2026 Best Value Health & Physical Education Schools in Alabama
[Health & Physical Education](/majors/parks-recreation-fitness/health-and-physical-education/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
For its 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 22 schools to find the best return on investment for health & physical education students.
What’s on this page:
2026 Best Value Health & Physical Education Schools in Alabama
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the health & physical education degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Health & Physical Education Schools
For return on investment in health & physical education, no school beat University Of North Alabama this year. Located in the city of Florence, University Of North Alabama is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $12,120, while out-of-state students pay about $22,320. Health & Physical Education graduates carry a median of $23,250 in student loans. Early-career health & physical education graduates make about $29,714. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 87%.
University Of West Alabama is a great value for students pursuing a degree in health & physical education, landing the #2 spot this year. University Of West Alabama is a moderately-sized public school located in the rural area of Livingston. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $10,990, while out-of-state students pay about $20,090. Students borrow a median of $31,894 to complete the health & physical education program here. Early-career health & physical education graduates make about $53,270. That is a strong return on a $31,894 median debt. University Of West Alabama admits about 43% of applicants.
A rank of #3 makes Troy University one of the best values for health & physical education. Located in the town of Troy, Troy University is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $10,176, with out-of-state students paying around $20,352. Typical student debt for health & physical education graduates is $27,000. Health & Physical Education graduates of Troy University earn a median of $45,064 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Troy University admits about 96% of applicants.
Jacksonville State University came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the best value health & physical education schools. Set in the suburb of Jacksonville, Jacksonville State University is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $12,894, while out-of-state students pay about $23,334. Health & Physical Education graduates carry a median of $24,751 in student loans. Health & Physical Education graduates of Jacksonville State University earn a median of $45,361 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 78% of applicants are accepted.
A rank of #5 makes Auburn University At Montgomery one of the best values for health & physical education. Set in the city of Montgomery, Auburn University At Montgomery is a moderately-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $9,700 in tuition and fees, compared with $20,668 for out-of-state students. Health & Physical Education graduates carry a median of $26,500 in student loans. Soon after graduation, health & physical education degree recipients from Auburn University At Montgomery generally make around $46,152. That is a strong return on a $26,500 median debt. The acceptance rate is 92%.
Alabama A And M University landed the #6 spot for health & physical education value this year. Located in the city of Normal, Alabama A And M University is a moderately-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $10,024 in tuition and fees, compared with $18,634 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $36,000 to complete the health & physical education program here. Early-career health & physical education graduates make about $27,568. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Alabama A And M University admits about 58% of applicants.
University Of Montevallo earned the #7 position for value in health & physical education this year. University Of Montevallo is a mid-sized public school located in the town of Montevallo. Students from in state pay about $13,948 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $26,968. Students borrow a median of $25,000 to complete the health & physical education program here. Early-career health & physical education graduates make about $30,250. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of Montevallo admits about 54% of applicants.
University Of Mobile landed the #8 spot for health & physical education value this year. Located in the rural area of Mobile, University Of Mobile is a small private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $26,910. Health & Physical Education graduates carry a median of $26,000 in student loans. Early-career health & physical education graduates make about $26,785. That is a strong return on a $26,000 median debt. University Of Mobile admits about 78% of applicants.
University Of Alabama At Huntsville ranked #9 on our 2026 list of the best value health & physical education schools. Set in the city of Huntsville, University Of Alabama At Huntsville is a moderately-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $12,132 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $26,408. Typical student debt for health & physical education graduates is $24,250. Health & Physical Education graduates of University Of Alabama At Huntsville earn a median of $27,788 early in their careers. Set against $24,250 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 69%.
Faulkner University came in at #10 for value in health & physical education this year. Faulkner University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Montgomery. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $23,920. Students borrow a median of $34,658 to complete the health & physical education program here. Soon after graduation, health & physical education degree recipients from Faulkner University generally make around $25,710. Set against $34,658 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 73% of applicants are accepted.
Huntingdon College came in at #11 for value in health & physical education this year. Located in the city of Montgomery, Huntingdon College is a small private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $29,070. Students borrow a median of $26,798 to complete the health & physical education program here. Health & Physical Education graduates of Huntingdon College earn a median of $28,469 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $26,798 median debt. The acceptance rate is 70%.
The University Of Alabama placed #12 among the best values for health & physical education. Located in the city of Tuscaloosa, The University Of Alabama is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $12,180, with out-of-state students paying around $34,172. Students borrow a median of $24,496 to complete the health & physical education program here. Soon after graduation, health & physical education degree recipients from The University Of Alabama generally make around $50,740. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 77% of applicants are accepted.
Samford University earned the #13 position for value in health & physical education this year. Samford University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Birmingham. In-state tuition and fees average $40,150. Students borrow a median of $21,039 to complete the health & physical education program here. Early-career health & physical education graduates make about $64,132. That is a strong return on a $21,039 median debt. The acceptance rate is 82%.
More Health & 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 · 22 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 13 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.
