2026 Best Value Exercise Science Schools in Tennessee
[Exercise Science](/majors/parks-recreation-fitness/health-and-physical-education/exercise-science/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong exercise science education at a price that pays off.
For its 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 19 schools to find the best return on investment for exercise science students.
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2026 Best Value Exercise Science Schools in Tennessee
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in exercise science, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Exercise Science Schools
Our analysis ranked Middle Tennessee State University the best value for a degree in exercise science in Tennessee. Set in the city of Murfreesboro, Middle Tennessee State University is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $10,266, compared with $31,574 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $23,500 to complete the exercise science program here. Early-career exercise science graduates make about $36,462. Set against $23,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 69% of applicants are accepted.
A rank of #2 makes The University Of Tennessee At Chattanooga one of the best values for exercise science. The University Of Tennessee At Chattanooga is a large public school located in the city of Chattanooga. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $10,448, while out-of-state students pay about $18,512. Exercise Science graduates carry a median of $22,500 in student loans. Soon after graduation, exercise science degree recipients from The University Of Tennessee At Chattanooga generally make around $29,772. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 81% of applicants are accepted.
A rank of #3 makes University Of Memphis one of the best values for exercise science. Located in the city of Memphis, University Of Memphis is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $10,728 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $15,384. Exercise Science graduates carry a median of $27,500 in student loans. Exercise Science graduates of University Of Memphis earn a median of $35,610 early in their careers. Set against $27,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 72%.
Austin Peay State University came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the best value exercise science schools. Set in the city of Clarksville, Austin Peay State University is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $9,006 in tuition and fees, compared with $14,766 for out-of-state students. Exercise Science graduates carry a median of $25,000 in student loans. Early-career exercise science graduates make about $37,636. Set against $25,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Austin Peay State University admits about 96% of applicants.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at East Tennessee State University earned it the #5 place for exercise science. Located in the city of Johnson City, East Tennessee State University is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $10,216, while out-of-state students pay about $13,726. Students borrow a median of $22,036 to complete the exercise science program here. Early-career exercise science graduates make about $34,043. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. East Tennessee State University admits about 86% of applicants.
The University Of Tennessee earned the #6 position for value in exercise science this year. Set in the city of Knoxville, The University Of Tennessee is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $13,812, with out-of-state students paying around $33,256. Students borrow a median of $21,500 to complete the exercise science program here. Exercise Science graduates of The University Of Tennessee earn a median of $35,175 early in their careers. Set against $21,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 42% of applicants are accepted.
Lincoln Memorial University placed #7 among the best values for exercise science. Set in the town of Harrogate, Lincoln Memorial University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $26,938. Typical student debt for exercise science graduates is $19,187. Early-career exercise science graduates make about $26,830. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 63% of applicants are accepted.
Cumberland University came in at #8 for value in exercise science this year. Located in the town of Lebanon, Cumberland University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $27,840. Students borrow a median of $21,902 to complete the exercise science program here. Early-career exercise science graduates make about $47,696. That is a strong return on a $21,902 median debt. Cumberland University admits about 67% of applicants.
Carson Newman College earned the #9 position for value in exercise science this year. Located in the suburb of Jefferson City, Carson Newman College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $34,700 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $25,625 to complete the exercise science program here. Soon after graduation, exercise science degree recipients from Carson Newman College generally make around $25,972. That is a strong return on a $25,625 median debt. Carson Newman College admits about 90% of applicants.
Freed Hardeman University placed #10 among the best values for exercise science. Set in the town of Henderson, Freed Hardeman University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $25,620 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for exercise science graduates is $24,479. Exercise Science graduates of Freed Hardeman University earn a median of $54,530 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Freed Hardeman University admits about 60% of applicants.
Lee University ranked #11 on our 2026 list of the best value exercise science schools. Located in the city of Cleveland, Lee University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $23,790 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for exercise science graduates is $24,750. Early-career exercise science graduates make about $22,135. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 70% of applicants are accepted.
Bethel University Tennessee landed the #12 spot for exercise science value this year. Located in the town of McKenzie, Bethel University Tennessee is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $18,712. Exercise Science graduates carry a median of $29,677 in student loans. Early-career exercise science graduates make about $31,638. Set against $29,677 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Bethel University Tennessee admits about 60% of applicants.
King College earned the #13 position for value in exercise science this year. Set in the city of Bristol, King College is a small private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $20,397. Students borrow a median of $25,579 to complete the exercise science program here. Early-career exercise science graduates make about $49,297. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 100% of applicants are accepted.
Tusculum College ranked #14 on our 2026 list of the best value exercise science schools. Located in the town of Greeneville, Tusculum College is a small private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $29,250. Exercise Science graduates carry a median of $24,000 in student loans. Soon after graduation, exercise science degree recipients from Tusculum College generally make around $22,825. That is a strong return on a $24,000 median debt. Tusculum College admits about 72% of applicants.
Southern Adventist University landed the #15 spot for exercise science value this year. Set in the suburb of Collegedale, Southern Adventist University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $27,300. Typical student debt for exercise science graduates is $25,975. Exercise Science graduates of Southern Adventist University earn a median of $61,366 early in their careers. Set against $25,975 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 66%.
Lipscomb University earned the #16 position for value in exercise science this year. Set in the city of Nashville, Lipscomb University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $40,572. Typical student debt for exercise science graduates is $24,975. Early-career exercise science graduates make about $48,949. That is a strong return on a $24,975 median debt. The acceptance rate is 68%.
Union University earned the #17 position for value in exercise science this year. Set in the city of Jackson, Union University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $37,398. Typical student debt for exercise science graduates is $28,605. Exercise Science graduates of Union University earn a median of $68,508 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 60%.
Belmont University ranked #18 on our 2026 list of the best value exercise science schools. Belmont University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Nashville. Students from in state pay about $42,540 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $20,000 to complete the exercise science program here. Soon after graduation, exercise science degree recipients from Belmont University generally make around $37,139. That is a strong return on a $20,000 median debt. Belmont University admits about 95% of applicants.
More Exercise Science Rankings
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Notes and References
This list is compiled 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 · 19 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 12 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.
