2026 Best Value Physical Education Schools in Montana
[Physical Education](/majors/parks-recreation-fitness/health-and-physical-education/physical-education/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
For its 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 8 schools to find the best return on investment for physical education students.
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2026 Best Value Physical Education Schools in Montana
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in physical education, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Physical Education Schools
Our analysis ranked Montana State University Billings the best value for a degree in physical education in Montana. Located in the city of Billings, Montana State University Billings is a moderately-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $7,280, compared with $22,897 for out-of-state students. Physical Education graduates carry a median of $25,465 in student loans. Soon after graduation, physical education degree recipients from Montana State University Billings generally make around $48,764. That is a strong return on a $25,465 median debt.
A rank of #2 makes The University Of Montana Western one of the best values for physical education. Located in the town of Dillon, The University Of Montana Western is a small public university. In-state tuition and fees average $6,669, with out-of-state students paying around $20,130. Typical student debt for physical education graduates is $22,484. Physical Education graduates of The University Of Montana Western earn a median of $36,924 early in their careers. Set against $22,484 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 100%.
Students looking for strong value in physical education will find it at Rocky Mountain College, which ranked #3. Rocky Mountain College is a small private not-for-profit school located in the city of Billings. In-state tuition and fees average $35,582. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the physical education program here. Physical Education graduates of Rocky Mountain College earn a median of $30,025 early in their careers. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 70%.
A rank of #4 makes Montana State University one of the best values for physical education. Montana State University is a large public school located in the city of Bozeman. In-state tuition and fees average $8,460, compared with $33,287 for out-of-state students. Physical Education graduates carry a median of $23,635 in student loans. Soon after graduation, physical education degree recipients from Montana State University generally make around $47,703. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Montana State University admits about 82% of applicants.
A rank of #5 makes University Of Great Falls one of the best values for physical education. University Of Great Falls is a small private not-for-profit school located in the city of Great Falls. Students from in state pay about $30,448 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $23,847 to complete the physical education program here. Early-career physical education graduates make about $104,670. Set against $23,847 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of Great Falls admits about 50% of applicants.
More Physical Education Rankings
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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 · 8 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.
