2026 Best Value Exercise Science Schools in Minnesota
[Exercise Science](/majors/parks-recreation-fitness/health-and-physical-education/exercise-science/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong exercise science education at a price that pays off.
College Factual analyzed 28 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best value exercise science schools.
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2026 Best Value Exercise Science Schools in Minnesota
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the exercise science degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Exercise Science Schools
Leading the list is Alexandria Technical And Community College, our #1 best value for exercise science in Minnesota. Set in the town of Alexandria, Alexandria Technical And Community College is a mid-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,236. Exercise Science graduates carry a median of $14,054 in student loans. Exercise Science graduates of Alexandria Technical And Community College earn a median of $45,368 early in their careers. Set against $14,054 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Southwest Minnesota State University is a great value for students pursuing a degree in exercise science, landing the #2 spot this year. Located in the town of Marshall, Southwest Minnesota State University is a moderately-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $10,361 in tuition and fees. Exercise Science graduates carry a median of $26,000 in student loans. Early-career exercise science graduates make about $32,802. That is a strong return on a $26,000 median debt. The acceptance rate is 62%.
Students looking for strong value in exercise science will find it at Bemidji State University, which ranked #3. Located in the town of Bemidji, Bemidji State University is a mid-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $10,237. Exercise Science graduates carry a median of $24,898 in student loans. Soon after graduation, exercise science degree recipients from Bemidji State University generally make around $32,388. Set against $24,898 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 56% of applicants are accepted.
Minnesota State University Moorhead came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the best value exercise science schools. Located in the suburb of Moorhead, Minnesota State University Moorhead is a moderately-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $10,428 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $22,500 to complete the exercise science program here. Exercise Science graduates of Minnesota State University Moorhead earn a median of $38,088 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $22,500 median debt. Roughly 59% of applicants are accepted.
Concordia University Saint Paul is a great value for students pursuing a degree in exercise science, landing the #5 spot this year. Concordia University Saint Paul is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Saint Paul. Students from in state pay about $25,600 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $29,156 to complete the exercise science program here. Exercise Science graduates of Concordia University Saint Paul earn a median of $39,033 early in their careers. Set against $29,156 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 79%.
Winona State University ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the best value exercise science schools. Winona State University is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Winona. In-state tuition and fees average $10,576, compared with $17,308 for out-of-state students. Exercise Science graduates carry a median of $25,550 in student loans. Exercise Science graduates of Winona State University earn a median of $41,742 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 76%.
University Of Minnesota Duluth earned the #7 position for value in exercise science this year. University Of Minnesota Duluth is a large public school located in the city of Duluth. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $14,608, compared with $20,134 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for exercise science graduates is $23,629. Early-career exercise science graduates make about $33,055. That is a strong return on a $23,629 median debt. Roughly 89% of applicants are accepted.
Hamline University came in at #8 for value in exercise science this year. Located in the city of Saint Paul, Hamline University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $50,004. Students borrow a median of $25,530 to complete the exercise science program here. Exercise Science graduates of Hamline University earn a median of $48,679 early in their careers. Set against $25,530 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Hamline University admits about 88% of applicants.
St Olaf College ranked #9 on our 2026 list of the best value exercise science schools. Located in the town of Northfield, St Olaf College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $59,760 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for exercise science graduates is $25,000. Early-career exercise science graduates make about $33,577. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 48% of applicants are accepted.
Augsburg College landed the #10 spot for exercise science value this year. Located in the city of Minneapolis, Augsburg College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $45,452 in tuition and fees. Exercise Science graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Soon after graduation, exercise science degree recipients from Augsburg College generally make around $37,473. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 82% of applicants are accepted.
Northwestern College Minnesota placed #11 among the best values for exercise science. Located in the suburb of Saint Paul, Northwestern College Minnesota is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $37,920. Exercise Science graduates carry a median of $23,562 in student loans. Exercise Science graduates of Northwestern College Minnesota earn a median of $30,176 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $23,562 median debt. Roughly 94% of applicants are accepted.
Crown College placed #12 among the best values for exercise science. Crown College is a small private not-for-profit school located in the rural area of Saint Bonifacius. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $31,410. Typical student debt for exercise science graduates is $29,537. Soon after graduation, exercise science degree recipients from Crown College generally make around $42,695. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 23% of applicants are accepted.
Bethel University Minnesota placed #13 among the best values for exercise science. Set in the suburb of Saint Paul, Bethel University Minnesota is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $44,226. Students borrow a median of $24,500 to complete the exercise science program here. Early-career exercise science graduates make about $31,919. That is a strong return on a $24,500 median debt. Roughly 88% of applicants are accepted.
University Of St Thomas Minnesota landed the #14 spot for exercise science value this year. University Of St Thomas Minnesota is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Saint Paul. Students from in state pay about $54,398 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $23,923 to complete the exercise science program here. Exercise Science graduates of University Of St Thomas Minnesota earn a median of $65,183 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 85% of applicants are accepted.
More Exercise Science Rankings
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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 · 28 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 9 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.
