2026 Best Value Outdoor Health & Physical Education/Fitness Schools in the Southeast Region
[Outdoor Health & Physical Education/Fitness](/majors/parks-recreation-fitness/health-and-physical-education/health-and-physical-education-fitness-other/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong outdoor health & physical education/fitness education at a price that pays off.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 29 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for outdoor health & physical education/fitness students.
What’s on this page:
2026 Best Value Outdoor Health & Physical Education/Fitness Schools in the Southeast 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
For return on investment in outdoor health & physical education/fitness, no school beat Gaston College this year. Located in the suburb of Dallas, Gaston College is a moderately-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $3,186, compared with $9,330 for out-of-state students. Outdoor Health & Physical Education/fitness graduates carry a median of $10,915 in student loans. Outdoor Health & Physical Education/fitness graduates of Gaston College earn a median of $39,937 early in their careers. Set against $10,915 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
A rank of #2 makes Holmes Community College one of the best values for outdoor health & physical education/fitness. Holmes Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the rural area of Goodman. In-state tuition and fees average $3,710, while out-of-state students pay about $6,610. Typical student debt for outdoor health & physical education/fitness graduates is $13,191. Outdoor Health & Physical Education/fitness graduates of Holmes Community College earn a median of $32,145 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Wake Technical Community College earned it the #3 place for outdoor health & physical education/fitness. Set in the suburb of Raleigh, Wake Technical Community College is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,254, compared with $6,862 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for outdoor health & physical education/fitness graduates is $17,900. Early-career outdoor health & physical education/fitness graduates make about $38,673. That is a strong return on a $17,900 median debt.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at University Of North Georgia earned it the #4 place for outdoor health & physical education/fitness. Set in the town of Dahlonega, University Of North Georgia is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $5,444 in tuition and fees, compared with $16,956 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $20,500 to complete the outdoor health & physical education/fitness program here. Early-career outdoor health & physical education/fitness graduates make about $42,341. Set against $20,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 68% of applicants are accepted.
Brunswick Community College came in at #5 on our 2026 list of the best value outdoor health & physical education/fitness schools. Located in the rural area of Bolivia, Brunswick Community College is a mid-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $2,553, with out-of-state students paying around $8,697. Students borrow a median of $5,500 to complete the outdoor health & physical education/fitness program here. Early-career outdoor health & physical education/fitness graduates make about $47,493. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Arkansas Tech University placed #6 among the best values for outdoor health & physical education/fitness. Located in the town of Russellville, Arkansas Tech University is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $8,674, with out-of-state students paying around $14,668. Outdoor Health & Physical Education/fitness graduates carry a median of $23,257 in student loans. Outdoor Health & Physical Education/fitness graduates of Arkansas Tech University earn a median of $45,115 early in their careers. Set against $23,257 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Arkansas Tech University admits about 96% of applicants.
University Of Mississippi Main Campus landed the #7 spot for outdoor health & physical education/fitness value this year. University Of Mississippi Main Campus is a very large public school located in the town of University. In-state tuition and fees average $9,772, with out-of-state students paying around $28,600. Outdoor Health & Physical Education/fitness graduates carry a median of $23,034 in student loans. Early-career outdoor health & physical education/fitness graduates make about $50,876. Set against $23,034 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of Mississippi Main Campus admits about 97% of applicants.
Valdosta State University placed #8 among the best values for outdoor health & physical education/fitness. Valdosta State University is a large public school located in the city of Valdosta. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,124, while out-of-state students pay about $17,836. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the outdoor health & physical education/fitness program here. Early-career outdoor health & physical education/fitness graduates make about $23,364. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. Valdosta State University admits about 72% of applicants.
Tennessee Wesleyan College ranked #9 on our 2026 list of the best value outdoor health & physical education/fitness schools. Tennessee Wesleyan College is a small private not-for-profit school located in the town of Athens. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $30,814. Outdoor Health & Physical Education/fitness graduates carry a median of $29,750 in student loans. Outdoor Health & Physical Education/fitness graduates of Tennessee Wesleyan College earn a median of $58,859 early in their careers. Set against $29,750 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 69%.
Coker College placed #10 among the best values for outdoor health & physical education/fitness. Set in the town of Hartsville, Coker College is a small private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $33,416. Students borrow a median of $26,475 to complete the outdoor health & physical education/fitness program here. Outdoor Health & Physical Education/fitness graduates of Coker College earn a median of $30,333 early in their careers. Set against $26,475 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 94%.
Tougaloo College came in at #11 for value in outdoor health & physical education/fitness this year. Located in the city of Tougaloo, Tougaloo College is a small private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $12,407. Typical student debt for outdoor health & physical education/fitness graduates is $42,875. Median earnings reach $34,724 ten years out. Set against $42,875 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 60%.
Emmanuel College Georgia came in at #12 for value in outdoor health & physical education/fitness this year. Located in the rural area of Franklin Springs, Emmanuel College Georgia is a small private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $25,500 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for outdoor health & physical education/fitness graduates is $26,670. Early-career outdoor health & physical education/fitness graduates make about $30,093. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 74% of applicants are accepted.
Greensboro College earned the #13 position for value in outdoor health & physical education/fitness this year. Located in the city of Greensboro, Greensboro College is a small private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $21,000. Typical student debt for outdoor health & physical education/fitness graduates is $27,000. Early-career outdoor health & physical education/fitness graduates make about $27,624. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 70%.
The University Of Alabama earned the #14 position for value in outdoor health & physical education/fitness this year. Set in the city of Tuscaloosa, The University Of Alabama is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $12,180 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $34,172. Students borrow a median of $24,496 to complete the outdoor health & physical education/fitness program here. Early-career outdoor health & physical education/fitness graduates make about $50,740. Set against $24,496 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 77% of applicants are accepted.
Emory University placed #15 among the best values for outdoor health & physical education/fitness. Set in the city of Atlanta, Emory University is a large private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $64,280. Typical student debt for outdoor health & physical education/fitness graduates is $19,883. Outdoor Health & Physical Education/fitness graduates of Emory University earn a median of $37,974 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 11% of applicants are accepted.
Campbell University placed #16 among the best values for outdoor health & physical education/fitness. Campbell University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the town of Buies Creek. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $41,600. Typical student debt for outdoor health & physical education/fitness graduates is $25,250. Early-career outdoor health & physical education/fitness graduates make about $32,167. That is a strong return on a $25,250 median debt. The acceptance rate is 87%.
Limestone College landed the #17 spot for outdoor health & physical education/fitness value this year. Limestone College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the town of Gaffney. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $27,800. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the outdoor health & physical education/fitness program here. Outdoor Health & Physical Education/fitness graduates of Limestone College earn a median of $26,809 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. Limestone College admits about 97% of applicants.
Gardner Webb University landed the #18 spot for outdoor health & physical education/fitness value this year. Located in the rural area of Boiling Springs, Gardner Webb University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $34,750 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $25,033 to complete the outdoor health & physical education/fitness program here. Outdoor Health & Physical Education/fitness graduates of Gardner Webb University earn a median of $63,220 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 77% of applicants are accepted.
Methodist University placed #19 among the best values for outdoor health & physical education/fitness. Set in the city of Fayetteville, Methodist University is a small private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $41,250. Typical student debt for outdoor health & physical education/fitness graduates is $30,124. Soon after graduation, outdoor health & physical education/fitness degree recipients from Methodist University generally make around $28,270. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 75% of applicants are accepted.
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Notes and References
This ranking is produced 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 · 29 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 7 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.
