2026 Best Value Outdoor Health & Physical Education/Fitness Schools in the The Plains States 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. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
College Factual analyzed 17 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best value outdoor health & physical education/fitness schools.
What’s on this page:
2026 Best Value Outdoor Health & Physical Education/Fitness Schools in the The Plains States 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
Our analysis ranked Northeast Community College the best value for a degree in outdoor health & physical education/fitness in the The Plains States Region. Set in the town of Norfolk, Northeast Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,840, compared with $5,130 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for outdoor health & physical education/fitness graduates is $11,937. Outdoor Health & Physical Education/fitness graduates of Northeast Community College earn a median of $40,568 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
A rank of #2 makes Missouri Southern State University one of the best values for outdoor health & physical education/fitness. Located in the city of Joplin, Missouri Southern State University is a mid-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $9,600 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $18,300. Students borrow a median of $24,947 to complete the outdoor health & physical education/fitness program here. Early-career outdoor health & physical education/fitness graduates make about $34,465. Set against $24,947 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 97%.
Dickinson State University is a great value for students pursuing a degree in outdoor health & physical education/fitness, landing the #3 spot this year. Dickinson State University is a small public school located in the town of Dickinson. Students from in state pay about $9,118 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for outdoor health & physical education/fitness graduates is $27,266. Outdoor Health & Physical Education/fitness 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. Roughly 37% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Minnesota Twin Cities is a great value for students pursuing a degree in outdoor health & physical education/fitness, landing the #4 spot this year. University Of Minnesota Twin Cities is a very large public school located in the city of Minneapolis. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $17,214, compared with $38,362 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $23,000 to complete the outdoor health & physical education/fitness program here. Outdoor Health & Physical Education/fitness graduates of University Of Minnesota Twin Cities earn a median of $36,050 early in their careers. Set against $23,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 80% of applicants are accepted.
A rank of #5 makes University Of Mary one of the best values for outdoor health & physical education/fitness. Set in the rural area of Bismarck, University Of Mary is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $22,356. Outdoor Health & Physical Education/fitness graduates carry a median of $26,000 in student loans. Soon after graduation, outdoor health & physical education/fitness degree recipients from University Of Mary generally make around $65,565. Set against $26,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 75% of applicants are accepted.
St Catherine University landed the #6 spot for outdoor health & physical education/fitness value this year. Located in the city of Saint Paul, St Catherine University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $38,428. Students borrow a median of $28,000 to complete the outdoor health & physical education/fitness program here. Soon after graduation, outdoor health & physical education/fitness degree recipients from St Catherine University generally make around $60,427. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 92%.
Saint Ambrose University placed #7 among the best values for outdoor health & physical education/fitness. Saint Ambrose University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Davenport. Students from in state pay about $36,658 in tuition and fees. Outdoor Health & Physical Education/fitness graduates carry a median of $26,000 in student loans. Early-career outdoor health & physical education/fitness graduates make about $26,608. Set against $26,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 77%.
William Penn University ranked #8 on our 2026 list of the best value outdoor health & physical education/fitness schools. Located in the town of Oskaloosa, William Penn University is a small private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $29,750. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the outdoor health & physical education/fitness program here. Soon after graduation, outdoor health & physical education/fitness degree recipients from William Penn University generally make around $30,314. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 52%.
Mount Marty College earned the #9 position for value in outdoor health & physical education/fitness this year. Mount Marty College is a small private not-for-profit school located in the town of Yankton. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $34,600. Outdoor Health & Physical Education/fitness graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Outdoor Health & Physical Education/fitness graduates of Mount Marty College earn a median of $108,425 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. Mount Marty College admits about 43% of applicants.
Dordt College ranked #10 on our 2026 list of the best value outdoor health & physical education/fitness schools. Located in the town of Sioux Center, Dordt College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $37,050 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for outdoor health & physical education/fitness graduates is $21,812. Outdoor Health & Physical Education/fitness graduates of Dordt College earn a median of $54,926 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 68%.
Gustavus Adolphus College placed #11 among the best values for outdoor health & physical education/fitness. Set in the town of Saint Peter, Gustavus Adolphus College is a small private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $56,076. Outdoor Health & Physical Education/fitness graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Early-career outdoor health & physical education/fitness graduates make about $38,796. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 61%.
Benedictine College ranked #12 on our 2026 list of the best value outdoor health & physical education/fitness schools. Set in the town of Atchison, Benedictine College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $36,350 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $26,798 to complete the outdoor health & physical education/fitness program here. Outdoor Health & Physical Education/fitness graduates of Benedictine College earn a median of $46,255 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 98%.
Ottawa University Ottawa landed the #13 spot for outdoor health & physical education/fitness value this year. Ottawa University Ottawa is a small private not-for-profit school located in the town of Ottawa. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $35,880. Outdoor Health & Physical Education/fitness graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Outdoor Health & Physical Education/fitness graduates of Ottawa University Ottawa earn a median of $49,850 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 83% of applicants are accepted.
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Notes and References
The ranking above is published 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 · 17 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.
