2026 Best Value Health & Physical Education Schools in Wisconsin
[Health & Physical Education](/majors/parks-recreation-fitness/health-and-physical-education/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong health & physical education education at a price that pays off.
For its 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 25 schools to find the best return on investment for health & physical education students.
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2026 Best Value Health & Physical Education Schools in Wisconsin
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in health & physical education, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Health & Physical Education Schools
Leading the list is University Of Wisconsin Parkside, our #1 best value for health & physical education in Wisconsin. Located in the rural area of Kenosha, University Of Wisconsin Parkside is a mid-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $8,270 in tuition and fees, compared with $17,429 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for health & physical education graduates is $25,349. Health & Physical Education graduates of University Of Wisconsin Parkside earn a median of $30,655 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $25,349 median debt. University Of Wisconsin Parkside admits about 75% of applicants.
University Of Wisconsin River Falls came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the best value health & physical education schools. Located in the town of River Falls, University Of Wisconsin River Falls is a moderately-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,008, while out-of-state students pay about $17,470. Health & Physical Education graduates carry a median of $24,245 in student loans. Soon after graduation, health & physical education degree recipients from University Of Wisconsin River Falls generally make around $50,651. That is a strong return on a $24,245 median debt. University Of Wisconsin River Falls admits about 82% of applicants.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at University Of Wisconsin Platteville earned it the #3 place for health & physical education. University Of Wisconsin Platteville is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Platteville. In-state tuition and fees average $8,644, compared with $17,603 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for health & physical education graduates is $27,000. Health & Physical Education graduates of University Of Wisconsin Platteville earn a median of $46,027 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of Wisconsin Platteville admits about 89% of applicants.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at University Of Wisconsin Oshkosh earned it the #4 place for health & physical education. Located in the city of Oshkosh, University Of Wisconsin Oshkosh is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $8,532, compared with $16,446 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for health & physical education graduates is $24,619. Soon after graduation, health & physical education degree recipients from University Of Wisconsin Oshkosh generally make around $50,590. That is a strong return on a $24,619 median debt. University Of Wisconsin Oshkosh admits about 86% of applicants.
University Of Wisconsin Stevens Point came in at #5 on our 2026 list of the best value health & physical education schools. Located in the town of Stevens Point, University Of Wisconsin Stevens Point is a moderately-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $9,228, compared with $18,248 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for health & physical education graduates is $25,200. Early-career health & physical education graduates make about $34,503. That is a strong return on a $25,200 median debt. University Of Wisconsin Stevens Point admits about 92% of applicants.
University Of Wisconsin Whitewater ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the best value health & physical education schools. Set in the town of Whitewater, University Of Wisconsin Whitewater is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $8,616, compared with $18,716 for out-of-state students. Health & Physical Education graduates carry a median of $25,306 in student loans. Soon after graduation, health & physical education degree recipients from University Of Wisconsin Whitewater generally make around $45,767. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 86% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Wisconsin La Crosse earned the #7 position for value in health & physical education this year. Set in the city of La Crosse, University Of Wisconsin La Crosse is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $10,070, compared with $19,517 for out-of-state students. Health & Physical Education graduates carry a median of $23,250 in student loans. Health & Physical Education graduates of University Of Wisconsin La Crosse earn a median of $37,437 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 76%.
University Of Wisconsin Madison earned the #8 position for value in health & physical education this year. Located in the city of Madison, University Of Wisconsin Madison is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $11,603, with out-of-state students paying around $42,103. Health & Physical Education graduates carry a median of $26,000 in student loans. Soon after graduation, health & physical education degree recipients from University Of Wisconsin Madison generally make around $29,866. That is a strong return on a $26,000 median debt. Roughly 45% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Wisconsin Milwaukee ranked #9 on our 2026 list of the best value health & physical education schools. Set in the city of Milwaukee, University Of Wisconsin Milwaukee is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $10,398 in tuition and fees, compared with $22,398 for out-of-state students. Health & Physical Education graduates carry a median of $26,000 in student loans. Health & Physical Education graduates of University Of Wisconsin Milwaukee earn a median of $34,066 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 91% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Wisconsin Eau Claire ranked #10 on our 2026 list of the best value health & physical education schools. University Of Wisconsin Eau Claire is a large public school located in the city of Eau Claire. Students from in state pay about $9,642 in tuition and fees, compared with $19,228 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $23,375 to complete the health & physical education program here. Health & Physical Education graduates of University Of Wisconsin Eau Claire earn a median of $32,801 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $23,375 median debt. Roughly 82% of applicants are accepted.
Ripon College earned the #11 position for value in health & physical education this year. Located in the town of Ripon, Ripon College is a small private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $51,900. Health & Physical Education graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Early-career health & physical education graduates make about $29,768. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. Ripon College admits about 80% of applicants.
Wisconsin Lutheran College ranked #12 on our 2026 list of the best value health & physical education schools. Set in the city of Milwaukee, Wisconsin Lutheran College is a small private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $36,110. Health & Physical Education graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Health & Physical Education graduates of Wisconsin Lutheran College earn a median of $54,908 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. Wisconsin Lutheran College admits about 78% of applicants.
Lakeland College placed #13 among the best values for health & physical education. Lakeland College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the rural area of Plymouth. Students from in state pay about $33,396 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for health & physical education graduates is $24,225. Health & Physical Education graduates of Lakeland College earn a median of $41,427 early in their careers. Set against $24,225 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 86%.
Marian University Wisconsin ranked #14 on our 2026 list of the best value health & physical education schools. Set in the city of Fond Du Lac, Marian University Wisconsin is a small private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $35,204. Health & Physical Education graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Soon after graduation, health & physical education degree recipients from Marian University Wisconsin generally make around $72,102. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 75%.
Carroll University landed the #15 spot for health & physical education value this year. Set in the city of Waukesha, Carroll University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $38,890. Health & Physical Education graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Early-career health & physical education graduates make about $33,333. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 67%.
Carthage College landed the #16 spot for health & physical education value this year. Carthage College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Kenosha. Students from in state pay about $38,750 in tuition and fees. Health & Physical Education graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Soon after graduation, health & physical education degree recipients from Carthage College generally make around $36,638. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. The acceptance rate is 87%.
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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 · 25 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 11 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.
