2026 Best Value Outdoor Health & Physical Education/Fitness Schools in the Far Western Region

[Outdoor Health & Physical Education/Fitness](/majors/parks-recreation-fitness/health-and-physical-education/health-and-physical-education-fitness-other/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
For its 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 6 schools to find the best return on investment for outdoor health & physical education/fitness students.
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2026 Best Value Outdoor Health & Physical Education/Fitness Schools in the Far Western Region
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in outdoor health & physical education/fitness, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Outdoor Health & Physical Education/Fitness Schools
University Of Alaska Anchorage earned the #1 spot for value among outdoor health & physical education/fitness schools in the Far Western Region. University Of Alaska Anchorage is a large public school located in the city of Anchorage. Students from in state pay about $7,738 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $21,322. Outdoor Health & Physical Education/fitness graduates carry a median of $21,787 in student loans. Soon after graduation, outdoor health & physical education/fitness degree recipients from University Of Alaska Anchorage generally make around $59,053. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Brigham Young University Hawaii came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the best value outdoor health & physical education/fitness schools. Brigham Young University Hawaii is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the town of Laie. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,630. Soon after graduation, outdoor health & physical education/fitness degree recipients from Brigham Young University Hawaii generally make around $41,461. The acceptance rate is 47%.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at San Diego State University earned it the #3 place for outdoor health & physical education/fitness. Located in the city of San Diego, San Diego State University is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $8,728, with out-of-state students paying around $21,328. Students borrow a median of $15,000 to complete the outdoor health & physical education/fitness program here. Outdoor Health & Physical Education/fitness graduates of San Diego State University earn a median of $51,162 early in their careers. Set against $15,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. San Diego State University admits about 36% of applicants.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at University Of La Verne earned it the #4 place for outdoor health & physical education/fitness. Set in the suburb of La Verne, University Of La Verne is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $49,470. Students borrow a median of $26,314 to complete the outdoor health & physical education/fitness program here. Early-career outdoor health & physical education/fitness graduates make about $35,364. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of La Verne admits about 71% of applicants.
A rank of #5 makes Saint Marys College Of California one of the best values for outdoor health & physical education/fitness. Saint Marys College Of California is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Moraga. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $57,803. Students borrow a median of $24,300 to complete the outdoor health & physical education/fitness program here. Outdoor Health & Physical Education/fitness graduates of Saint Marys College Of California earn a median of $59,760 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $24,300 median debt. Roughly 86% of applicants are accepted.
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Notes and References
This ranking is produced 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 · 6 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 1 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.