by our College Data Analytics Team
[Exercise Physiology](/majors/biological-biomedical-sciences/physiology-and-pathology-sciences/exercise-physiology/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong exercise physiology education at a price that pays off.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 8 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for exercise physiology students.
What’s on this page:
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the exercise physiology degrees they offer, see the list below.
Leading the list is Saint Francis University, our #1 best value for exercise physiology in Pennsylvania. Saint Francis University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the rural area of Loretto. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $26,388. Typical student debt for exercise physiology graduates is $30,729. Early-career exercise physiology graduates make about $63,097. Set against $30,729 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 77%.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Lebanon Valley College earned it the #2 place for exercise physiology. Lebanon Valley College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Annville. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $52,080. Exercise Physiology graduates carry a median of $26,767 in student loans. Early-career exercise physiology graduates make about $49,801. Set against $26,767 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Lebanon Valley College admits about 84% of applicants.
Chestnut Hill College came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the best value exercise physiology schools. Located in the city of Philadelphia, Chestnut Hill College is a small private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $39,870 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for exercise physiology graduates is $30,824. Exercise Physiology graduates of Chestnut Hill College earn a median of $45,627 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 74% of applicants are accepted.
Students looking for strong value in exercise physiology will find it at Gettysburg College, which ranked #4. Gettysburg College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the town of Gettysburg. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $66,640. Exercise Physiology graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Early-career exercise physiology graduates make about $37,977. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Gettysburg College admits about 39% of applicants.
A rank of #5 makes Ursinus College one of the best values for exercise physiology. Ursinus College is a small private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Collegeville. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $61,061. Exercise Physiology graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Soon after graduation, exercise physiology degree recipients from Ursinus College generally make around $26,123. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. The acceptance rate is 92%.
1
2
3
4
5
This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 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 · 8 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 4 ranked schools only.
More about our data sources and methodologies.