2027 Best Value Health & Physical Education Schools in Arkansas

[Health & Physical Education](/majors/parks-recreation-fitness/health-and-physical-education/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong health & physical education education at a price that pays off.
College Factual analyzed 12 schools to build this 2027 ranking of the best value health & physical education schools.
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2027 Best Value Health & Physical Education Schools in Arkansas
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in health & physical education, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Health & Physical Education Schools
Arkansas State University Main Campus tops our 2027 list of the best value health & physical education schools in Arkansas. Arkansas State University Main Campus is a very large public school located in the city of Jonesboro. In-state tuition and fees average $8,090, compared with $14,522 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for health & physical education graduates is $26,000. Soon after graduation, health & 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. Arkansas State University Main Campus admits about 82% of applicants.
A rank of #2 makes Arkansas Tech University one of the best values for health & physical education. Arkansas Tech University is a large public school located in the town of Russellville. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,674, compared with $14,668 for out-of-state students. Health & Physical Education graduates carry a median of $23,257 in student loans. Health & Physical Education graduates of Arkansas Tech University earn a median of $45,115 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $23,257 median debt. Roughly 96% of applicants are accepted.
Students looking for strong value in health & physical education will find it at Central Baptist College, which ranked #3. Located in the city of Conway, Central Baptist College is a small private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $21,330 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for health & physical education graduates is $46,694. Early-career health & physical education graduates make about $44,780. That is a strong return on a $46,694 median debt. Central Baptist College admits about 64% of applicants.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Southern Arkansas University Main Campus earned it the #4 place for health & physical education. Southern Arkansas University Main Campus is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Magnolia. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,960, compared with $15,690 for out-of-state students. Health & Physical Education graduates carry a median of $20,169 in student loans. Early-career health & physical education graduates make about $38,612. Set against $20,169 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 75%.
Students looking for strong value in health & physical education will find it at University Of Arkansas At Monticello, which ranked #5. University Of Arkansas At Monticello is a mid-sized public school located in the town of Monticello. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,292, while out-of-state students pay about $14,857. Typical student debt for health & physical education graduates is $22,000. Soon after graduation, health & physical education degree recipients from University Of Arkansas At Monticello generally make around $29,213. That is a strong return on a $22,000 median debt.
Williams Baptist College ranked #6 on our 2027 list of the best value health & physical education schools. Williams Baptist College is a small private not-for-profit school located in the rural area of Walnut Ridge. Students from in state pay about $21,070 in tuition and fees. Health & Physical Education graduates carry a median of $18,933 in student loans. Early-career health & physical education graduates make about $31,309. Set against $18,933 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 83% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Central Arkansas ranked #7 on our 2027 list of the best value health & physical education schools. University Of Central Arkansas is a large public school located in the city of Conway. Students from in state pay about $10,523 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $18,023. Typical student debt for health & physical education graduates is $25,000. Soon after graduation, health & physical education degree recipients from University Of Central Arkansas generally make around $38,372. That is a strong return on a $25,000 median debt. The acceptance rate is 90%.
Lyon College came in at #8 for value in health & physical education this year. Set in the town of Batesville, Lyon College is a small private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $31,000. Graduates go on to earn a median of $44,232 ten years after entry. Roughly 63% of applicants are accepted.
John Brown University earned the #9 position for value in health & physical education this year. Set in the town of Siloam Springs, John Brown University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $31,756. Typical student debt for health & physical education graduates is $25,216. Early-career health & physical education graduates make about $50,420. That is a strong return on a $25,216 median debt. The acceptance rate is 76%.
Harding University ranked #10 on our 2027 list of the best value health & physical education schools. Located in the town of Searcy, Harding University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $25,962. Health & Physical Education graduates carry a median of $26,054 in student loans. Health & Physical Education graduates of Harding University earn a median of $29,178 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $26,054 median debt. Roughly 70% of applicants are accepted.
Ouachita Baptist University earned the #11 position for value in health & physical education this year. Located in the town of Arkadelphia, Ouachita Baptist University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $34,500. Students borrow a median of $19,672 to complete the health & physical education program here. Soon after graduation, health & physical education degree recipients from Ouachita Baptist University generally make around $31,385. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Ouachita Baptist University admits about 68% of applicants.
Henderson State University ranked #12 on our 2027 list of the best value health & physical education schools. Henderson State University is a mid-sized public school located in the town of Arkadelphia. In-state tuition and fees average $8,244, compared with $10,620 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $23,234 to complete the health & physical education program here. Soon after graduation, health & physical education degree recipients from Henderson State University generally make around $40,629. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
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Notes and References
The ranking above is published 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 · 12 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 12 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.