2027 Best Value Outdoor Health & Physical Education/Fitness Schools in the Great Lakes 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 schools below stand out for delivering a strong outdoor health & physical education/fitness education at a price that pays off.
For its 2027 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 9 schools to find the best return on investment for outdoor health & physical education/fitness students.
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2027 Best Value Outdoor Health & Physical Education/Fitness Schools in the Great Lakes 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
Western Illinois University tops our 2027 list of the best value outdoor health & physical education/fitness schools in the Great Lakes Region. Western Illinois University is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Macomb. In-state tuition and fees average $14,572. Students borrow a median of $31,000 to complete the outdoor health & physical education/fitness program here. Soon after graduation, outdoor health & physical education/fitness degree recipients from Western Illinois University generally make around $33,473. That is a strong return on a $31,000 median debt. Roughly 71% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Akron Main Campus is a great value for students pursuing a degree in outdoor health & physical education/fitness, landing the #2 spot this year. Set in the city of Akron, University Of Akron Main Campus is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $13,135 in tuition and fees, compared with $20,815 for out-of-state students. Outdoor Health & Physical Education/fitness graduates carry a median of $31,000 in student loans. Early-career outdoor health & physical education/fitness graduates make about $49,045. That is a strong return on a $31,000 median debt. Roughly 60% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Wisconsin Madison is a great value for students pursuing a degree in outdoor health & physical education/fitness, landing the #3 spot this year. Set in the city of Madison, University Of Wisconsin Madison is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $11,603, compared with $42,103 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for outdoor health & physical education/fitness graduates is $26,000. Outdoor Health & Physical Education/fitness graduates of University Of Wisconsin Madison earn a median of $29,866 early in their careers. Set against $26,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 45% of applicants are accepted.
Wright State University Main Campus is a great value for students pursuing a degree in outdoor health & physical education/fitness, landing the #4 spot this year. Wright State University Main Campus is a large public school located in the suburb of Dayton. Students from in state pay about $10,991 in tuition and fees, compared with $20,691 for out-of-state students. Outdoor Health & Physical Education/fitness graduates carry a median of $28,250 in student loans. Soon after graduation, outdoor health & physical education/fitness degree recipients from Wright State University Main Campus generally make around $49,077. Set against $28,250 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Wright State University Main Campus admits about 96% of applicants.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at University Of Evansville earned it the #5 place for outdoor health & physical education/fitness. University Of Evansville is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Evansville. Students from in state pay about $44,172 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $24,031 to complete the outdoor health & physical education/fitness program here. Outdoor Health & Physical Education/fitness graduates of University Of Evansville earn a median of $34,809 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 78%.
Judson University came in at #6 for value in outdoor health & physical education/fitness this year. Set in the city of Elgin, Judson University is a small private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $30,297. Typical student debt for outdoor health & physical education/fitness graduates is $27,685. Soon after graduation, outdoor health & physical education/fitness degree recipients from Judson University generally make around $47,550. Set against $27,685 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Judson University admits about 48% of applicants.
Otterbein University ranked #7 on our 2027 list of the best value outdoor health & physical education/fitness schools. Located in the suburb of Westerville, Otterbein University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $35,548. Typical student debt for outdoor health & physical education/fitness graduates is $25,000. Outdoor Health & Physical Education/fitness graduates of Otterbein University earn a median of $31,851 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 84% of applicants are accepted.
Grace College And Theological Seminary ranked #8 on our 2027 list of the best value outdoor health & physical education/fitness schools. Set in the town of Winona Lake, Grace College And Theological Seminary is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $29,645. Outdoor Health & Physical Education/fitness graduates carry a median of $23,250 in student loans. Outdoor Health & Physical Education/fitness graduates of Grace College And Theological Seminary earn a median of $32,549 early in their careers. Set against $23,250 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Grace College And Theological Seminary admits about 82% of applicants.
Bowling Green State University Main Campus ranked #9 on our 2027 list of the best value outdoor health & physical education/fitness schools. Bowling Green State University Main Campus is a very large public school located in the town of Bowling Green. In-state tuition and fees average $13,912, while out-of-state students pay about $21,900. Students borrow a median of $25,024 to complete the outdoor health & physical education/fitness program here. Outdoor Health & Physical Education/fitness graduates of Bowling Green State University Main Campus earn a median of $31,919 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 81% of applicants are accepted.
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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 · 9 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 9 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.
