2027 Best Value Exercise Science Schools in North Carolina
[Exercise Science](/majors/parks-recreation-fitness/health-and-physical-education/exercise-science/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong exercise science education at a price that pays off.
College Factual analyzed 24 schools to build this 2027 ranking of the best value exercise science schools.
What’s on this page:
2027 Best Value Exercise Science Schools in North Carolina
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
For return on investment in exercise science, no school beat University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill this year. Located in the city of Chapel Hill, University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $8,994, compared with $41,203 for out-of-state students. Exercise Science graduates carry a median of $16,575 in student loans. Exercise Science graduates of University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill earn a median of $39,401 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 15%.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at University Of North Carolina At Greensboro earned it the #2 place for exercise science. Located in the city of Greensboro, University Of North Carolina At Greensboro is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $7,661, while out-of-state students pay about $24,012. Exercise Science graduates carry a median of $25,000 in student loans. Early-career exercise science graduates make about $48,012. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 88%.
Students looking for strong value in exercise science will find it at East Carolina University, which ranked #3. Located in the city of Greenville, East Carolina University is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $7,361, compared with $23,638 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for exercise science graduates is $27,000. Soon after graduation, exercise science degree recipients from East Carolina University generally make around $38,488. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. East Carolina University admits about 89% of applicants.
Elizabeth City State University is a great value for students pursuing a degree in exercise science, landing the #4 spot this year. Set in the town of Elizabeth City, Elizabeth City State University is a mid-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,536, compared with $10,536 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $26,992 to complete the exercise science program here. Early-career exercise science graduates make about $26,821. That is a strong return on a $26,992 median debt. Elizabeth City State University admits about 64% of applicants.
Students looking for strong value in exercise science will find it at North Carolina Wesleyan College, which ranked #5. Set in the city of Rocky Mount, North Carolina Wesleyan College is a small private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $35,586. Exercise Science graduates carry a median of $26,713 in student loans. Exercise Science graduates of North Carolina Wesleyan College earn a median of $40,202 early in their careers. Set against $26,713 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 80%.
Catawba College came in at #6 for value in exercise science this year. Set in the suburb of Salisbury, Catawba College is a small private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $34,300. Typical student debt for exercise science graduates is $26,703. Early-career exercise science graduates make about $27,305. That is a strong return on a $26,703 median debt. Catawba College admits about 75% of applicants.
Chowan University earned the #7 position for value in exercise science this year. Set in the rural area of Murfreesboro, Chowan University is a small private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $27,910. Exercise Science graduates carry a median of $31,581 in student loans. Early-career exercise science graduates make about $25,983. Set against $31,581 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 69% of applicants are accepted.
Shaw University earned the #8 position for value in exercise science this year. Shaw University is a small private not-for-profit school located in the city of Raleigh. In-state tuition and fees average $17,738. Typical student debt for exercise science graduates is $30,500. Soon after graduation, exercise science degree recipients from Shaw University generally make around $18,987. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Shaw University admits about 80% of applicants.
University Of North Carolina At Wilmington earned the #9 position for value in exercise science this year. Set in the city of Wilmington, University Of North Carolina At Wilmington is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $7,277, compared with $24,152 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for exercise science graduates is $23,013. Exercise Science graduates of University Of North Carolina At Wilmington earn a median of $46,164 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 64% of applicants are accepted.
Greensboro College landed the #10 spot for exercise science value this year. Set in the city of Greensboro, Greensboro College is a small private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $21,000. Typical student debt for exercise science graduates is $27,000. Early-career exercise science graduates make about $27,624. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. Greensboro College admits about 70% of applicants.
Mount Olive College landed the #11 spot for exercise science value this year. Set in the rural area of Mount Olive, Mount Olive College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $27,366. Typical student debt for exercise science graduates is $25,820. Early-career exercise science graduates make about $27,413. That is a strong return on a $25,820 median debt. The acceptance rate is 76%.
