[Health & Physical Education](/majors/parks-recreation-fitness/health-and-physical-education/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong health & physical education education at a price that pays off.
For its 2027 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 1006 schools to find the best return on investment for health & physical education students.
Finding the Best Value Health & Physical Education School for You
The health & physical education program you select can have a big impact on your finances and your future. To help, we created our Best Value Health & Physical Education Schools ranking. It weighs the cost of a degree against the outcomes graduates go on to achieve, so you can find the strongest return on your investment.
We offer a number of rankings, including this Best Value Health & Physical Education Schools list, to help you decide. More interested in schools in a specific area of the country? Filter this list by region or state.
To further help you make the college decision, we have developed a unique tool called College Combat that lets you compare schools on the factors that matter most to you.
For return on investment in health & physical education, no school beat University Of Florida this year. Set in the city of Gainesville, University Of Florida is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $6,381 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $28,659. Students borrow a median of $19,982 to complete the health & physical education program here. Early-career health & physical education graduates make about $45,046. Set against $19,982 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of Florida admits about 24% of applicants.
A rank of #2 makes Moorpark College one of the best values for health & physical education. Located in the suburb of Moorpark, Moorpark College is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $1,426, compared with $9,615 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $17,075 to complete the health & physical education program here. Early-career health & physical education graduates make about $105,599. Set against $17,075 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
California State University San Bernardino came in at #3 on our 2027 list of the best value health & physical education schools. Located in the city of San Bernardino, California State University San Bernardino is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $8,088 in tuition and fees, compared with $20,688 for out-of-state students. Health & Physical Education graduates carry a median of $15,000 in student loans. Early-career health & physical education graduates make about $29,143. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. California State University San Bernardino admits about 94% of applicants.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Citrus College earned it the #4 place for health & physical education. Citrus College is a large public school located in the suburb of Glendora. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,204, compared with $10,636 for out-of-state students. Median earnings reach $42,065 ten years out.
Shasta College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in health & physical education, landing the #5 spot this year. Shasta College is a large public school located in the suburb of Redding. In-state tuition and fees average $1,197, compared with $8,853 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $12,275 to complete the health & physical education program here. Soon after graduation, health & physical education degree recipients from Shasta College generally make around $50,330. That is a strong return on a $12,275 median debt.
Pima Community College placed #6 among the best values for health & physical education. Set in the city of Tucson, Pima Community College is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,442, while out-of-state students pay about $7,758. Health & Physical Education graduates carry a median of $10,655 in student loans. Health & Physical Education graduates of Pima Community College earn a median of $40,977 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Cuny Brooklyn College earned the #7 position for value in health & physical education this year. Located in the city of Brooklyn, Cuny Brooklyn College is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $7,452, with out-of-state students paying around $15,402. Health & Physical Education graduates carry a median of $13,629 in student loans. Early-career health & physical education graduates make about $50,584. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 58% of applicants are accepted.
South Texas College earned the #8 position for value in health & physical education this year. Set in the city of McAllen, South Texas College is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,920, while out-of-state students pay about $7,620. Students borrow a median of $4,500 to complete the health & physical education program here. Soon after graduation, health & physical education degree recipients from South Texas College generally make around $22,699. Set against $4,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
California State University Los Angeles ranked #9 on our 2027 list of the best value health & physical education schools. Located in the city of Los Angeles, California State University Los Angeles is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $7,164, while out-of-state students pay about $19,764. Health & Physical Education graduates carry a median of $13,750 in student loans. Early-career health & physical education graduates make about $28,687. That is a strong return on a $13,750 median debt. The acceptance rate is 91%.
Cuny Lehman College placed #10 among the best values for health & physical education. Set in the city of Bronx, Cuny Lehman College is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $7,410 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $15,360. Students borrow a median of $10,861 to complete the health & physical education program here. Health & Physical Education graduates of Cuny Lehman College earn a median of $29,538 early in their careers. Set against $10,861 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 57% of applicants are accepted.
College Of San Mateo landed the #11 spot for health & physical education value this year. Set in the city of San Mateo, College Of San Mateo is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $1,332, with out-of-state students paying around $11,428. Students borrow a median of $12,831 to complete the health & physical education program here. Graduates go on to earn a median of $54,172 ten years after entry. That is a strong return on a $12,831 median debt.
