2027 Best Value Physical Education Schools in the Southeast Region
[Physical Education](/majors/parks-recreation-fitness/health-and-physical-education/physical-education/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
College Factual analyzed 86 schools to build this 2027 ranking of the best value physical education schools.
What’s on this page:
2027 Best Value Physical Education Schools in the Southeast Region
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the physical education degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Physical Education Schools
For return on investment in physical education, no school beat University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill this year. University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill is a very large public school located in the city of Chapel Hill. In-state tuition and fees average $8,994, compared with $41,203 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $16,575 to complete the physical education program here. Early-career physical education graduates make about $39,401. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 15%.
A rank of #2 makes The University Of West Florida one of the best values for physical education. Located in the rural area of Pensacola, The University Of West Florida is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $5,776, while out-of-state students pay about $18,658. Typical student debt for physical education graduates is $22,188. Early-career physical education graduates make about $28,643. Set against $22,188 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 58% of applicants are accepted.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at American Public University System earned it the #3 place for physical education. Set in the town of Charles Town, American Public University System is a very large private for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,400. Typical student debt for physical education graduates is $19,312. Physical Education graduates of American Public University System earn a median of $55,491 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $19,312 median debt.
A rank of #4 makes Berea College one of the best values for physical education. Berea College is a small private not-for-profit school located in the town of Berea. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $51,658. Physical Education graduates carry a median of $5,801 in student loans. Physical Education graduates of Berea College earn a median of $31,428 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Berea College admits about 19% of applicants.
Students looking for strong value in physical education will find it at The University Of Tennessee Martin, which ranked #5. Set in the town of Martin, The University Of Tennessee Martin is a moderately-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $10,560, compared with $16,600 for out-of-state students. Physical Education graduates carry a median of $23,938 in student loans. Physical Education graduates of The University Of Tennessee Martin earn a median of $30,587 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $23,938 median debt. The acceptance rate is 88%.
Holmes Community College ranked #6 on our 2027 list of the best value physical education schools. Holmes Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the rural area of Goodman. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $3,710, while out-of-state students pay about $6,610. Physical Education graduates carry a median of $13,191 in student loans. Physical Education graduates of Holmes Community College earn a median of $32,145 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $13,191 median debt.
Arkansas State University Main Campus came in at #7 for value in physical education this year. Located in the city of Jonesboro, Arkansas State University Main Campus is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $8,090 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $14,522. Students borrow a median of $26,000 to complete the physical education program here. Soon after graduation, physical education degree recipients from Arkansas State University Main Campus generally make around $43,319. That is a strong return on a $26,000 median debt. Roughly 82% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Georgia came in at #8 for value in physical education this year. University Of Georgia is a very large public school located in the city of Athens. Students from in state pay about $11,450 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $31,688. Physical Education graduates carry a median of $22,250 in student loans. Physical Education graduates of University Of Georgia earn a median of $36,359 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $22,250 median debt. The acceptance rate is 38%.
Austin Peay State University placed #9 among the best values for physical education. Austin Peay State University is a large public school located in the city of Clarksville. In-state tuition and fees average $9,006, while out-of-state students pay about $14,766. Physical Education graduates carry a median of $25,000 in student loans. Physical Education graduates of Austin Peay State University earn a median of $37,636 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 96%.
Louisiana Tech University ranked #10 on our 2027 list of the best value physical education schools. Located in the town of Ruston, Louisiana Tech University is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $10,125, compared with $16,866 for out-of-state students. Physical Education graduates carry a median of $24,750 in student loans. Early-career physical education graduates make about $31,802. That is a strong return on a $24,750 median debt. Louisiana Tech University admits about 86% of applicants.
University Of North Alabama came in at #11 for value in physical education this year. Set in the city of Florence, University Of North Alabama is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $12,120, with out-of-state students paying around $22,320. Physical Education graduates carry a median of $23,250 in student loans. Soon after graduation, physical education degree recipients from University Of North Alabama generally make around $29,714. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 87%.
University Of North Carolina At Pembroke earned the #12 position for value in physical education this year. University Of North Carolina At Pembroke is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Pembroke. In-state tuition and fees average $3,648, with out-of-state students paying around $7,648. Typical student debt for physical education graduates is $26,000. Early-career physical education graduates make about $25,623. Set against $26,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 93% of applicants are accepted.
Georgia Southwestern State University landed the #13 spot for physical education value this year. Located in the town of Americus, Georgia Southwestern State University is a mid-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $5,220, compared with $16,572 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for physical education graduates is $26,000. Physical Education graduates of Georgia Southwestern State University earn a median of $52,428 early in their careers. Set against $26,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 75%.
