2026 Best Value Physical Education Schools in Minnesota
[Physical Education](/majors/parks-recreation-fitness/health-and-physical-education/physical-education/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong physical education education at a price that pays off.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 6 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for physical education students.
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2026 Best Value Physical Education Schools in Minnesota
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
Southwest Minnesota State University earned the #1 spot for value among physical education schools in Minnesota. Southwest Minnesota State University is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Marshall. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $10,361. Physical Education graduates carry a median of $26,000 in student loans. Physical Education graduates of Southwest Minnesota State University earn a median of $32,802 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $26,000 median debt. Southwest Minnesota State University admits about 62% of applicants.
Students looking for strong value in physical education will find it at Minnesota State University Mankato, which ranked #2. Located in the city of Mankato, Minnesota State University Mankato is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,572, with out-of-state students paying around $18,942. Physical Education graduates carry a median of $24,420 in student loans. Early-career physical education graduates make about $42,512. That is a strong return on a $24,420 median debt. The acceptance rate is 88%.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at St Catherine University earned it the #3 place for physical education. St Catherine University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Saint Paul. Students from in state pay about $38,428 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $28,000 to complete the physical education program here. Physical Education graduates of St Catherine University earn a median of $60,427 early in their careers. Set against $28,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 92%.
More Physical Education Rankings
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Notes and References
The ranking above is published 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 · 6 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.
