by our College Data Analytics Team
[Physical Fitness Technician](/majors/parks-recreation-fitness/health-and-physical-education/physical-fitness-technician/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 164 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for physical fitness technician students.
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The right physical fitness technician school can pay off for years to come. That is why we built our Best Value Physical Fitness Technician Schools ranking. It weighs the cost of a degree against the outcomes graduates go on to achieve, so you can find the strongest return on your investment.
Read more about our methodology
Since the program you select can have a significant impact on your future, we offer several rankings, including this Best Value Physical Fitness Technician Schools list, to help you choose. More interested in schools in a specific area of the country? Filter this list by region or state.
To further help you make the college decision, we have developed a unique tool called College Combat that lets you compare schools on the factors that matter most to you.
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in physical fitness technician, balancing cost against outcomes.
Moorpark College tops our 2026 list of the best value physical fitness technician schools in the United States. Located in the suburb of Moorpark, Moorpark College is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $1,426, with out-of-state students paying around $9,615. Typical student debt for physical fitness technician graduates is $17,075. Early-career physical fitness technician graduates make about $105,599. That is a strong return on a $17,075 median debt.
A rank of #2 makes San Diego Miramar College one of the best values for physical fitness technician. Set in the city of San Diego, San Diego Miramar College is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $1,146, compared with $10,002 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for physical fitness technician graduates is $8,098. Physical Fitness Technician graduates of San Diego Miramar College earn a median of $41,038 early in their careers. Set against $8,098 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
South Texas College came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the best value physical fitness technician schools. Located in the city of McAllen, South Texas College is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,920, while out-of-state students pay about $7,620. Typical student debt for physical fitness technician graduates is $4,500. Early-career physical fitness technician graduates make about $22,699. That is a strong return on a $4,500 median debt.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at San Diego Mesa College earned it the #4 place for physical fitness technician. San Diego Mesa College is a very large public school located in the city of San Diego. Students from in state pay about $1,146 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $10,002. Students borrow a median of $6,999 to complete the physical fitness technician program here. Soon after graduation, physical fitness technician degree recipients from San Diego Mesa College generally make around $29,852. Set against $6,999 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Students looking for strong value in physical fitness technician will find it at Cerritos College, which ranked #5. Set in the suburb of Norwalk, Cerritos College is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $1,364, with out-of-state students paying around $12,004. Physical Fitness Technician graduates carry a median of $11,306 in student loans. Physical Fitness Technician graduates of Cerritos College earn a median of $29,495 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $11,306 median debt.
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Fresno City College placed #6 among the best values for physical fitness technician. Set in the city of Fresno, Fresno City College is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $1,378 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $8,638. Typical student debt for physical fitness technician graduates is $7,234. Early-career physical fitness technician graduates make about $37,470. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
College Of San Mateo placed #7 among the best values for physical fitness technician. College Of San Mateo is a large public school located in the city of San Mateo. In-state tuition and fees average $1,332, while out-of-state students pay about $11,428. Physical Fitness Technician graduates carry a median of $12,831 in student loans. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $54,172. That is a strong return on a $12,831 median debt.
College Of The Canyons placed #8 among the best values for physical fitness technician. Located in the suburb of Santa Clarita, College Of The Canyons is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $1,166 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $10,958. Students borrow a median of $9,776 to complete the physical fitness technician program here. Early-career physical fitness technician graduates make about $51,913. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Pasadena City College landed the #9 spot for physical fitness technician value this year. Set in the city of Pasadena, Pasadena City College is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $1,180 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $10,924. Students borrow a median of $9,191 to complete the physical fitness technician program here. Soon after graduation, physical fitness technician degree recipients from Pasadena City College generally make around $38,841. That is a strong return on a $9,191 median debt.
West Valley College came in at #10 for value in physical fitness technician this year. West Valley College is a large public school located in the suburb of Saratoga. Students from in state pay about $0 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $9,320. Typical student debt for physical fitness technician graduates is $14,308. Early-career physical fitness technician graduates make about $25,378. That is a strong return on a $14,308 median debt.
