2026 Best Value Exercise Science Schools in California
[Exercise Science](/majors/parks-recreation-fitness/health-and-physical-education/exercise-science/) 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.
For its 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 139 schools to find the best return on investment for exercise science students.
What’s on this page:
2026 Best Value Exercise Science Schools in California
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in exercise science, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Exercise Science Schools
San Diego Miramar College tops our 2026 list of the best value exercise science schools in California. Set in the city of San Diego, San Diego Miramar College is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $1,146, while out-of-state students pay about $10,002. Exercise Science graduates carry a median of $8,098 in student loans. 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.
Skyline College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in exercise science, landing the #2 spot this year. Skyline College is a large public school located in the suburb of San Bruno. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $1,332, compared with $9,956 for out-of-state students. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $55,702.
Students looking for strong value in exercise science will find it at Moorpark College, which ranked #3. Moorpark College is a very large public school located in the suburb of Moorpark. Students from in state pay about $1,426 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $9,615. Students borrow a median of $17,075 to complete the exercise science program here. Soon after graduation, exercise science degree recipients from Moorpark College generally make around $105,599. Set against $17,075 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
San Diego Mesa College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in exercise science, landing the #4 spot this year. Set in the city of San Diego, San Diego Mesa College is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $1,146 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $10,002. Exercise Science graduates carry a median of $6,999 in student loans. Exercise Science graduates of San Diego Mesa College earn a median of $29,852 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Oxnard College came in at #5 on our 2026 list of the best value exercise science schools. Oxnard College is a large public school located in the city of Oxnard. In-state tuition and fees average $1,426, compared with $9,615 for out-of-state students. Graduates go on to earn a median of $41,393 ten years after entry.
Cerritos College came in at #6 for value in exercise science this year. Cerritos College is a very large public school located in the suburb of Norwalk. In-state tuition and fees average $1,364, with out-of-state students paying around $12,004. Typical student debt for exercise science graduates is $11,306. Exercise Science graduates of Cerritos College earn a median of $29,495 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $11,306 median debt.
College Of San Mateo placed #7 among the best values for exercise science. College Of San Mateo is a large public school located in the city of San Mateo. In-state tuition and fees average $1,332, with out-of-state students paying around $11,428. Students borrow a median of $12,831 to complete the exercise science program here. Median earnings reach $54,172 ten years out. Set against $12,831 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Fresno City College landed the #8 spot for exercise science value this year. Located in the city of Fresno, Fresno City College is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $1,378 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $8,638. Students borrow a median of $7,234 to complete the exercise science program here. Soon after graduation, exercise science degree recipients from Fresno City College generally make around $37,470. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
College Of The Sequoias landed the #9 spot for exercise science value this year. College Of The Sequoias is a large public school located in the city of Visalia. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,394, compared with $9,038 for out-of-state students. Exercise Science graduates carry a median of $10,288 in student loans. Soon after graduation, exercise science degree recipients from College Of The Sequoias generally make around $37,749. Set against $10,288 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
College Of The Canyons landed the #10 spot for exercise science value this year. Set in the suburb of Santa Clarita, College Of The Canyons is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,166, with out-of-state students paying around $10,958. Students borrow a median of $9,776 to complete the exercise science program here. Early-career exercise science graduates make about $51,913. Set against $9,776 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
West Valley College placed #11 among the best values for exercise science. Set in the suburb of Saratoga, West Valley College is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $0, while out-of-state students pay about $9,320. Students borrow a median of $14,308 to complete the exercise science program here. Exercise Science graduates of West Valley College earn a median of $25,378 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $14,308 median debt.