Skyline College came in at #12 for value in health & physical education this year. Skyline College is a large public school located in the suburb of San Bruno. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,332, while out-of-state students pay about $9,956. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $55,702.
University Of Florida Online came in at #13 for value in health & physical education this year. University Of Florida Online is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Gainesville. In-state tuition and fees average $3,876, while out-of-state students pay about $16,579. Health & Physical Education graduates carry a median of $19,982 in student loans. Health & Physical Education graduates of University Of Florida Online earn a median of $39,717 early in their careers. Set against $19,982 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 61%.
Santiago Canyon College came in at #14 for value in health & physical education this year. Located in the city of Orange, Santiago Canyon College is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $1,164, with out-of-state students paying around $9,612. Students borrow a median of $5,500 to complete the health & physical education program here. Early-career health & physical education graduates make about $34,100. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Pasadena City College earned the #15 position for value in health & physical education this year. Set in the city of Pasadena, Pasadena City College is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $1,180, compared with $10,924 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for health & physical education graduates is $9,191. Soon after graduation, health & physical education degree recipients from Pasadena City College generally make around $38,841. Set against $9,191 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
San Diego Miramar College earned the #16 position for value in health & physical education this year. Located in the city of San Diego, San Diego Miramar College is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $1,146, with out-of-state students paying around $10,002. Students borrow a median of $8,098 to complete the health & physical education program here. Early-career health & physical education graduates make about $41,038. Set against $8,098 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Santa Ana College came in at #17 for value in health & physical education this year. Santa Ana College is a very large public school located in the city of Santa Ana. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,180, compared with $10,756 for out-of-state students. Health & Physical Education graduates carry a median of $11,196 in student loans. Soon after graduation, health & physical education degree recipients from Santa Ana College generally make around $39,633. Set against $11,196 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
California State University Fresno landed the #18 spot for health & physical education value this year. California State University Fresno is a very large public school located in the city of Fresno. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $7,341, with out-of-state students paying around $19,941. Health & Physical Education graduates carry a median of $14,314 in student loans. Health & Physical Education graduates of California State University Fresno earn a median of $26,931 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 95%.
Middlesex County College earned the #19 position for value in health & physical education this year. Set in the suburb of Edison, Middlesex County College is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,764, with out-of-state students paying around $7,356. Health & Physical Education graduates carry a median of $9,514 in student loans. Early-career health & physical education graduates make about $37,975. Set against $9,514 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Santa Monica College ranked #20 on our 2027 list of the best value health & physical education schools. Located in the city of Santa Monica, Santa Monica College is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,156, compared with $10,708 for out-of-state students. Graduates go on to earn a median of $42,193 ten years after entry.
College Of The Canyons ranked #21 on our 2027 list of the best value health & physical education schools. Located in the suburb of Santa Clarita, College Of The Canyons is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $1,166, while out-of-state students pay about $10,958. Typical student debt for health & physical education graduates is $9,776. Soon after graduation, health & physical education degree recipients from College Of The Canyons generally make around $51,913. That is a strong return on a $9,776 median debt.
California State University Bakersfield earned the #22 position for value in health & physical education this year. Set in the city of Bakersfield, California State University Bakersfield is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $8,087, while out-of-state students pay about $20,687. Median earnings reach $59,009 ten years out. California State University Bakersfield admits about 94% of applicants.
Cypress College landed the #23 spot for health & physical education value this year. Set in the city of Cypress, Cypress College is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $1,150, compared with $12,379 for out-of-state students. Median earnings reach $43,533 ten years out.
Cerritos College placed #24 among the best values for health & physical education. Located in the suburb of Norwalk, Cerritos College is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $1,364, with out-of-state students paying around $12,004. Students borrow a median of $11,306 to complete the health & physical education program here. Health & Physical Education graduates of Cerritos College earn a median of $29,495 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $11,306 median debt.
Oxnard College earned the #25 position for value in health & physical education this year. Set in the city of Oxnard, Oxnard College is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $1,426 in tuition and fees, compared with $9,615 for out-of-state students. Graduates go on to earn a median of $41,393 ten years after entry.
Rest of the Top 50 Best Value Health & Physical Education Schools
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s health & physical education value ranking:
This ranking is produced 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 · 1006 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 1,006 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).