Notes and References
This list is compiled 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 · 117 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 117 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.
