by our College Data Analytics Team
[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.
College Factual analyzed 19 schools to build this 2027 ranking of the best value health & physical education schools.
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If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the health & physical education degrees they offer, see the list below.
Our analysis ranked Haskell Indian Nations University the best value for a degree in health & physical education in Kansas. Haskell Indian Nations University is a small public school located in the city of Lawrence. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $600. Early-career health & physical education graduates make about $24,914. The acceptance rate is 90%.
Wichita State University came in at #2 on our 2027 list of the best value health & physical education schools. Wichita State University is a large public school located in the city of Wichita. Students from in state pay about $9,684 in tuition and fees, compared with $19,869 for out-of-state students. Health & Physical Education graduates carry a median of $23,000 in student loans. Soon after graduation, health & physical education degree recipients from Wichita State University generally make around $34,774. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 94% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Kansas came in at #3 on our 2027 list of the best value health & physical education schools. University Of Kansas is a very large public school located in the city of Lawrence. In-state tuition and fees average $12,102, with out-of-state students paying around $30,432. Students borrow a median of $22,125 to complete the health & physical education program here. Early-career health & physical education graduates make about $33,891. Set against $22,125 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of Kansas admits about 94% of applicants.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Washburn University earned it the #4 place for health & physical education. Set in the city of Topeka, Washburn University is a moderately-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,945, compared with $20,949 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for health & physical education graduates is $27,717. Health & Physical Education graduates of Washburn University earn a median of $25,679 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $27,717 median debt.
Pittsburg State University came in at #5 on our 2027 list of the best value health & physical education schools. Located in the town of Pittsburg, Pittsburg State University is a moderately-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,400, compared with $19,744 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $24,900 to complete the health & physical education program here. Soon after graduation, health & physical education degree recipients from Pittsburg State University generally make around $36,393. Set against $24,900 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 89%.
Butler Community College came in at #6 for value in health & physical education this year. Located in the town of El Dorado, Butler Community College is a moderately-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $3,541, while out-of-state students pay about $6,271. Typical student debt for health & physical education graduates is $16,670. Health & Physical Education graduates of Butler Community College earn a median of $39,404 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $16,670 median debt.
Tabor College placed #7 among the best values for health & physical education. Tabor College is a small private not-for-profit school located in the rural area of Hillsboro. Students from in state pay about $36,200 in tuition and fees. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $54,058. Tabor College admits about 65% of applicants.
University Of Saint Mary ranked #8 on our 2027 list of the best value health & physical education schools. Set in the town of Leavenworth, University Of Saint Mary is a small private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $35,380 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $27,946 to complete the health & physical education program here. Early-career health & physical education graduates make about $29,151. Set against $27,946 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of Saint Mary admits about 87% of applicants.
Sterling College Kansas ranked #9 on our 2027 list of the best value health & physical education schools. Set in the rural area of Sterling, Sterling College Kansas is a small private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $33,700. Students borrow a median of $27,250 to complete the health & physical education program here. Soon after graduation, health & physical education degree recipients from Sterling College Kansas generally make around $30,086. Set against $27,250 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Sterling College Kansas admits about 48% of applicants.
Kansas Wesleyan University placed #10 among the best values for health & physical education. Located in the town of Salina, Kansas Wesleyan University is a small private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $34,630. Typical student debt for health & physical education graduates is $26,076. Soon after graduation, health & physical education degree recipients from Kansas Wesleyan University generally make around $42,094. That is a strong return on a $26,076 median debt. Kansas Wesleyan University admits about 72% of applicants.
Baker University came in at #11 for value in health & physical education this year. Located in the rural area of Baldwin City, Baker University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $35,200. Health & Physical Education graduates carry a median of $29,554 in student loans. Soon after graduation, health & physical education degree recipients from Baker University generally make around $62,916. Set against $29,554 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 94%.
Mcpherson College ranked #12 on our 2027 list of the best value health & physical education schools. Set in the town of McPherson, Mcpherson College is a small private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $37,146 in tuition and fees. Health & Physical Education graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Early-career health & physical education graduates make about $42,278. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 77% of applicants are accepted.
Bethany College Kansas ranked #13 on our 2027 list of the best value health & physical education schools. Located in the rural area of Lindsborg, Bethany College Kansas is a small private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $33,000. Health & Physical Education graduates carry a median of $25,000 in student loans. Soon after graduation, health & physical education degree recipients from Bethany College Kansas generally make around $28,881. That is a strong return on a $25,000 median debt. Bethany College Kansas admits about 56% of applicants.
Benedictine College earned the #14 position for value in health & physical education 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. Typical student debt for health & physical education graduates is $26,798. Health & Physical Education graduates of Benedictine College earn a median of $46,255 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $26,798 median debt. Benedictine College admits about 98% of applicants.
Friends University earned the #15 position for value in health & physical education this year. Set in the city of Wichita, Friends University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $34,192. Health & Physical Education graduates carry a median of $26,500 in student loans. Soon after graduation, health & physical education degree recipients from Friends University generally make around $24,870. That is a strong return on a $26,500 median debt. Friends University admits about 55% of applicants.
Ottawa University Ottawa placed #16 among the best values for health & physical education. Ottawa University Ottawa is a small private not-for-profit school located in the town of Ottawa. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $35,880. Health & Physical Education graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Soon after graduation, health & physical education degree recipients from Ottawa University Ottawa generally make around $30,426. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. Roughly 83% of applicants are accepted.
Southwestern College placed #17 among the best values for health & physical education. Located in the town of Winfield, Southwestern College is a small private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $39,822. Typical student debt for health & physical education graduates is $31,875. Early-career health & physical education graduates make about $58,036. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Southwestern College admits about 76% of applicants.
Midamerica Nazarene University came in at #18 for value in health & physical education this year. Midamerica Nazarene University is a small private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Olathe. In-state tuition and fees average $37,174. Students borrow a median of $25,740 to complete the health & physical education program here. Early-career health & physical education graduates make about $63,799. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 79%.
Bethel College North Newton landed the #19 spot for health & physical education value this year. Located in the town of North Newton, Bethel College North Newton is a small private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $35,014. Health & Physical Education graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Early-career health & physical education graduates make about $51,624. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. Roughly 94% of applicants are accepted.
The ranking above is published 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 · 19 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 19 ranked schools only.
More about our data sources and methodologies.