2026 Best Value Exercise Science Schools in the Middle Atlantic Region
[Exercise Science](/majors/parks-recreation-fitness/health-and-physical-education/exercise-science/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong exercise science education at a price that pays off.
College Factual analyzed 106 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best value exercise science schools.
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2026 Best Value Exercise Science Schools in the Middle Atlantic Region
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in exercise science, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Exercise Science Schools
For return on investment in exercise science, no school beat Cuny Brooklyn College this year. Set in the city of Brooklyn, Cuny Brooklyn College is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $7,452, with out-of-state students paying around $15,402. Typical student debt for exercise science graduates is $13,629. Exercise Science graduates of Cuny Brooklyn College earn a median of $50,584 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Cuny Brooklyn College admits about 58% of applicants.
Students looking for strong value in exercise science will find it at Cuny Lehman College, which ranked #2. Set in the city of Bronx, Cuny Lehman College is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $7,410 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $15,360. Exercise Science graduates carry a median of $10,861 in student loans. Soon after graduation, exercise science degree recipients from Cuny Lehman College generally make around $29,538. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Cuny Lehman College admits about 57% of applicants.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Cuny Queens College earned it the #3 place for exercise science. Set in the city of Queens, Cuny Queens College is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $7,538, with out-of-state students paying around $15,488. Exercise Science graduates carry a median of $5,500 in student loans. Early-career exercise science graduates make about $16,236. Set against $5,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 64%.
Raritan Valley Community College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in exercise science, landing the #4 spot this year. Raritan Valley Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the rural area of Branchburg. Students from in state pay about $5,664 in tuition and fees, compared with $7,584 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $9,668 to complete the exercise science program here. Early-career exercise science graduates make about $47,248. Set against $9,668 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Middlesex County College earned it the #5 place for exercise science. Located in the suburb of Edison, Middlesex County College is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,764, with out-of-state students paying around $7,356. Students borrow a median of $9,514 to complete the exercise science program here. Exercise Science graduates of Middlesex County College earn a median of $37,975 early in their careers. Set against $9,514 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Hudson Valley Community College landed the #6 spot for exercise science value this year. Located in the city of Troy, Hudson Valley Community College is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $6,796 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $11,852. Exercise Science graduates carry a median of $12,868 in student loans. Early-career exercise science graduates make about $43,989. Set against $12,868 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Mercer County Community College placed #7 among the best values for exercise science. Set in the rural area of West Windsor, Mercer County Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $5,310 in tuition and fees, compared with $9,174 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $12,250 to complete the exercise science program here. Soon after graduation, exercise science degree recipients from Mercer County Community College generally make around $45,389. That is a strong return on a $12,250 median debt.
Cuny Bronx Community College earned the #8 position for value in exercise science this year. Located in the city of Bronx, Cuny Bronx Community College is a moderately-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,206, while out-of-state students pay about $8,086. Students borrow a median of $8,224 to complete the exercise science program here. Exercise Science graduates of Cuny Bronx Community College earn a median of $35,768 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $8,224 median debt.
Burlington County College earned the #9 position for value in exercise science this year. Burlington County College is a large public school located in the suburb of Mount Laurel. In-state tuition and fees average $6,990, while out-of-state students pay about $9,495. Students borrow a median of $12,488 to complete the exercise science program here. Exercise Science graduates of Burlington County College earn a median of $52,240 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $12,488 median debt.
Onondaga Community College landed the #10 spot for exercise science value this year. Located in the suburb of Syracuse, Onondaga Community College is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $6,102 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $11,392. Students borrow a median of $12,623 to complete the exercise science program here. Early-career exercise science graduates make about $35,781. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
County College Of Morris ranked #11 on our 2026 list of the best value exercise science schools. Located in the suburb of Randolph, County College Of Morris is a moderately-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,210, while out-of-state students pay about $14,310. Exercise Science graduates carry a median of $7,000 in student loans. Early-career exercise science graduates make about $30,966. That is a strong return on a $7,000 median debt.
Hudson County Community College ranked #12 on our 2026 list of the best value exercise science schools. Located in the city of Jersey City, Hudson County Community College is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $5,384 in tuition and fees, compared with $9,248 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $10,671 to complete the exercise science program here. Exercise Science graduates of Hudson County Community College earn a median of $35,909 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
University Of Maryland College Park came in at #13 for value in exercise science this year. Set in the suburb of College Park, University Of Maryland College Park is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $11,809, compared with $41,186 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $23,138 to complete the exercise science program here. Exercise Science graduates of University Of Maryland College Park earn a median of $31,403 early in their careers. Set against $23,138 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 45% of applicants are accepted.
