2026 Best Value Exercise Physiology Schools in the The Plains States Region
[Exercise Physiology](/majors/biological-biomedical-sciences/physiology-and-pathology-sciences/exercise-physiology/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
College Factual analyzed 18 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best value exercise physiology schools.
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2026 Best Value Exercise Physiology Schools in the The Plains States Region
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the exercise physiology degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Exercise Physiology Schools
For return on investment in exercise physiology, no school beat Wichita State University this year. Wichita State University is a large public school located in the city of Wichita. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,684, while out-of-state students pay about $19,869. Typical student debt for exercise physiology graduates is $20,500. Soon after graduation, exercise physiology degree recipients from Wichita State University generally make around $32,196. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Wichita State University admits about 94% of applicants.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at University Of Minnesota Twin Cities earned it the #2 place for exercise physiology. Set in the city of Minneapolis, University Of Minnesota Twin Cities is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $17,214, while out-of-state students pay about $38,362. Students borrow a median of $22,500 to complete the exercise physiology program here. Soon after graduation, exercise physiology degree recipients from University Of Minnesota Twin Cities generally make around $31,613. That is a strong return on a $22,500 median debt. Roughly 80% of applicants are accepted.
Students looking for strong value in exercise physiology will find it at Northern State University, which ranked #3. Set in the town of Aberdeen, Northern State University is a moderately-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $8,845 in tuition and fees, compared with $11,947 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for exercise physiology graduates is $26,143. Exercise Physiology graduates of Northern State University earn a median of $45,824 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $26,143 median debt. Roughly 93% of applicants are accepted.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Bethany Lutheran College earned it the #4 place for exercise physiology. Located in the city of Mankato, Bethany Lutheran College is a small private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $31,360. Students borrow a median of $26,000 to complete the exercise physiology program here. Early-career exercise physiology graduates make about $44,462. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 39%.
Kansas State University came in at #5 on our 2026 list of the best value exercise physiology schools. Kansas State University is a very large public school located in the city of Manhattan. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $11,221, with out-of-state students paying around $28,568. Students borrow a median of $22,775 to complete the exercise physiology program here. Soon after graduation, exercise physiology degree recipients from Kansas State University generally make around $31,958. That is a strong return on a $22,775 median debt. The acceptance rate is 82%.
University Of Mary earned the #6 position for value in exercise physiology this year. University Of Mary is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the rural area of Bismarck. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $22,356. Exercise Physiology graduates carry a median of $26,983 in student loans. Soon after graduation, exercise physiology degree recipients from University Of Mary generally make around $65,565. Set against $26,983 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 75% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Missouri Columbia ranked #7 on our 2026 list of the best value exercise physiology schools. University Of Missouri Columbia is a very large public school located in the city of Columbia. Students from in state pay about $14,837 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $36,056. Students borrow a median of $21,818 to complete the exercise physiology program here. Exercise Physiology graduates of University Of Missouri Columbia earn a median of $53,134 early in their careers. Set against $21,818 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 78%.
Central College ranked #8 on our 2026 list of the best value exercise physiology schools. Set in the town of Pella, Central College is a small private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $20,988. Students borrow a median of $26,750 to complete the exercise physiology program here. Early-career exercise physiology graduates make about $39,953. Set against $26,750 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 86%.
Saint Ambrose University came in at #9 for value in exercise physiology this year. Saint Ambrose University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Davenport. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $36,658. Typical student debt for exercise physiology graduates is $27,528. Exercise Physiology graduates of Saint Ambrose University earn a median of $57,252 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 77%.
The College Of Saint Scholastica earned the #10 position for value in exercise physiology this year. The College Of Saint Scholastica is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Duluth. Students from in state pay about $41,778 in tuition and fees. Exercise Physiology graduates carry a median of $24,250 in student loans. Early-career exercise physiology graduates make about $45,718. Set against $24,250 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The College Of Saint Scholastica admits about 93% of applicants.
Saint Johns University placed #11 among the best values for exercise physiology. Set in the rural area of Collegeville, Saint Johns University is a small private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $55,816. Typical student debt for exercise physiology graduates is $26,646. Soon after graduation, exercise physiology degree recipients from Saint Johns University generally make around $47,238. That is a strong return on a $26,646 median debt. Saint Johns University admits about 91% of applicants.
College Of Saint Benedict landed the #12 spot for exercise physiology value this year. College Of Saint Benedict is a small private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Saint Joseph. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $55,756. Typical student debt for exercise physiology graduates is $26,619. Early-career exercise physiology graduates make about $47,105. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. College Of Saint Benedict admits about 92% of applicants.
Creighton University placed #13 among the best values for exercise physiology. Located in the city of Omaha, Creighton University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $48,856. Exercise Physiology graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Soon after graduation, exercise physiology degree recipients from Creighton University generally make around $23,926. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. Creighton University admits about 80% of applicants.
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Notes and References
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 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 · 18 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 8 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.
