2027 Best Value Exercise Science Schools in Kentucky
[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 schools below stand out for delivering a strong exercise science education at a price that pays off.
For its 2027 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 13 schools to find the best return on investment for exercise science students.
What’s on this page:
2027 Best Value Exercise Science Schools in Kentucky
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
Morehead State University earned the #1 spot for value among exercise science schools in Kentucky. Set in the town of Morehead, Morehead State University is a moderately-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $10,024 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $14,980. Exercise Science graduates carry a median of $25,946 in student loans. Exercise Science graduates of Morehead State University earn a median of $30,696 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 77% of applicants are accepted.
A rank of #2 makes Western Kentucky University one of the best values for exercise science. Set in the city of Bowling Green, Western Kentucky University is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $11,652 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $27,000. Students borrow a median of $24,593 to complete the exercise science program here. Exercise Science graduates of Western Kentucky University earn a median of $25,858 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 94%.
A rank of #3 makes Eastern Kentucky University one of the best values for exercise science. Located in the town of Richmond, Eastern Kentucky University is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $10,320 in tuition and fees, compared with $21,230 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the exercise science program here. Early-career exercise science graduates make about $33,722. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Eastern Kentucky University admits about 78% of applicants.
University Of Louisville came in at #4 on our 2027 list of the best value exercise science schools. University Of Louisville is a very large public school located in the city of Louisville. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $13,136, with out-of-state students paying around $29,482. Typical student debt for exercise science graduates is $22,053. Early-career exercise science graduates make about $36,995. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 79%.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Kentucky Wesleyan College earned it the #5 place for exercise science. Kentucky Wesleyan College is a small private not-for-profit school located in the city of Owensboro. In-state tuition and fees average $34,673. Students borrow a median of $25,000 to complete the exercise science program here. Early-career exercise science graduates make about $32,568. Set against $25,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 72%.
University Of Kentucky earned the #6 position for value in exercise science this year. Located in the city of Lexington, University Of Kentucky is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $13,502, with out-of-state students paying around $34,140. Students borrow a median of $24,094 to complete the exercise science program here. Exercise Science graduates of University Of Kentucky earn a median of $43,994 early in their careers. Set against $24,094 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 93%.
Alice Lloyd College came in at #7 for value in exercise science this year. Alice Lloyd College is a small private not-for-profit school located in the rural area of Pippa Passes. In-state tuition and fees average $13,960. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $40,573. Alice Lloyd College admits about 75% of applicants.
Campbellsville University landed the #8 spot for exercise science value this year. Located in the town of Campbellsville, Campbellsville University is a large private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $27,998 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for exercise science graduates is $27,000. Exercise Science graduates of Campbellsville University earn a median of $43,474 early in their careers. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Campbellsville University admits about 80% of applicants.
Union College Kentucky came in at #9 for value in exercise science this year. Located in the town of Barbourville, Union College Kentucky is a small private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $30,946. Typical student debt for exercise science graduates is $27,852. Exercise Science graduates of Union College Kentucky earn a median of $54,587 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $27,852 median debt. Union College Kentucky admits about 63% of applicants.
Asbury University came in at #10 for value in exercise science this year. Set in the town of Wilmore, Asbury University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $33,640. Students borrow a median of $26,250 to complete the exercise science program here. Exercise Science graduates of Asbury University earn a median of $50,086 early in their careers. Set against $26,250 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Asbury University admits about 63% of applicants.
Bellarmine University placed #11 among the best values for exercise science. Located in the city of Louisville, Bellarmine University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $48,770. Typical student debt for exercise science graduates is $25,944. Exercise Science graduates of Bellarmine University earn a median of $30,236 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Bellarmine University admits about 86% of applicants.
Thomas More College ranked #12 on our 2027 list of the best value exercise science schools. Set in the suburb of Crestview Hills, Thomas More College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $39,025. Students borrow a median of $31,608 to complete the exercise science program here. Exercise Science graduates of Thomas More College earn a median of $57,440 early in their careers. Set against $31,608 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Thomas More College admits about 90% of applicants.
Transylvania University placed #13 among the best values for exercise science. Transylvania University is a small private not-for-profit school located in the city of Lexington. In-state tuition and fees average $46,870. Students borrow a median of $26,000 to complete the exercise science program here. Exercise Science graduates of Transylvania University earn a median of $45,208 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $26,000 median debt. Roughly 86% 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), 2027 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 · 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.
