2026 Best Value Exercise Science Schools in Missouri
[Exercise Science](/majors/parks-recreation-fitness/health-and-physical-education/exercise-science/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
College Factual analyzed 20 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best value exercise science schools.
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2026 Best Value Exercise Science Schools in Missouri
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
Truman State University earned the #1 spot for value among exercise science schools in Missouri. Truman State University is a mid-sized public school located in the town of Kirksville. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,838, compared with $18,566 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $22,500 to complete the exercise science program here. Soon after graduation, exercise science degree recipients from Truman State University generally make around $26,865. That is a strong return on a $22,500 median debt. Truman State University admits about 84% of applicants.
Missouri Southern State University came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the best value exercise science schools. Located in the city of Joplin, Missouri Southern State University is a mid-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,600, while out-of-state students pay about $18,300. Students borrow a median of $24,947 to complete the exercise science program here. Early-career exercise science graduates make about $34,465. That is a strong return on a $24,947 median debt. Roughly 97% of applicants are accepted.
Students looking for strong value in exercise science will find it at University Of Central Missouri, which ranked #3. University Of Central Missouri is a large public school located in the town of Warrensburg. In-state tuition and fees average $10,050, while out-of-state students pay about $18,600. Typical student debt for exercise science graduates is $26,000. Exercise Science graduates of University Of Central Missouri earn a median of $39,975 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $26,000 median debt. Roughly 64% of applicants are accepted.
A rank of #4 makes Missouri State University Springfield one of the best values for exercise science. Set in the city of Springfield, Missouri State University Springfield is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $9,502, with out-of-state students paying around $18,770. Students borrow a median of $22,876 to complete the exercise science program here. Soon after graduation, exercise science degree recipients from Missouri State University Springfield generally make around $29,761. That is a strong return on a $22,876 median debt. The acceptance rate is 90%.
Avila University is a great value for students pursuing a degree in exercise science, landing the #5 spot this year. Set in the city of Kansas City, Avila University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $40,200. Exercise Science graduates carry a median of $29,750 in student loans. Early-career exercise science graduates make about $51,234. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 88% of applicants are accepted.
Logan University came in at #6 for value in exercise science this year. Set in the suburb of Chesterfield, Logan University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $9,000. Exercise Science graduates carry a median of $14,000 in student loans. Soon after graduation, exercise science degree recipients from Logan University generally make around $48,504. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Logan University admits about 64% of applicants.
Fontbonne University placed #7 among the best values for exercise science. Located in the suburb of Saint Louis, Fontbonne University is a small private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $29,976 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for exercise science graduates is $33,503. Soon after graduation, exercise science degree recipients from Fontbonne University generally make around $46,039. That is a strong return on a $33,503 median debt.
Missouri Valley College landed the #8 spot for exercise science value this year. Located in the town of Marshall, Missouri Valley College is a small private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $23,700. Exercise Science graduates carry a median of $28,708 in student loans. Exercise Science graduates of Missouri Valley College earn a median of $33,892 early in their careers. Set against $28,708 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 69%.
Lindenwood University placed #9 among the best values for exercise science. Located in the city of Saint Charles, Lindenwood University is a large private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $21,600 in tuition and fees. Exercise Science graduates carry a median of $28,000 in student loans. Early-career exercise science graduates make about $35,314. That is a strong return on a $28,000 median debt. Lindenwood University admits about 57% of applicants.
Evangel University placed #10 among the best values for exercise science. Evangel University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Springfield. Students from in state pay about $28,548 in tuition and fees. Exercise Science graduates carry a median of $24,876 in student loans. Exercise Science graduates of Evangel University earn a median of $42,039 early in their careers. Set against $24,876 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Evangel University admits about 72% of applicants.
Southwest Baptist University placed #11 among the best values for exercise science. Southwest Baptist University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the town of Bolivar. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $30,566. Exercise Science graduates carry a median of $19,550 in student loans. Soon after graduation, exercise science degree recipients from Southwest Baptist University generally make around $30,837. That is a strong return on a $19,550 median debt. Southwest Baptist University admits about 68% of applicants.
Rockhurst University ranked #12 on our 2026 list of the best value exercise science schools. Located in the city of Kansas City, Rockhurst University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $44,966 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the exercise science program here. Early-career exercise science graduates make about $70,849. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 70%.
William Woods University ranked #13 on our 2026 list of the best value exercise science schools. Set in the town of Fulton, William Woods University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $30,340. Typical student debt for exercise science graduates is $25,545. Early-career exercise science graduates make about $24,329. That is a strong return on a $25,545 median debt. William Woods University admits about 71% of applicants.
Missouri Baptist University landed the #14 spot for exercise science value this year. Located in the suburb of Saint Louis, Missouri Baptist University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $33,122. Typical student debt for exercise science graduates is $26,001. Exercise Science graduates of Missouri Baptist University earn a median of $39,737 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $26,001 median debt. The acceptance rate is 69%.
Maryville University Of Saint Louis earned the #15 position for value in exercise science this year. Maryville University Of Saint Louis is a large private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Saint Louis. In-state tuition and fees average $27,166. Students borrow a median of $23,250 to complete the exercise science program here. Early-career exercise science graduates make about $32,480. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Maryville University Of Saint Louis admits about 95% of applicants.
Westminster College Missouri came in at #16 for value in exercise science this year. Westminster College Missouri is a small private not-for-profit school located in the town of Fulton. Students from in state pay about $35,214 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for exercise science graduates is $26,170. Early-career exercise science graduates make about $37,667. Set against $26,170 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 79%.
Saint Louis University Main Campus earned the #17 position for value in exercise science this year. Located in the city of Saint Louis, Saint Louis University Main Campus is a large private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $55,760. Students borrow a median of $26,316 to complete the exercise science program here. Soon after graduation, exercise science degree recipients from Saint Louis University Main Campus generally make around $65,599. Set against $26,316 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 75%.
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 · 20 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.
