2026 Best Value Physical Education Schools in Virginia
[Physical Education](/majors/parks-recreation-fitness/health-and-physical-education/physical-education/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong physical education education at a price that pays off.
For its 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 10 schools to find the best return on investment for physical education students.
What’s on this page:
2026 Best Value Physical Education Schools in Virginia
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
Leading the list is Randolph College, our #1 best value for physical education in Virginia. Randolph College is a small private not-for-profit school located in the city of Lynchburg. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $30,310. Physical Education graduates carry a median of $23,750 in student loans. Soon after graduation, physical education degree recipients from Randolph College generally make around $43,197. Set against $23,750 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Randolph College admits about 94% of applicants.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Bridgewater College earned it the #2 place for physical education. Located in the suburb of Bridgewater, Bridgewater College is a small private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $16,090. Typical student debt for physical education graduates is $27,000. Physical Education graduates of Bridgewater College earn a median of $30,243 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 92%.
A rank of #3 makes Lynchburg College one of the best values for physical education. Lynchburg College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Lynchburg. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $36,750. Soon after graduation, physical education degree recipients from Lynchburg College generally make around $107,159. Roughly 43% of applicants are accepted.
James Madison University came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the best value physical education schools. Located in the city of Harrisonburg, James Madison University is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $13,966 in tuition and fees, compared with $31,312 for out-of-state students. Physical Education graduates carry a median of $21,500 in student loans. Physical Education graduates of James Madison University earn a median of $40,528 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $21,500 median debt. James Madison University admits about 72% of applicants.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Emory And Henry College earned it the #5 place for physical education. Located in the rural area of Emory, Emory And Henry College is a small private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $39,000. Physical Education graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Early-career physical education graduates make about $28,146. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 84%.
College Of William And Mary came in at #6 for value in physical education this year. College Of William And Mary is a large public school located in the suburb of Williamsburg. In-state tuition and fees average $25,734, while out-of-state students pay about $51,038. Students borrow a median of $21,413 to complete the physical education program here. Early-career physical education graduates make about $27,114. That is a strong return on a $21,413 median debt. College Of William And Mary admits about 34% of applicants.
Bluefield College came in at #7 for value in physical education this year. Located in the town of Bluefield, Bluefield College is a small private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $26,770. Physical Education graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Physical Education graduates of Bluefield College earn a median of $49,380 early in their careers. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 59% of applicants are accepted.
Averett University earned the #8 position for value in physical education this year. Located in the town of Danville, Averett University is a small private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $38,550. Typical student debt for physical education graduates is $28,000. Early-career physical education graduates make about $36,908. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Averett University admits about 57% of applicants.
Liberty University placed #9 among the best values for physical education. Set in the city of Lynchburg, Liberty University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $16,173 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $25,645 to complete the physical education program here. Early-career physical education graduates make about $35,930. That is a strong return on a $25,645 median debt. Roughly 99% of applicants are accepted.
Shenandoah University landed the #10 spot for physical education value this year. Shenandoah University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Winchester. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $36,950. Physical Education graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Early-career physical education graduates make about $37,676. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 77% 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 · 10 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 5 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.