Reedley College came in at #12 for value in exercise science this year. Reedley College is a large public school located in the town of Reedley. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,378, with out-of-state students paying around $8,638. Exercise Science graduates carry a median of $6,500 in student loans. Exercise Science graduates of Reedley College earn a median of $30,520 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Moreno Valley College ranked #13 on our 2026 list of the best value exercise science schools. Set in the suburb of Moreno Valley, Moreno Valley College is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $1,428, while out-of-state students pay about $12,498. Typical student debt for exercise science graduates is $12,643. Early-career exercise science graduates make about $45,515. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Pasadena City College landed the #14 spot for exercise science value this year. Located in the city of Pasadena, Pasadena City College is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $1,180 in tuition and fees, compared with $10,924 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $9,191 to complete the exercise science program here. Early-career exercise science graduates make about $38,841. That is a strong return on a $9,191 median debt.
Imperial Valley College came in at #15 for value in exercise science this year. Located in the rural area of Imperial, Imperial Valley College is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $1,126, while out-of-state students pay about $8,830. Typical student debt for exercise science graduates is $6,176. Soon after graduation, exercise science degree recipients from Imperial Valley College generally make around $42,617. Set against $6,176 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Ventura College came in at #16 for value in exercise science this year. Set in the city of Ventura, Ventura College is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $1,426, compared with $9,615 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for exercise science graduates is $20,250. Early-career exercise science graduates make about $99,778. That is a strong return on a $20,250 median debt.
Saddleback College landed the #17 spot for exercise science value this year. Located in the suburb of Mission Viejo, Saddleback College is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $1,432, compared with $14,812 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $5,707 to complete the exercise science program here. Early-career exercise science graduates make about $15,890. Set against $5,707 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Golden West College placed #18 among the best values for exercise science. Located in the suburb of Huntington Beach, Golden West College is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $1,380, while out-of-state students pay about $11,628. Typical student debt for exercise science graduates is $21,500. Soon after graduation, exercise science degree recipients from Golden West College generally make around $82,984. That is a strong return on a $21,500 median debt.
Norco College placed #19 among the best values for exercise science. Located in the suburb of Norco, Norco College is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,428, compared with $12,498 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for exercise science graduates is $8,203. Median earnings reach $51,206 ten years out. That is a strong return on a $8,203 median debt.
Grossmont College placed #20 among the best values for exercise science. Grossmont College is a large public school located in the suburb of El Cajon. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $1,332, compared with $10,628 for out-of-state students. Median earnings reach $40,309 ten years out.
Mt San Antonio College placed #21 among the best values for exercise science. Located in the suburb of Walnut, Mt San Antonio College is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $1,364 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $10,464. Students borrow a median of $6,865 to complete the exercise science program here. Exercise Science graduates of Mt San Antonio College earn a median of $19,869 early in their careers. Set against $6,865 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Shasta College earned the #22 position for value in exercise science this year. Located in the suburb of Redding, Shasta College is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $1,197, with out-of-state students paying around $8,853. Typical student debt for exercise science graduates is $12,275. Soon after graduation, exercise science degree recipients from Shasta College generally make around $50,330. That is a strong return on a $12,275 median debt.
Gavilan College ranked #23 on our 2026 list of the best value exercise science schools. Located in the rural area of Gilroy, Gavilan College is a moderately-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,508, compared with $12,249 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for exercise science graduates is $5,939. Early-career exercise science graduates make about $28,496. Set against $5,939 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Santiago Canyon College ranked #24 on our 2026 list of the best value exercise science schools. Located in the city of Orange, Santiago Canyon College is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $1,164, while out-of-state students pay about $9,612. Typical student debt for exercise science graduates is $5,500. Soon after graduation, exercise science degree recipients from Santiago Canyon College generally make around $34,100. Set against $5,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Hartnell College landed the #25 spot for exercise science value this year. Set in the city of Salinas, Hartnell College is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,404, while out-of-state students pay about $10,398. Typical student debt for exercise science graduates is $6,000. Soon after graduation, exercise science degree recipients from Hartnell College generally make around $35,080. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Rest of the Top 50 Best Value Exercise Science Schools
These schools also delivered strong value for exercise science this year:
More Exercise Science Rankings
View All Exercise Science Rankings >
Notes and References
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 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 · 139 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 18 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.
