2027 Best Value Outdoor Health & Physical Education/Fitness Schools in the Southeast 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.
College Factual analyzed 17 schools to build this 2027 ranking of the best value outdoor health & physical education/fitness schools.
What’s on this page:
2027 Best Value Outdoor Health & Physical Education/Fitness Schools in the Southeast 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
For return on investment in outdoor health & physical education/fitness, no school beat Holmes Community College this year. Located in the rural area of Goodman, Holmes Community College is a moderately-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $3,710, compared with $6,610 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $13,191 to complete the outdoor health & physical education/fitness program here. Early-career outdoor health & physical education/fitness graduates make about $32,145. That is a strong return on a $13,191 median debt.
University Of North Georgia is a great value for students pursuing a degree in outdoor health & physical education/fitness, landing the #2 spot this year. Located in the town of Dahlonega, University Of North Georgia is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $5,444, while out-of-state students pay about $16,956. Typical student debt for outdoor health & physical education/fitness graduates is $20,500. Early-career outdoor health & physical education/fitness graduates make about $42,341. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of North Georgia admits about 68% of applicants.
Students looking for strong value in outdoor health & physical education/fitness will find it at Brunswick Community College, which ranked #3. Set in the rural area of Bolivia, Brunswick Community College is a mid-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $2,553, compared with $8,697 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $5,500 to complete the outdoor health & physical education/fitness program here. Outdoor Health & Physical Education/fitness graduates of Brunswick Community College earn a median of $47,493 early in their careers. Set against $5,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
University Of Mississippi Main Campus came in at #4 on our 2027 list of the best value outdoor health & physical education/fitness schools. University Of Mississippi Main Campus is a very large public school located in the town of University. Students from in state pay about $9,772 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $28,600. Students borrow a median of $23,034 to complete the outdoor health & physical education/fitness program here. Soon after graduation, outdoor health & physical education/fitness degree recipients from University Of Mississippi Main Campus generally make around $50,876. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of Mississippi Main Campus admits about 97% of applicants.
Students looking for strong value in outdoor health & physical education/fitness will find it at Valdosta State University, which ranked #5. Set in the city of Valdosta, Valdosta State University is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,124, with out-of-state students paying around $17,836. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the outdoor health & physical education/fitness program here. Soon after graduation, outdoor health & physical education/fitness degree recipients from Valdosta State University generally make around $23,364. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 72% of applicants are accepted.
Arkansas Tech University ranked #6 on our 2027 list of the best value outdoor health & physical education/fitness schools. Arkansas Tech University is a large public school located in the town of Russellville. Students from in state pay about $8,674 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $14,668. Students borrow a median of $23,257 to complete the outdoor health & physical education/fitness program here. Outdoor Health & Physical Education/fitness graduates of Arkansas Tech University earn a median of $45,115 early in their careers. Set against $23,257 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Arkansas Tech University admits about 96% of applicants.
Tennessee Wesleyan College earned the #7 position for value in outdoor health & physical education/fitness this year. Tennessee Wesleyan College is a small private not-for-profit school located in the town of Athens. In-state tuition and fees average $30,814. Students borrow a median of $29,750 to complete the outdoor health & physical education/fitness program here. Early-career outdoor health & physical education/fitness graduates make about $58,859. Set against $29,750 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 69%.
Randolph College ranked #8 on our 2027 list of the best value outdoor health & physical education/fitness schools. Located in the city of Lynchburg, Randolph College is a small private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $30,310. Typical student debt for outdoor health & physical education/fitness graduates is $23,750. Early-career outdoor health & physical education/fitness graduates make about $43,197. Set against $23,750 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 94% of applicants are accepted.
Gardner Webb University placed #9 among the best values for outdoor health & physical education/fitness. Set in the rural area of Boiling Springs, Gardner Webb University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $34,750 in tuition and fees. Outdoor Health & Physical Education/fitness graduates carry a median of $25,033 in student loans. Early-career outdoor health & physical education/fitness graduates make about $63,220. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Gardner Webb University admits about 77% of applicants.
Cumberland University earned the #10 position for value in outdoor health & physical education/fitness this year. Cumberland University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the town of Lebanon. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $27,840. Typical student debt for outdoor health & physical education/fitness graduates is $21,902. Early-career outdoor health & physical education/fitness graduates make about $47,696. That is a strong return on a $21,902 median debt. Roughly 67% of applicants are accepted.
Greensboro College ranked #11 on our 2027 list of the best value outdoor health & physical education/fitness schools. Located in the city of Greensboro, Greensboro College is a small private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $21,000 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for outdoor health & physical education/fitness graduates is $27,000. Soon after graduation, outdoor health & physical education/fitness degree recipients from Greensboro College generally make around $38,134. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. The acceptance rate is 70%.
Coker College earned the #12 position for value in outdoor health & physical education/fitness this year. Located in the town of Hartsville, Coker College is a small private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $33,416. Students borrow a median of $26,475 to complete the outdoor health & physical education/fitness program here. Outdoor Health & Physical Education/fitness graduates of Coker College earn a median of $30,333 early in their careers. Set against $26,475 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 94% of applicants are accepted.
The University Of Alabama earned the #13 position for value in outdoor health & physical education/fitness this year. Set in the city of Tuscaloosa, The University Of Alabama is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $12,180 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $34,172. Students borrow a median of $24,496 to complete the outdoor health & physical education/fitness program here. Early-career outdoor health & physical education/fitness graduates make about $50,740. Set against $24,496 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The University Of Alabama admits about 77% of applicants.
Emmanuel College Georgia came in at #14 for value in outdoor health & physical education/fitness this year. Set in the rural area of Franklin Springs, Emmanuel College Georgia is a small private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $25,500. Typical student debt for outdoor health & physical education/fitness graduates is $26,670. Early-career outdoor health & physical education/fitness graduates make about $30,093. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 74%.
Emory University earned the #15 position for value in outdoor health & physical education/fitness this year. Set in the city of Atlanta, Emory University is a large private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $64,280. Typical student debt for outdoor health & physical education/fitness graduates is $19,883. Early-career outdoor health & physical education/fitness graduates make about $37,974. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 11% of applicants are accepted.
Campbell University landed the #16 spot for outdoor health & physical education/fitness value this year. 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. Outdoor Health & Physical Education/fitness graduates carry a median of $25,250 in student loans. Outdoor Health & Physical Education/fitness graduates of Campbell University earn a median of $32,167 early in their careers. Set against $25,250 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 87%.
Methodist University landed the #17 spot for outdoor health & physical education/fitness value this year. Methodist University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Fayetteville. Students from in state pay about $41,250 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $30,124 to complete the outdoor health & physical education/fitness program here. Outdoor Health & Physical Education/fitness graduates of Methodist University earn a median of $28,270 early in their careers. Set against $30,124 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 75%.
Narrow Outdoor Health & Physical Education/Fitness Schools by State
More Outdoor Health & Physical Education/Fitness Rankings
View All Outdoor Health & Physical Education/Fitness Rankings >
Notes and References
This ranking is produced 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 · 17 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 17 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.