Saddleback College earned the #11 position for value in physical fitness technician this year. Saddleback College is a very large public school located in the suburb of Mission Viejo. Students from in state pay about $1,432 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $14,812. Physical Fitness Technician graduates carry a median of $5,707 in student loans. Physical Fitness Technician graduates of Saddleback College earn a median of $15,890 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Moreno Valley College earned the #12 position for value in physical fitness technician this year. Located in the suburb of Moreno Valley, Moreno Valley College is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $1,428, while out-of-state students pay about $12,498. Typical student debt for physical fitness technician graduates is $12,643. Physical Fitness Technician graduates of Moreno Valley College earn a median of $45,515 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Mt San Antonio College placed #13 among the best values for physical fitness technician. Located in the suburb of Walnut, Mt San Antonio College is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $1,364, while out-of-state students pay about $10,464. Typical student debt for physical fitness technician graduates is $6,865. Physical Fitness Technician graduates of Mt San Antonio College earn a median of $19,869 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $6,865 median debt.
Santa Ana College ranked #14 on our 2026 list of the best value physical fitness technician schools. Santa Ana College is a very large public school located in the city of Santa Ana. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,180, compared with $10,756 for out-of-state students. Physical Fitness Technician graduates carry a median of $11,196 in student loans. Physical Fitness Technician graduates of Santa Ana College earn a median of $39,633 early in their careers. Set against $11,196 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Gavilan College placed #15 among the best values for physical fitness technician. Set in the rural area of Gilroy, Gavilan College is a moderately-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $1,508, while out-of-state students pay about $12,249. Students borrow a median of $5,939 to complete the physical fitness technician program here. Physical Fitness Technician graduates of Gavilan College earn a median of $28,496 early in their careers. Set against $5,939 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Las Positas College came in at #16 for value in physical fitness technician this year. Las Positas College is a large public school located in the city of Livermore. Students from in state pay about $1,168 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $9,808. Graduates go on to earn a median of $51,088 ten years after entry.
Riverside City College landed the #17 spot for physical fitness technician value this year. Riverside City College is a very large public school located in the city of Riverside. Students from in state pay about $1,428 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $12,498. Physical Fitness Technician graduates carry a median of $8,046 in student loans. Soon after graduation, physical fitness technician degree recipients from Riverside City College generally make around $25,516. Set against $8,046 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Orange Coast College ranked #18 on our 2026 list of the best value physical fitness technician schools. Located in the city of Costa Mesa, Orange Coast College is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $1,392, while out-of-state students pay about $11,640. Physical Fitness Technician graduates carry a median of $8,978 in student loans. Physical Fitness Technician graduates of Orange Coast College earn a median of $46,306 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Central New Mexico Community College landed the #19 spot for physical fitness technician value this year. Central New Mexico Community College is a very large public school located in the city of Albuquerque. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,060, with out-of-state students paying around $8,684. Physical Fitness Technician graduates carry a median of $10,112 in student loans. Physical Fitness Technician graduates of Central New Mexico Community College earn a median of $34,751 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $10,112 median debt.
Cypress College came in at #20 for value in physical fitness technician this year. Set in the city of Cypress, Cypress College is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,150, with out-of-state students paying around $12,379. Median earnings reach $43,533 ten years out.
Santa Rosa Junior College landed the #21 spot for physical fitness technician value this year. Santa Rosa Junior College is a very large public school located in the city of Santa Rosa. In-state tuition and fees average $1,318, while out-of-state students pay about $11,308. Students borrow a median of $14,692 to complete the physical fitness technician program here. Early-career physical fitness technician graduates make about $80,047. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Chabot College landed the #22 spot for physical fitness technician value this year. Located in the suburb of Hayward, Chabot College is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $1,150 in tuition and fees, compared with $8,686 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for physical fitness technician graduates is $14,122. Physical Fitness Technician graduates of Chabot College earn a median of $85,175 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $14,122 median debt.
Solano Community College earned the #23 position for value in physical fitness technician this year. Located in the suburb of Fairfield, Solano Community College is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $1,172, while out-of-state students pay about $9,772. Students borrow a median of $10,500 to complete the physical fitness technician program here. Median earnings reach $44,170 ten years out. Set against $10,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Suffolk County Community College came in at #24 for value in physical fitness technician this year. Set in the suburb of Selden, Suffolk County Community College is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,630, compared with $12,460 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for physical fitness technician graduates is $11,246. Physical Fitness Technician graduates of Suffolk County Community College earn a median of $35,667 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Delta College came in at #25 for value in physical fitness technician this year. Delta College is a large public school located in the rural area of University Center. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,820, compared with $7,880 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $14,075 to complete the physical fitness technician program here. Early-career physical fitness technician graduates make about $37,342. That is a strong return on a $14,075 median debt.
Not far behind, these schools also offered excellent value in physical fitness technician:
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Physical Fitness Technician is one of many programs to choose from within the area of study. See all related rankings.
This ranking is produced 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 · 164 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 10 ranked schools only.
More about our data sources and methodologies.