by our College Data Analytics Team
[Physical Education](/majors/parks-recreation-fitness/health-and-physical-education/physical-education/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong physical education education at a price that pays off.
To produce this 2027 ranking, College Factual evaluated 5 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for physical education students.
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If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the physical education degrees they offer, see the list below.
For return on investment in physical education, no school beat American Public University System this year. Set in the town of Charles Town, American Public University System is a very large private for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $8,400. Typical student debt for physical education graduates is $19,312. Early-career physical education graduates make about $55,491. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at West Virginia State University earned it the #2 place for physical education. Located in the suburb of Institute, West Virginia State University is a mid-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $9,570 in tuition and fees, compared with $14,990 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $24,501 to complete the physical education program here. Early-career physical education graduates make about $37,970. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 96%.
Glenville State College came in at #3 on our 2027 list of the best value physical education schools. Set in the rural area of Glenville, Glenville State College is a mid-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $9,578 in tuition and fees, compared with $11,354 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for physical education graduates is $29,072. Early-career physical education graduates make about $25,138. That is a strong return on a $29,072 median debt.
West Virginia University came in at #4 on our 2027 list of the best value physical education schools. West Virginia University is a very large public school located in the city of Morgantown. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $10,104, compared with $28,608 for out-of-state students. Physical Education graduates carry a median of $25,000 in student loans. Physical Education graduates of West Virginia University earn a median of $30,145 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $25,000 median debt. The acceptance rate is 89%.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at West Virginia Wesleyan College earned it the #5 place for physical education. Located in the town of Buckhannon, West Virginia Wesleyan College is a small private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $34,090. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the physical education program here. Soon after graduation, physical education degree recipients from West Virginia Wesleyan College generally make around $47,784. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 93%.
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 · 5 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 5 ranked schools only.
More about our data sources and methodologies.