Bucks County Community College ranked #14 on our 2026 list of the best value exercise science schools. Bucks County Community College is a large public school located in the rural area of Newtown. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,646, compared with $13,926 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for exercise science graduates is $13,068. Soon after graduation, exercise science degree recipients from Bucks County Community College generally make around $37,711. That is a strong return on a $13,068 median debt.
Sussex County Community College ranked #15 on our 2026 list of the best value exercise science schools. Located in the rural area of Newton, Sussex County Community College is a mid-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $5,544 in tuition and fees, compared with $9,024 for out-of-state students. Exercise Science graduates carry a median of $10,750 in student loans. Soon after graduation, exercise science degree recipients from Sussex County Community College generally make around $27,179. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
New Jersey City University placed #16 among the best values for exercise science. Set in the city of Jersey City, New Jersey City University is a moderately-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $14,460. Typical student debt for exercise science graduates is $22,107. Soon after graduation, exercise science degree recipients from New Jersey City University generally make around $47,083. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. New Jersey City University admits about 98% of applicants.
Hagerstown Community College landed the #17 spot for exercise science value this year. Set in the suburb of Hagerstown, Hagerstown Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $4,320, with out-of-state students paying around $8,190. Exercise Science graduates carry a median of $15,126 in student loans. Early-career exercise science graduates make about $46,478. Set against $15,126 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Kean University landed the #18 spot for exercise science value this year. Located in the suburb of Union, Kean University is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $14,299 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $22,446. Students borrow a median of $26,703 to complete the exercise science program here. Soon after graduation, exercise science degree recipients from Kean University generally make around $48,705. That is a strong return on a $26,703 median debt. Kean University admits about 76% of applicants.
Harford Community College came in at #19 for value in exercise science this year. Located in the rural area of Bel Air, Harford Community College is a moderately-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $4,032 in tuition and fees, compared with $8,832 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $12,624 to complete the exercise science program here. Early-career exercise science graduates make about $50,636. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Dutchess Community College landed the #20 spot for exercise science value this year. Located in the suburb of Poughkeepsie, Dutchess Community College is a moderately-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $5,670, with out-of-state students paying around $10,670. Exercise Science graduates carry a median of $11,836 in student loans. Exercise Science graduates of Dutchess Community College earn a median of $32,978 early in their careers. Set against $11,836 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Lehigh Carbon Community College came in at #21 for value in exercise science this year. Located in the rural area of Schnecksville, Lehigh Carbon Community College is a moderately-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,280, with out-of-state students paying around $13,270. Typical student debt for exercise science graduates is $14,450. Exercise Science graduates of Lehigh Carbon Community College earn a median of $39,957 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $14,450 median debt.
Gloucester County College placed #22 among the best values for exercise science. Set in the suburb of Sewell, Gloucester County College is a moderately-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,160, compared with $6,000 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $13,236 to complete the exercise science program here. Exercise Science graduates of Gloucester County College earn a median of $38,274 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Montclair State University earned the #23 position for value in exercise science this year. Set in the suburb of Montclair, Montclair State University is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $15,912, compared with $26,022 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for exercise science graduates is $26,949. Soon after graduation, exercise science degree recipients from Montclair State University generally make around $29,907. Set against $26,949 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 88%.
Towson University landed the #24 spot for exercise science value this year. Located in the city of Towson, Towson University is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $11,728 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $29,820. Typical student debt for exercise science graduates is $22,250. Exercise Science graduates of Towson University earn a median of $32,101 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $22,250 median debt. Roughly 82% of applicants are accepted.
Salisbury University landed the #25 spot for exercise science value this year. Set in the suburb of Salisbury, Salisbury University is a moderately-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $11,084, compared with $22,174 for out-of-state students. Exercise Science graduates carry a median of $25,000 in student loans. Soon after graduation, exercise science degree recipients from Salisbury University generally make around $29,344. That is a strong return on a $25,000 median debt. The acceptance rate is 88%.
Rest of the Top 50 Best Value Exercise Science Schools
These schools also delivered strong value for exercise science this year:
Narrow Exercise Science Schools by State
More Exercise Science Rankings
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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 · 106 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 30 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.
