2026 Best Value Physical Education Schools in Ohio
[Physical Education](/majors/parks-recreation-fitness/health-and-physical-education/physical-education/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 23 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for physical education students.
What’s on this page:
2026 Best Value Physical Education Schools in Ohio
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the physical education degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Physical Education Schools
For return on investment in physical education, no school beat Sinclair Community College this year. Sinclair Community College is a very large public school located in the city of Dayton. Students from in state pay about $3,675 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $8,556. Typical student debt for physical education graduates is $12,525. Early-career physical education graduates make about $35,348. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
A rank of #2 makes Columbus State Community College one of the best values for physical education. Located in the city of Columbus, Columbus State Community College is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,488, compared with $11,224 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for physical education graduates is $9,041. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $39,435. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Youngstown State University is a great value for students pursuing a degree in physical education, landing the #3 spot this year. Set in the city of Youngstown, Youngstown State University is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $9,926 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $10,286. Typical student debt for physical education graduates is $26,393. Early-career physical education graduates make about $30,661. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Youngstown State University admits about 84% of applicants.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Ohio State University Main Campus earned it the #4 place for physical education. Ohio State University Main Campus is a very large public school located in the city of Columbus. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $13,244, with out-of-state students paying around $40,022. Physical Education graduates carry a median of $23,000 in student loans. Physical Education graduates of Ohio State University Main Campus earn a median of $42,137 early in their careers. Set against $23,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Ohio State University Main Campus admits about 61% of applicants.
A rank of #5 makes Wright State University Main Campus one of the best values for physical education. Set in the suburb of Dayton, Wright State University Main Campus is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $10,991, compared with $20,691 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for physical education graduates is $28,250. Early-career physical education graduates make about $35,640. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 96%.
Kent State University At Kent came in at #6 for value in physical education this year. Kent State University At Kent is a very large public school located in the suburb of Kent. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $12,220, compared with $21,575 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for physical education graduates is $25,000. Soon after graduation, physical education degree recipients from Kent State University At Kent generally make around $44,776. Set against $25,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 86%.
Bluffton University placed #7 among the best values for physical education. Located in the rural area of Bluffton, Bluffton University is a small private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $37,362. Typical student debt for physical education graduates is $27,000. Physical Education graduates of Bluffton University earn a median of $28,602 early in their careers. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 67% of applicants are accepted.
Walsh University placed #8 among the best values for physical education. Located in the suburb of North Canton, Walsh University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $33,030. Typical student debt for physical education graduates is $26,805. Early-career physical education graduates make about $53,629. Set against $26,805 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Walsh University admits about 71% of applicants.
Ohio University Main Campus came in at #9 for value in physical education this year. Located in the town of Athens, Ohio University Main Campus is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $14,158, while out-of-state students pay about $24,838. Students borrow a median of $25,000 to complete the physical education program here. Early-career physical education graduates make about $45,420. Set against $25,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 85% of applicants are accepted.
Muskingum University placed #10 among the best values for physical education. Located in the rural area of New Concord, Muskingum University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $31,701. Typical student debt for physical education graduates is $27,000. Early-career physical education graduates make about $16,067. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. Muskingum University admits about 82% of applicants.
Ohio Wesleyan University placed #11 among the best values for physical education. Located in the suburb of Delaware, Ohio Wesleyan University is a small private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $54,248 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the physical education program here. Soon after graduation, physical education degree recipients from Ohio Wesleyan University generally make around $28,294. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 56%.
Heidelberg University placed #12 among the best values for physical education. Set in the town of Tiffin, Heidelberg University is a small private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $33,600 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for physical education graduates is $27,000. Soon after graduation, physical education degree recipients from Heidelberg University generally make around $42,334. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. The acceptance rate is 86%.
Defiance College placed #13 among the best values for physical education. Set in the town of Defiance, Defiance College is a small private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $29,320. Typical student debt for physical education graduates is $27,000. Early-career physical education graduates make about $31,528. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. Roughly 48% of applicants are accepted.
Tiffin University landed the #14 spot for physical education value this year. Set in the town of Tiffin, Tiffin University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $34,790 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for physical education graduates is $27,000. Early-career physical education graduates make about $36,557. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 80% of applicants are accepted.
Miami University Oxford came in at #15 for value in physical education this year. Miami University Oxford is a large public school located in the town of Oxford. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $17,519, while out-of-state students pay about $38,965. Physical Education graduates carry a median of $25,000 in student loans. Soon after graduation, physical education degree recipients from Miami University Oxford generally make around $42,958. That is a strong return on a $25,000 median debt. Roughly 75% of applicants are accepted.
More Physical Education Rankings
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Notes and References
This list is compiled 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 · 23 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.
