2026 Best Value Outdoor Health & Physical Education/Fitness Schools in the Great Lakes Region
[Outdoor Health & Physical Education/Fitness](/majors/parks-recreation-fitness/health-and-physical-education/health-and-physical-education-fitness-other/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong outdoor health & physical education/fitness education at a price that pays off.
For its 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 12 schools to find the best return on investment for outdoor health & physical education/fitness students.
What’s on this page:
2026 Best Value Outdoor Health & Physical Education/Fitness Schools in the Great Lakes Region
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the outdoor health & physical education/fitness degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Outdoor Health & Physical Education/Fitness Schools
College Of Lake County earned the #1 spot for value among outdoor health & physical education/fitness schools in the Great Lakes Region. Located in the suburb of Grayslake, College Of Lake County is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,788, while out-of-state students pay about $14,400. Students borrow a median of $9,785 to complete the outdoor health & physical education/fitness program here. Outdoor Health & Physical Education/fitness graduates of College Of Lake County earn a median of $50,314 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $9,785 median debt.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Western Illinois University earned it the #2 place for outdoor health & physical education/fitness. Located in the town of Macomb, Western Illinois University is a moderately-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $14,572. Students borrow a median of $31,000 to complete the outdoor health & physical education/fitness program here. Soon after graduation, outdoor health & physical education/fitness degree recipients from Western Illinois University generally make around $33,473. That is a strong return on a $31,000 median debt. Western Illinois University admits about 71% of applicants.
University Of Akron Main Campus came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the best value outdoor health & physical education/fitness schools. University Of Akron Main Campus is a large public school located in the city of Akron. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $13,135, with out-of-state students paying around $20,815. Outdoor Health & Physical Education/fitness graduates carry a median of $31,000 in student loans. Early-career outdoor health & physical education/fitness graduates make about $49,045. Set against $31,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of Akron Main Campus admits about 60% of applicants.
A rank of #4 makes University Of Wisconsin Madison one of the best values for outdoor health & physical education/fitness. University Of Wisconsin Madison is a very large public school located in the city of Madison. Students from in state pay about $11,603 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $42,103. Typical student debt for outdoor health & physical education/fitness graduates is $26,000. Soon after graduation, outdoor health & physical education/fitness degree recipients from University Of Wisconsin Madison generally make around $29,866. Set against $26,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 45%.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Concordia University Chicago earned it the #5 place for outdoor health & physical education/fitness. Set in the suburb of River Forest, Concordia University Chicago is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $37,488. Students borrow a median of $26,166 to complete the outdoor health & physical education/fitness program here. Outdoor Health & Physical Education/fitness graduates of Concordia University Chicago earn a median of $58,760 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $26,166 median debt. Roughly 93% of applicants are accepted.
Wright State University Main Campus came in at #6 for value in outdoor health & physical education/fitness this year. Wright State University Main Campus is a large public school located in the suburb of Dayton. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $10,991, while out-of-state students pay about $20,691. Students borrow a median of $28,250 to complete the outdoor health & physical education/fitness program here. Outdoor Health & Physical Education/fitness graduates of Wright State University Main Campus earn a median of $49,077 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 96%.
Grace College And Theological Seminary ranked #7 on our 2026 list of the best value outdoor health & physical education/fitness schools. Grace College And Theological Seminary is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the town of Winona Lake. Students from in state pay about $29,645 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $23,250 to complete the outdoor health & physical education/fitness program here. Soon after graduation, outdoor health & physical education/fitness degree recipients from Grace College And Theological Seminary generally make around $32,549. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 82% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Evansville landed the #8 spot for outdoor health & physical education/fitness value this year. University Of Evansville is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Evansville. In-state tuition and fees average $44,172. Typical student debt for outdoor health & physical education/fitness graduates is $24,031. Soon after graduation, outdoor health & physical education/fitness degree recipients from University Of Evansville generally make around $34,809. That is a strong return on a $24,031 median debt. The acceptance rate is 78%.
Bowling Green State University Main Campus ranked #9 on our 2026 list of the best value outdoor health & physical education/fitness schools. Set in the town of Bowling Green, Bowling Green State University Main Campus is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $13,912, while out-of-state students pay about $21,900. Outdoor Health & Physical Education/fitness graduates carry a median of $25,024 in student loans. Outdoor Health & Physical Education/fitness graduates of Bowling Green State University Main Campus earn a median of $31,919 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Bowling Green State University Main Campus admits about 81% of applicants.
Otterbein University came in at #10 for value in outdoor health & physical education/fitness this year. Set in the suburb of Westerville, Otterbein University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $35,548. Typical student debt for outdoor health & physical education/fitness graduates is $25,000. Early-career outdoor health & physical education/fitness graduates make about $31,851. That is a strong return on a $25,000 median debt. Otterbein University admits about 84% of applicants.
Capital University placed #11 among the best values for outdoor health & physical education/fitness. Located in the suburb of Columbus, Capital University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $43,234. Typical student debt for outdoor health & physical education/fitness graduates is $27,000. Soon after graduation, outdoor health & physical education/fitness degree recipients from Capital University generally make around $46,516. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 70% of applicants are accepted.
Judson University landed the #12 spot for outdoor health & physical education/fitness value this year. Judson University is a small private not-for-profit school located in the city of Elgin. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $30,297. Typical student debt for outdoor health & physical education/fitness graduates is $27,685. Outdoor Health & Physical Education/fitness graduates of Judson University earn a median of $47,550 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Judson University admits about 48% of applicants.
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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 · 12 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 6 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.
