2027 Best Value Outdoor Health & Physical Education/Fitness Schools in the The Plains States Region
[Outdoor Health & Physical Education/Fitness](/majors/parks-recreation-fitness/health-and-physical-education/health-and-physical-education-fitness-other/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
For its 2027 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 16 schools to find the best return on investment for outdoor health & physical education/fitness students.
What’s on this page:
2027 Best Value Outdoor Health & Physical Education/Fitness Schools in the The Plains States Region
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the outdoor health & physical education/fitness degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Outdoor Health & Physical Education/Fitness Schools
For return on investment in outdoor health & physical education/fitness, no school beat Mayville State University this year. Located in the rural area of Mayville, Mayville State University is a small public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $7,979, compared with $11,237 for out-of-state students. Outdoor Health & Physical Education/fitness graduates carry a median of $27,464 in student loans. Outdoor Health & Physical Education/fitness graduates of Mayville State University earn a median of $49,971 early in their careers. Set against $27,464 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Missouri Southern State University is a great value for students pursuing a degree in outdoor health & physical education/fitness, landing the #2 spot this year. Located in the city of Joplin, Missouri Southern State University is a moderately-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,600, while out-of-state students pay about $18,300. Typical student debt for outdoor health & physical education/fitness graduates is $24,947. Early-career outdoor health & physical education/fitness graduates make about $34,465. That is a strong return on a $24,947 median debt. Missouri Southern State University admits about 97% of applicants.
Dickinson State University is a great value for students pursuing a degree in outdoor health & physical education/fitness, landing the #3 spot this year. Dickinson State University is a small public school located in the town of Dickinson. Students from in state pay about $9,118 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for outdoor health & physical education/fitness graduates is $27,266. Soon after graduation, outdoor health & physical education/fitness degree recipients from Dickinson State University generally make around $51,049. Set against $27,266 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 37%.
University Of Minnesota Twin Cities came in at #4 on our 2027 list of the best value outdoor health & physical education/fitness schools. Set in the city of Minneapolis, University Of Minnesota Twin Cities is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $17,214, with out-of-state students paying around $38,362. Typical student debt for outdoor health & physical education/fitness graduates is $23,000. Outdoor Health & Physical Education/fitness graduates of University Of Minnesota Twin Cities earn a median of $36,050 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 80%.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Butler Community College earned it the #5 place for outdoor health & physical education/fitness. Set in the town of El Dorado, Butler Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,541, with out-of-state students paying around $6,271. Students borrow a median of $16,670 to complete the outdoor health & physical education/fitness program here. Soon after graduation, outdoor health & physical education/fitness degree recipients from Butler Community College generally make around $39,404. That is a strong return on a $16,670 median debt.
Northwest Missouri State University ranked #6 on our 2027 list of the best value outdoor health & physical education/fitness schools. Northwest Missouri State University is a large public school located in the town of Maryville. In-state tuition and fees average $10,611, compared with $17,324 for out-of-state students. Outdoor Health & Physical Education/fitness graduates carry a median of $23,585 in student loans. Early-career outdoor health & physical education/fitness graduates make about $43,713. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 86% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Mary came in at #7 for value in outdoor health & physical education/fitness this year. University Of Mary is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the rural area of Bismarck. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $22,356. Students borrow a median of $26,000 to complete the outdoor health & physical education/fitness program here. Soon after graduation, outdoor health & physical education/fitness degree recipients from University Of Mary generally make around $65,565. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 75%.
St Catherine University ranked #8 on our 2027 list of the best value outdoor health & physical education/fitness schools. Located in the city of Saint Paul, St Catherine University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $38,428. Typical student debt for outdoor health & physical education/fitness graduates is $28,000. Soon after graduation, outdoor health & physical education/fitness degree recipients from St Catherine University generally make around $60,427. Set against $28,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 92%.
Mount Marty College came in at #9 for value in outdoor health & physical education/fitness this year. Set in the town of Yankton, Mount Marty College is a small private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $34,600 in tuition and fees. Outdoor Health & Physical Education/fitness graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Outdoor Health & Physical Education/fitness graduates of Mount Marty College earn a median of $108,425 early in their careers. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 43%.
Sterling College Kansas placed #10 among the best values for outdoor health & physical education/fitness. Sterling College Kansas is a small private not-for-profit school located in the rural area of Sterling. In-state tuition and fees average $33,700. Outdoor Health & Physical Education/fitness graduates carry a median of $27,250 in student loans. Outdoor Health & Physical Education/fitness graduates of Sterling College Kansas earn a median of $30,086 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $27,250 median debt. Roughly 48% of applicants are accepted.
Gustavus Adolphus College landed the #11 spot for outdoor health & physical education/fitness value this year. Located in the town of Saint Peter, Gustavus Adolphus College is a small private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $56,076. Outdoor Health & Physical Education/fitness graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Early-career outdoor health & physical education/fitness graduates make about $38,796. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 61%.
William Penn University landed the #12 spot for outdoor health & physical education/fitness value this year. Located in the town of Oskaloosa, William Penn University is a small private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $29,750 in tuition and fees. Outdoor Health & Physical Education/fitness graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Early-career outdoor health & physical education/fitness graduates make about $30,314. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. William Penn University admits about 52% of applicants.
Saint Ambrose University ranked #13 on our 2027 list of the best value outdoor health & physical education/fitness schools. Located in the city of Davenport, Saint Ambrose University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $36,658 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $26,000 to complete the outdoor health & physical education/fitness program here. Early-career outdoor health & physical education/fitness graduates make about $26,608. Set against $26,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 77% of applicants are accepted.
Dordt College ranked #14 on our 2027 list of the best value outdoor health & physical education/fitness schools. Dordt College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the town of Sioux Center. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $37,050. Students borrow a median of $21,812 to complete the outdoor health & physical education/fitness program here. Early-career outdoor health & physical education/fitness graduates make about $54,926. That is a strong return on a $21,812 median debt. Dordt College admits about 68% of applicants.
Benedictine College came in at #15 for value in outdoor health & physical education/fitness this year. Located in the town of Atchison, Benedictine College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $36,350. Students borrow a median of $26,798 to complete the outdoor health & physical education/fitness program here. Early-career outdoor health & physical education/fitness graduates make about $46,255. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 98% of applicants are accepted.
Ottawa University Ottawa placed #16 among the best values for outdoor health & physical education/fitness. Ottawa University Ottawa is a small private not-for-profit school located in the town of Ottawa. Students from in state pay about $35,880 in tuition and fees. Outdoor Health & Physical Education/fitness graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Outdoor Health & Physical Education/fitness graduates of Ottawa University Ottawa earn a median of $49,850 early in their careers. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 83%.
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Notes and References
This list is compiled 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 · 16 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 16 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.