Middle Tennessee State University landed the #14 spot for physical education value this year. Middle Tennessee State University is a very large public school located in the city of Murfreesboro. In-state tuition and fees average $10,266, while out-of-state students pay about $31,574. Physical Education graduates carry a median of $23,500 in student loans. Soon after graduation, physical education degree recipients from Middle Tennessee State University generally make around $36,462. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 69%.
University Of New Orleans earned the #15 position for value in physical education this year. University Of New Orleans is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of New Orleans. Students from in state pay about $9,172 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $14,008. Physical Education graduates carry a median of $25,000 in student loans. Early-career physical education graduates make about $25,262. That is a strong return on a $25,000 median debt. The acceptance rate is 74%.
Mississippi University For Women landed the #16 spot for physical education value this year. Located in the town of Columbus, Mississippi University For Women is a mid-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,492. Physical Education graduates carry a median of $20,825 in student loans. Early-career physical education graduates make about $42,756. That is a strong return on a $20,825 median debt. Roughly 90% of applicants are accepted.
Northwestern State University Of Louisiana earned the #17 position for value in physical education this year. Northwestern State University Of Louisiana is a large public school located in the town of Natchitoches. Students from in state pay about $8,864 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $19,652. Physical Education graduates carry a median of $24,000 in student loans. Physical Education graduates of Northwestern State University Of Louisiana earn a median of $28,009 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $24,000 median debt. The acceptance rate is 92%.
Tennessee Technological University came in at #18 for value in physical education this year. Tennessee Technological University is a large public school located in the town of Cookeville. In-state tuition and fees average $11,376, with out-of-state students paying around $15,576. Physical Education graduates carry a median of $15,653 in student loans. Early-career physical education graduates make about $40,255. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 76%.
West Virginia State University earned the #19 position for value in physical education this year. Located in the suburb of Institute, West Virginia State University is a mid-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,570, with out-of-state students paying around $14,990. Students borrow a median of $24,501 to complete the physical education program here. Soon after graduation, physical education degree recipients from West Virginia State University generally make around $37,970. That is a strong return on a $24,501 median debt. The acceptance rate is 96%.
University Of The Cumberlands ranked #20 on our 2027 list of the best value physical education schools. Set in the town of Williamsburg, University Of The Cumberlands is a very large private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,875. Physical Education graduates carry a median of $22,630 in student loans. Soon after graduation, physical education degree recipients from University Of The Cumberlands generally make around $31,401. That is a strong return on a $22,630 median debt. University Of The Cumberlands admits about 99% of applicants.
Southern Arkansas University Main Campus placed #21 among the best values for physical education. Set in the town of Magnolia, Southern Arkansas University Main Campus is a moderately-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $9,960, with out-of-state students paying around $15,690. Typical student debt for physical education graduates is $20,169. Physical Education graduates of Southern Arkansas University Main Campus earn a median of $38,612 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 75% of applicants are accepted.
Martin Methodist College landed the #22 spot for physical education value this year. Set in the town of Pulaski, Martin Methodist College is a small public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $10,924. Students borrow a median of $23,125 to complete the physical education program here. Soon after graduation, physical education degree recipients from Martin Methodist College generally make around $28,069. Set against $23,125 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 87%.
Winston Salem State University came in at #23 for value in physical education this year. Winston Salem State University is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Winston-Salem. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,126, with out-of-state students paying around $16,782. Physical Education graduates carry a median of $26,000 in student loans. Physical Education graduates of Winston Salem State University earn a median of $26,467 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $26,000 median debt. The acceptance rate is 78%.
Louisiana College came in at #24 for value in physical education this year. Located in the suburb of Pineville, Louisiana College is a small private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $20,266. Students borrow a median of $25,000 to complete the physical education program here. Early-career physical education graduates make about $57,294. Set against $25,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 77% of applicants are accepted.
Florida Agricultural And Mechanical University ranked #25 on our 2027 list of the best value physical education schools. Set in the city of Tallahassee, Florida Agricultural And Mechanical University is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $5,785, with out-of-state students paying around $17,725. Physical Education graduates carry a median of $30,494 in student loans. Soon after graduation, physical education degree recipients from Florida Agricultural And Mechanical University generally make around $36,850. That is a strong return on a $30,494 median debt. Florida Agricultural And Mechanical University admits about 21% of applicants.
Rest of the Top 50 Best Value Physical Education Schools
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s physical education value ranking:
Narrow Physical Education Schools by State
More Physical Education Rankings
View All Physical Education 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 · 86 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 86 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.
