2026 Best Value Exercise Science Schools in North Dakota
[Exercise Science](/majors/parks-recreation-fitness/health-and-physical-education/exercise-science/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 6 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for exercise science students.
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2026 Best Value Exercise Science Schools in North Dakota
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in exercise science, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Exercise Science Schools
Leading the list is Dickinson State University, our #1 best value for exercise science in North Dakota. Set in the town of Dickinson, Dickinson State University is a small public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $9,118. Students borrow a median of $27,266 to complete the exercise science program here. Exercise Science graduates of Dickinson State University earn a median of $51,049 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 37%.
A rank of #2 makes North Dakota State University Main Campus one of the best values for exercise science. Set in the city of Fargo, North Dakota State University Main Campus is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $10,910, compared with $15,564 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for exercise science graduates is $23,250. Soon after graduation, exercise science degree recipients from North Dakota State University Main Campus generally make around $36,646. Set against $23,250 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 95%.
University Of Mary is a great value for students pursuing a degree in exercise science, landing the #3 spot this year. University Of Mary is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the rural area of Bismarck. In-state tuition and fees average $22,356. Students borrow a median of $26,000 to complete the exercise science program here. Soon after graduation, exercise science degree recipients from University Of Mary generally make around $65,565. That is a strong return on a $26,000 median debt. University Of Mary admits about 75% of applicants.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at University Of North Dakota earned it the #4 place for exercise science. Set in the city of Grand Forks, University Of North Dakota is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $10,951, compared with $15,570 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $25,110 to complete the exercise science program here. Early-career exercise science graduates make about $64,378. That is a strong return on a $25,110 median debt. Roughly 77% of applicants are accepted.
Jamestown College came in at #5 on our 2026 list of the best value exercise science schools. Set in the town of Jamestown, Jamestown College is a small private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $24,990. Exercise Science graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Exercise Science graduates of Jamestown College earn a median of $59,681 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 88% of applicants are accepted.
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 · 6 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 2 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.