Pfeiffer University earned the #12 position for value in exercise science this year. Set in the rural area of Misenheimer, Pfeiffer University is a small private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $35,070 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the exercise science program here. Soon after graduation, exercise science degree recipients from Pfeiffer University generally make around $26,744. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Pfeiffer University admits about 96% of applicants.
Lenoir Rhyne University earned the #13 position for value in exercise science this year. Set in the city of Hickory, Lenoir Rhyne University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $31,900. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the exercise science program here. Exercise Science graduates of Lenoir Rhyne University earn a median of $22,695 early in their careers. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Lenoir Rhyne University admits about 85% of applicants.
Wingate University came in at #14 for value in exercise science this year. Set in the suburb of Wingate, Wingate University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $42,576. Typical student debt for exercise science graduates is $25,000. Soon after graduation, exercise science degree recipients from Wingate University generally make around $34,936. Set against $25,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 91% of applicants are accepted.
Meredith College earned the #15 position for value in exercise science this year. Meredith College is a small private not-for-profit school located in the city of Raleigh. In-state tuition and fees average $45,630. Exercise Science graduates carry a median of $26,000 in student loans. Exercise Science graduates of Meredith College earn a median of $40,331 early in their careers. Set against $26,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Meredith College admits about 74% of applicants.
Peace College ranked #16 on our 2027 list of the best value exercise science schools. Peace College is a small private not-for-profit school located in the city of Raleigh. Students from in state pay about $34,176 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for exercise science graduates is $27,080. Soon after graduation, exercise science degree recipients from Peace College generally make around $38,047. Set against $27,080 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 94%.
Brevard College earned the #17 position for value in exercise science this year. Brevard College is a small private not-for-profit school located in the town of Brevard. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $32,280. Typical student debt for exercise science graduates is $26,667. Exercise Science graduates of Brevard College earn a median of $32,122 early in their careers. Set against $26,667 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Brevard College admits about 42% of applicants.
Barton College earned the #18 position for value in exercise science this year. Set in the town of Wilson, Barton College is a small private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $37,000. Exercise Science graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Soon after graduation, exercise science degree recipients from Barton College generally make around $29,374. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Barton College admits about 94% of applicants.
Campbell University ranked #19 on our 2027 list of the best value exercise science schools. Located in the town of Buies Creek, Campbell University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $41,600 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for exercise science graduates is $25,250. Early-career exercise science graduates make about $32,167. Set against $25,250 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Campbell University admits about 87% of applicants.
Methodist University landed the #20 spot for exercise science value this year. Methodist University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Fayetteville. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $41,250. Exercise Science graduates carry a median of $30,124 in student loans. Early-career exercise science graduates make about $28,270. That is a strong return on a $30,124 median debt. Methodist University admits about 75% of applicants.
Lees Mcrae College placed #21 among the best values for exercise science. Set in the rural area of Banner Elk, Lees Mcrae College is a small private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $33,850. Exercise Science graduates carry a median of $19,821 in student loans. Exercise Science graduates of Lees Mcrae College earn a median of $40,268 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $19,821 median debt. Roughly 77% of applicants are accepted.
Wake Forest University earned the #22 position for value in exercise science this year. Located in the city of Winston-Salem, Wake Forest University is a large private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $67,642 in tuition and fees. Exercise Science graduates carry a median of $23,250 in student loans. Exercise Science graduates of Wake Forest University earn a median of $21,192 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $23,250 median debt. Roughly 22% of applicants are accepted.
High Point University earned the #23 position for value in exercise science this year. Located in the city of High Point, High Point University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $45,312. Typical student debt for exercise science graduates is $23,785. Exercise Science graduates of High Point University earn a median of $113,352 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 75%.
Elon University ranked #24 on our 2027 list of the best value exercise science schools. Elon University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Elon. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $46,958. Students borrow a median of $23,250 to complete the exercise science program here. Exercise Science graduates of Elon University earn a median of $21,440 early in their careers. Set against $23,250 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 66% 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. 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 · 24 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 24 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.
