2026 Best Value Physical Education Teaching & Coaching Schools in Iowa
[Physical Education Teaching & Coaching](/majors/education/teacher-education-and-development/physical-education-teaching-and-coaching/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
For its 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 17 schools to find the best return on investment for physical education teaching & coaching students.
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2026 Best Value Physical Education Teaching & Coaching Schools in Iowa
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the physical education teaching & coaching degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Physical Education Teaching & Coaching Schools
Leading the list is Western Iowa Tech Community College, our #1 best value for physical education teaching & coaching in Iowa. Set in the city of Sioux City, Western Iowa Tech Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,186, while out-of-state students pay about $5,330. Students borrow a median of $11,000 to complete the physical education teaching & coaching program here. Soon after graduation, physical education teaching & coaching degree recipients from Western Iowa Tech Community College generally make around $35,742. That is a strong return on a $11,000 median debt.
A rank of #2 makes North Iowa Area Community College one of the best values for physical education teaching & coaching. Set in the rural area of Mason City, North Iowa Area Community College is a mid-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $6,653, with out-of-state students paying around $9,551. Physical Education Teaching & Coaching graduates carry a median of $12,043 in student loans. Early-career physical education teaching & coaching graduates make about $44,466. That is a strong return on a $12,043 median debt.
University Of Northern Iowa came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the best value physical education teaching & coaching schools. University Of Northern Iowa is a large public school located in the city of Cedar Falls. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,936, while out-of-state students pay about $21,712. Students borrow a median of $26,000 to complete the physical education teaching & coaching program here. Early-career physical education teaching & coaching graduates make about $52,307. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of Northern Iowa admits about 93% of applicants.
A rank of #4 makes Buena Vista University one of the best values for physical education teaching & coaching. Buena Vista University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the town of Storm Lake. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $41,798. Students borrow a median of $29,008 to complete the physical education teaching & coaching program here. Soon after graduation, physical education teaching & coaching degree recipients from Buena Vista University generally make around $44,551. That is a strong return on a $29,008 median debt. Roughly 78% of applicants are accepted.
Students looking for strong value in physical education teaching & coaching will find it at William Penn University, which ranked #5. William Penn University is a small private not-for-profit school located in the town of Oskaloosa. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $29,750. Students borrow a median of $28,341 to complete the physical education teaching & coaching program here. Physical Education Teaching & Coaching graduates of William Penn University earn a median of $39,727 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. William Penn University admits about 52% of applicants.
Wartburg College came in at #6 for value in physical education teaching & coaching this year. Located in the town of Waverly, Wartburg College is a small private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $26,250. Physical Education Teaching & Coaching graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Soon after graduation, physical education teaching & coaching degree recipients from Wartburg College generally make around $45,677. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 76%.
Upper Iowa University placed #7 among the best values for physical education teaching & coaching. Located in the rural area of Fayette, Upper Iowa University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $19,475. Typical student debt for physical education teaching & coaching graduates is $27,000. Physical Education Teaching & Coaching graduates of Upper Iowa University earn a median of $50,705 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. Upper Iowa University admits about 96% of applicants.
Northwestern College Iowa came in at #8 for value in physical education teaching & coaching this year. Set in the town of Orange City, Northwestern College Iowa is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $36,710. Students borrow a median of $25,415 to complete the physical education teaching & coaching program here. Soon after graduation, physical education teaching & coaching degree recipients from Northwestern College Iowa generally make around $54,845. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 80%.
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Notes and References
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 · 17 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 3 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.
