2026 Best Value Exercise Science Schools in Indiana
[Exercise Science](/majors/parks-recreation-fitness/health-and-physical-education/exercise-science/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 23 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for exercise science students.
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2026 Best Value Exercise Science Schools in Indiana
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
Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis tops our 2026 list of the best value exercise science schools in Indiana. Located in the city of Indianapolis, Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $10,762, compared with $34,891 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for exercise science graduates is $24,160. Early-career exercise science graduates make about $33,756. That is a strong return on a $24,160 median debt. The acceptance rate is 76%.
Students looking for strong value in exercise science will find it at University Of Southern Indiana, which ranked #2. University Of Southern Indiana is a large public school located in the suburb of Evansville. In-state tuition and fees average $10,066, compared with $22,907 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $22,375 to complete the exercise science program here. Soon after graduation, exercise science degree recipients from University Of Southern Indiana generally make around $40,508. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 96% of applicants are accepted.
A rank of #3 makes Indiana University Bloomington one of the best values for exercise science. Indiana University Bloomington is a very large public school located in the city of Bloomington. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $12,144, with out-of-state students paying around $41,891. Students borrow a median of $19,657 to complete the exercise science program here. Early-career exercise science graduates make about $44,640. Set against $19,657 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Indiana University Bloomington admits about 78% of applicants.
A rank of #4 makes Ivy Tech Community College one of the best values for exercise science. Set in the city of Indianapolis, Ivy Tech Community College is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $5,154 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $9,935. Exercise Science graduates carry a median of $11,889 in student loans. Exercise Science graduates of Ivy Tech Community College earn a median of $40,734 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $11,889 median debt.
Students looking for strong value in exercise science will find it at Indiana State University, which ranked #5. Located in the city of Terre Haute, Indiana State University is a moderately-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $10,258, compared with $22,322 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $25,000 to complete the exercise science program here. Soon after graduation, exercise science degree recipients from Indiana State University generally make around $36,582. That is a strong return on a $25,000 median debt. Indiana State University admits about 81% of applicants.
Ball State University ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the best value exercise science schools. Ball State University is a very large public school located in the city of Muncie. In-state tuition and fees average $11,082, while out-of-state students pay about $29,630. Exercise Science graduates carry a median of $25,962 in student loans. Early-career exercise science graduates make about $36,829. Set against $25,962 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Ball State University admits about 86% of applicants.
Grace College And Theological Seminary ranked #7 on our 2026 list of the best value exercise science schools. Grace College And Theological Seminary is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the town of Winona Lake. Students from in state pay about $29,645 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for exercise science graduates is $23,250. Soon after graduation, exercise science degree recipients from Grace College And Theological Seminary generally make around $32,549. Set against $23,250 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 82% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Indianapolis placed #8 among the best values for exercise science. Set in the city of Indianapolis, University Of Indianapolis is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $37,200 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for exercise science graduates is $26,786. Early-career exercise science graduates make about $35,461. Set against $26,786 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 66%.
Manchester College placed #9 among the best values for exercise science. Located in the town of North Manchester, Manchester College is a small private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $37,135. Typical student debt for exercise science graduates is $25,500. Soon after graduation, exercise science degree recipients from Manchester College generally make around $29,936. That is a strong return on a $25,500 median debt. The acceptance rate is 71%.
University Of Evansville ranked #10 on our 2026 list of the best value exercise science schools. Set in the city of Evansville, University Of Evansville is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $44,172. Typical student debt for exercise science graduates is $24,031. Early-career exercise science graduates make about $34,809. That is a strong return on a $24,031 median debt. University Of Evansville admits about 78% of applicants.
Bethel College Mishawaka landed the #11 spot for exercise science value this year. Located in the city of Mishawaka, Bethel College Mishawaka is a small private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $34,600. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the exercise science program here. Soon after graduation, exercise science degree recipients from Bethel College Mishawaka generally make around $26,799. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. Roughly 98% of applicants are accepted.
Hanover College landed the #12 spot for exercise science value this year. Hanover College is a small private not-for-profit school located in the town of Hanover. In-state tuition and fees average $42,698. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the exercise science program here. Early-career exercise science graduates make about $35,085. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Hanover College admits about 84% of applicants.
Anderson University Indiana landed the #13 spot for exercise science value this year. Located in the city of Anderson, Anderson University Indiana is a small private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $37,240. Exercise Science graduates carry a median of $26,581 in student loans. Early-career exercise science graduates make about $36,742. Set against $26,581 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 79% of applicants are accepted.
Franklin College came in at #14 for value in exercise science this year. Set in the suburb of Franklin, Franklin College is a small private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $38,710 in tuition and fees. Exercise Science graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Exercise Science graduates of Franklin College earn a median of $24,181 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 70%.
Marian University Indiana earned the #15 position for value in exercise science this year. Marian University Indiana is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Indianapolis. In-state tuition and fees average $40,664. Exercise Science graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Early-career exercise science graduates make about $33,564. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 96% of applicants are accepted.
Trine University placed #16 among the best values for exercise science. Set in the town of Angola, Trine University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $36,560. Exercise Science graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Exercise Science graduates of Trine University earn a median of $25,812 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. The acceptance rate is 86%.
Saint Mary Of The Woods College ranked #17 on our 2026 list of the best value exercise science schools. Located in the rural area of Saint Mary of the Woods, Saint Mary Of The Woods College is a small private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $34,240. Students borrow a median of $28,366 to complete the exercise science program here. Soon after graduation, exercise science degree recipients from Saint Mary Of The Woods College generally make around $48,088. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 72% of applicants are accepted.
More Exercise Science Rankings
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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 · 23 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 14 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.
