2026 Best Value Exercise Science Schools in Michigan
[Exercise Science](/majors/parks-recreation-fitness/health-and-physical-education/exercise-science/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
For its 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 30 schools to find the best return on investment for exercise science students.
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2026 Best Value Exercise Science Schools in Michigan
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in exercise science, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Exercise Science Schools
Oakland University tops our 2026 list of the best value exercise science schools in Michigan. Set in the suburb of Rochester Hills, Oakland University is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $17,167, compared with $24,735 for out-of-state students. Exercise Science graduates carry a median of $25,972 in student loans. Soon after graduation, exercise science degree recipients from Oakland University generally make around $54,785. That is a strong return on a $25,972 median debt. Oakland University admits about 88% of applicants.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at University Of Michigan Ann Arbor earned it the #2 place for exercise science. Set in the city of Ann Arbor, University Of Michigan Ann Arbor is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $18,848, with out-of-state students paying around $63,081. Exercise Science graduates carry a median of $19,135 in student loans. Early-career exercise science graduates make about $42,490. Set against $19,135 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 16%.
Lake Superior State University is a great value for students pursuing a degree in exercise science, landing the #3 spot this year. Set in the town of Sault Ste Marie, Lake Superior State University is a small public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $14,890. Typical student debt for exercise science graduates is $22,429. Soon after graduation, exercise science degree recipients from Lake Superior State University generally make around $47,910. Set against $22,429 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Wayne State University came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the best value exercise science schools. Wayne State University is a very large public school located in the city of Detroit. Students from in state pay about $16,159 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $34,650. Students borrow a median of $26,689 to complete the exercise science program here. Early-career exercise science graduates make about $45,568. That is a strong return on a $26,689 median debt. The acceptance rate is 81%.
Michigan Technological University is a great value for students pursuing a degree in exercise science, landing the #5 spot this year. Located in the town of Houghton, Michigan Technological University is a moderately-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $20,532 in tuition and fees, compared with $44,807 for out-of-state students. Exercise Science graduates carry a median of $20,091 in student loans. Soon after graduation, exercise science degree recipients from Michigan Technological University generally make around $64,652. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Michigan Technological University admits about 92% of applicants.
Saginaw Valley State University came in at #6 for value in exercise science this year. Set in the suburb of University Center, Saginaw Valley State University is a moderately-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $12,930, with out-of-state students paying around $30,450. Students borrow a median of $30,000 to complete the exercise science program here. Early-career exercise science graduates make about $31,021. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Saginaw Valley State University admits about 72% of applicants.
Central Michigan University ranked #7 on our 2026 list of the best value exercise science schools. Located in the town of Mount Pleasant, Central Michigan University is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $15,480. Exercise Science graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Exercise Science graduates of Central Michigan University earn a median of $36,910 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. The acceptance rate is 90%.
Grand Valley State University landed the #8 spot for exercise science value this year. Located in the town of Allendale, Grand Valley State University is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $15,502, compared with $21,894 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for exercise science graduates is $26,300. Early-career exercise science graduates make about $29,913. That is a strong return on a $26,300 median debt. Grand Valley State University admits about 83% of applicants.
Albion College ranked #9 on our 2026 list of the best value exercise science schools. Albion College is a small private not-for-profit school located in the town of Albion. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $56,950. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the exercise science program here. Early-career exercise science graduates make about $30,314. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Albion College admits about 81% of applicants.
Eastern Michigan University landed the #10 spot for exercise science value this year. Located in the suburb of Ypsilanti, Eastern Michigan University is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $16,990. Exercise Science graduates carry a median of $26,894 in student loans. Early-career exercise science graduates make about $34,499. Set against $26,894 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Eastern Michigan University admits about 80% of applicants.
Siena Heights University came in at #11 for value in exercise science this year. Siena Heights University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the town of Adrian. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $30,778. Exercise Science graduates carry a median of $25,790 in student loans. Exercise Science graduates of Siena Heights University earn a median of $52,293 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $25,790 median debt. Roughly 69% of applicants are accepted.
Madonna University placed #12 among the best values for exercise science. Located in the city of Livonia, Madonna University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $28,440. Exercise Science graduates carry a median of $26,896 in student loans. Early-career exercise science graduates make about $56,984. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 63% of applicants are accepted.
Northern Michigan University came in at #13 for value in exercise science this year. Located in the town of Marquette, Northern Michigan University is a moderately-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $14,322, with out-of-state students paying around $19,944. Typical student debt for exercise science graduates is $24,625. Early-career exercise science graduates make about $22,113. That is a strong return on a $24,625 median debt. Roughly 84% of applicants are accepted.
Western Michigan University ranked #14 on our 2026 list of the best value exercise science schools. Set in the city of Kalamazoo, Western Michigan University is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $15,987, while out-of-state students pay about $19,952. Typical student debt for exercise science graduates is $26,000. Soon after graduation, exercise science degree recipients from Western Michigan University generally make around $35,152. Set against $26,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 85%.
Aquinas College Michigan placed #15 among the best values for exercise science. Aquinas College Michigan is a small private not-for-profit school located in the city of Grand Rapids. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $40,218. Typical student debt for exercise science graduates is $24,500. Soon after graduation, exercise science degree recipients from Aquinas College Michigan generally make around $27,301. Set against $24,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 90% of applicants are accepted.
Michigan State University ranked #16 on our 2026 list of the best value exercise science schools. Michigan State University is a very large public school located in the city of East Lansing. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $18,079, with out-of-state students paying around $44,850. Students borrow a median of $26,000 to complete the exercise science program here. Exercise Science graduates of Michigan State University earn a median of $37,279 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $26,000 median debt. The acceptance rate is 85%.
Olivet College came in at #17 for value in exercise science this year. Set in the rural area of Olivet, Olivet College is a small private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $34,068. Students borrow a median of $29,578 to complete the exercise science program here. Soon after graduation, exercise science degree recipients from Olivet College generally make around $24,879. That is a strong return on a $29,578 median debt. Roughly 83% of applicants are accepted.
Adrian College ranked #18 on our 2026 list of the best value exercise science schools. Located in the town of Adrian, Adrian College is a small private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $41,684. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the exercise science program here. Early-career exercise science graduates make about $36,808. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. The acceptance rate is 72%.
Cornerstone University earned the #19 position for value in exercise science this year. Cornerstone University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Grand Rapids. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $23,000. Typical student debt for exercise science graduates is $27,000. Exercise Science graduates of Cornerstone University earn a median of $27,327 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 78% of applicants are accepted.
Calvin College earned the #20 position for value in exercise science this year. Calvin College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Grand Rapids. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $39,350. Students borrow a median of $24,833 to complete the exercise science program here. Soon after graduation, exercise science degree recipients from Calvin College generally make around $26,309. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 71% of applicants are accepted.
Hope College came in at #21 for value in exercise science this year. Located in the city of Holland, Hope College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $39,484. Typical student debt for exercise science graduates is $27,000. Exercise Science graduates of Hope College earn a median of $25,862 early in their careers. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Hope College admits about 79% of applicants.
Concordia University Ann Arbor landed the #22 spot for exercise science value this year. Set in the city of Ann Arbor, Concordia University Ann Arbor is a small private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $35,410. Exercise Science graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Early-career exercise science graduates make about $27,522. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. The acceptance rate is 69%.
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. 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 · 30 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.
