by our College Data Analytics Team
[Exercise Science](/majors/parks-recreation-fitness/health-and-physical-education/exercise-science/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
College Factual analyzed 34 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best value exercise science schools.
What’s on this page:
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in exercise science, balancing cost against outcomes.
For return on investment in exercise science, no school beat Salt Lake Community College this year. Set in the suburb of Salt Lake City, Salt Lake Community College is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $4,426, with out-of-state students paying around $14,244. Typical student debt for exercise science graduates is $10,855. Early-career exercise science graduates make about $42,031. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Southern Utah University came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the best value exercise science schools. Located in the town of Cedar City, Southern Utah University is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $6,962 in tuition and fees, compared with $21,192 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $14,352 to complete the exercise science program here. Soon after graduation, exercise science degree recipients from Southern Utah University generally make around $30,092. That is a strong return on a $14,352 median debt. Roughly 82% of applicants are accepted.
A rank of #3 makes University Of Wyoming one of the best values for exercise science. University Of Wyoming is a large public school located in the town of Laramie. In-state tuition and fees average $7,768, compared with $24,178 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $22,101 to complete the exercise science program here. Exercise Science graduates of University Of Wyoming earn a median of $31,326 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $22,101 median debt. Roughly 97% of applicants are accepted.
Utah State University is a great value for students pursuing a degree in exercise science, landing the #4 spot this year. Utah State University is a very large public school located in the city of Logan. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $8,560, with out-of-state students paying around $24,993. Students borrow a median of $16,191 to complete the exercise science program here. Early-career exercise science graduates make about $50,348. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Utah State University admits about 92% of applicants.
Lewis Clark State College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in exercise science, landing the #5 spot this year. Set in the city of Lewiston, Lewis Clark State College is a mid-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $7,610, while out-of-state students pay about $22,028. Students borrow a median of $21,475 to complete the exercise science program here. Exercise Science graduates of Lewis Clark State College earn a median of $33,176 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $21,475 median debt. Lewis Clark State College admits about 88% of applicants.
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Colorado State University Pueblo earned the #6 position for value in exercise science this year. Set in the city of Pueblo, Colorado State University Pueblo is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $9,720 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $17,944. Exercise Science graduates carry a median of $26,117 in student loans. Early-career exercise science graduates make about $34,865. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Colorado State University Pueblo admits about 95% of applicants.
Adams State College ranked #7 on our 2026 list of the best value exercise science schools. Set in the town of Alamosa, Adams State College is a mid-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,824, with out-of-state students paying around $21,944. Typical student debt for exercise science graduates is $21,451. Soon after graduation, exercise science degree recipients from Adams State College generally make around $30,045. Set against $21,451 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Metropolitan State College Of Denver landed the #8 spot for exercise science value this year. Located in the city of Denver, Metropolitan State College Of Denver is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $11,124 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $30,684. Students borrow a median of $22,292 to complete the exercise science program here. Exercise Science graduates of Metropolitan State College Of Denver earn a median of $41,161 early in their careers. Set against $22,292 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 99%.
Brigham Young University Provo earned the #9 position for value in exercise science this year. Set in the city of Provo, Brigham Young University Provo is a very large private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,688. Students borrow a median of $9,281 to complete the exercise science program here. Soon after graduation, exercise science degree recipients from Brigham Young University Provo generally make around $25,253. Set against $9,281 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 68% of applicants are accepted.
Dixie State College Of Utah came in at #10 for value in exercise science this year. Set in the city of Saint George, Dixie State College Of Utah is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $6,306, with out-of-state students paying around $18,246. Exercise Science graduates carry a median of $18,437 in student loans. Exercise Science graduates of Dixie State College Of Utah earn a median of $30,912 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Mesa State College placed #11 among the best values for exercise science. Set in the city of Grand Junction, Mesa State College is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,927, compared with $25,124 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for exercise science graduates is $25,900. Soon after graduation, exercise science degree recipients from Mesa State College generally make around $31,253. Set against $25,900 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Mesa State College admits about 82% of applicants.
The University Of Montana Western placed #12 among the best values for exercise science. Located in the town of Dillon, The University Of Montana Western is a small public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,669, compared with $20,130 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for exercise science graduates is $22,484. Early-career exercise science graduates make about $36,924. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The University Of Montana Western admits about 100% of applicants.
Western State College Of Colorado landed the #13 spot for exercise science value this year. Western State College Of Colorado is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Gunnison. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $11,318, while out-of-state students pay about $24,434. Typical student debt for exercise science graduates is $25,050. Soon after graduation, exercise science degree recipients from Western State College Of Colorado generally make around $21,038. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Western State College Of Colorado admits about 100% of applicants.
Fort Lewis College ranked #14 on our 2026 list of the best value exercise science schools. Fort Lewis College is a mid-sized public school located in the town of Durango. Students from in state pay about $9,958 in tuition and fees, compared with $21,526 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $15,000 to complete the exercise science program here. Exercise Science graduates of Fort Lewis College earn a median of $24,419 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $15,000 median debt. Fort Lewis College admits about 77% of applicants.
University Of Northern Colorado placed #15 among the best values for exercise science. Located in the city of Greeley, University Of Northern Colorado is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $11,901 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $26,979. Exercise Science graduates carry a median of $24,500 in student loans. Early-career exercise science graduates make about $40,585. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 86%.
Rocky Mountain College ranked #16 on our 2026 list of the best value exercise science schools. Set in the city of Billings, Rocky Mountain College is a small private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $35,582. Exercise Science graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Soon after graduation, exercise science degree recipients from Rocky Mountain College generally make around $30,025. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. Rocky Mountain College admits about 70% of applicants.
Boise State University placed #17 among the best values for exercise science. Set in the city of Boise, Boise State University is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $9,048, compared with $27,788 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $22,524 to complete the exercise science program here. Early-career exercise science graduates make about $35,617. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 87%.
Colorado State University Fort Collins earned the #18 position for value in exercise science this year. Set in the city of Fort Collins, Colorado State University Fort Collins is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $13,373, compared with $35,061 for out-of-state students. Exercise Science graduates carry a median of $22,000 in student loans. Early-career exercise science graduates make about $35,326. That is a strong return on a $22,000 median debt. Roughly 88% of applicants are accepted.
Montana State University placed #19 among the best values for exercise science. Set in the city of Bozeman, Montana State University is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,460, with out-of-state students paying around $33,287. Typical student debt for exercise science graduates is $23,635. Exercise Science graduates of Montana State University earn a median of $47,703 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 82%.
University Of Great Falls landed the #20 spot for exercise science value this year. Located in the city of Great Falls, University Of Great Falls is a small private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $30,448. Exercise Science graduates carry a median of $23,847 in student loans. Early-career exercise science graduates make about $104,670. That is a strong return on a $23,847 median debt. University Of Great Falls admits about 50% of applicants.
Regis University placed #21 among the best values for exercise science. Set in the city of Denver, Regis University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $28,140 in tuition and fees. Exercise Science graduates carry a median of $31,773 in student loans. Soon after graduation, exercise science degree recipients from Regis University generally make around $72,028. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 86% of applicants are accepted.
Colorado Christian University landed the #22 spot for exercise science value this year. Set in the suburb of Lakewood, Colorado Christian University is a large private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $28,846. Exercise Science graduates carry a median of $36,092 in student loans. Soon after graduation, exercise science degree recipients from Colorado Christian University generally make around $47,333. Set against $36,092 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
This list is compiled 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 · 34 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 16 ranked schools only.
More about our data sources and methodologies.