2026 Best Value Health & Physical Education Schools in Florida

[Health & Physical Education](/majors/parks-recreation-fitness/health-and-physical-education/) 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 36 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for health & physical education students.
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2026 Best Value Health & Physical Education Schools in Florida
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in health & physical education, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Health & Physical Education Schools
For return on investment in health & physical education, no school beat University Of Florida this year. University Of Florida is a very large public school located in the city of Gainesville. In-state tuition and fees average $6,381, with out-of-state students paying around $28,659. Students borrow a median of $19,982 to complete the health & physical education program here. Health & Physical Education graduates of University Of Florida earn a median of $45,046 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of Florida admits about 24% of applicants.
Students looking for strong value in health & physical education will find it at University Of Florida Online, which ranked #2. Located in the city of Gainesville, University Of Florida Online is a moderately-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,876, while out-of-state students pay about $16,579. Health & Physical Education graduates carry a median of $19,982 in student loans. Soon after graduation, health & physical education degree recipients from University Of Florida Online generally make around $39,717. That is a strong return on a $19,982 median debt. The acceptance rate is 61%.
A rank of #3 makes Florida Atlantic University one of the best values for health & physical education. Florida Atlantic University is a very large public school located in the city of Boca Raton. Students from in state pay about $4,879 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $17,324. Typical student debt for health & physical education graduates is $20,659. Health & Physical Education graduates of Florida Atlantic University earn a median of $40,682 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 66%.
Northwest Florida State College came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the best value health & physical education schools. Set in the suburb of Niceville, Northwest Florida State College is a moderately-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $2,583 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $10,612. Health & Physical Education graduates carry a median of $11,566 in student loans. Early-career health & physical education graduates make about $48,463. That is a strong return on a $11,566 median debt.
Students looking for strong value in health & physical education will find it at The University Of West Florida, which ranked #5. The University Of West Florida is a large public school located in the rural area of Pensacola. Students from in state pay about $5,776 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $18,658. Students borrow a median of $22,188 to complete the health & physical education program here. Soon after graduation, health & physical education degree recipients from The University Of West Florida generally make around $28,643. That is a strong return on a $22,188 median debt. Roughly 58% of applicants are accepted.
Florida International University landed the #6 spot for health & physical education value this year. Located in the suburb of Miami, Florida International University is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,565, compared with $18,964 for out-of-state students. Health & Physical Education graduates carry a median of $19,349 in student loans. Early-career health & physical education graduates make about $52,517. Set against $19,349 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Florida International University admits about 55% of applicants.
University Of South Florida Main Campus came in at #7 for value in health & physical education this year. University Of South Florida Main Campus is a very large public school located in the city of Tampa. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,410, with out-of-state students paying around $17,324. Typical student debt for health & physical education graduates is $21,829. Soon after graduation, health & physical education degree recipients from University Of South Florida Main Campus generally make around $34,249. That is a strong return on a $21,829 median debt. University Of South Florida Main Campus admits about 43% of applicants.
Florida Gulf Coast University earned the #8 position for value in health & physical education this year. Florida Gulf Coast University is a large public school located in the suburb of Fort Myers. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,118, compared with $25,162 for out-of-state students. Health & Physical Education graduates carry a median of $15,000 in student loans. Soon after graduation, health & physical education degree recipients from Florida Gulf Coast University generally make around $36,002. That is a strong return on a $15,000 median debt. Florida Gulf Coast University admits about 63% of applicants.
University Of Central Florida came in at #9 for value in health & physical education this year. Set in the suburb of Orlando, University Of Central Florida is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,368, with out-of-state students paying around $22,467. Health & Physical Education graduates carry a median of $21,620 in student loans. Health & Physical Education graduates of University Of Central Florida earn a median of $46,398 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 40%.
University Of North Florida earned the #10 position for value in health & physical education this year. Set in the city of Jacksonville, University Of North Florida is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $5,964, while out-of-state students pay about $19,407. Typical student debt for health & physical education graduates is $16,500. Health & Physical Education graduates of University Of North Florida earn a median of $33,364 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $16,500 median debt. University Of North Florida admits about 53% of applicants.
Florida State University landed the #11 spot for health & physical education value this year. Set in the city of Tallahassee, Florida State University is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,517, compared with $21,683 for out-of-state students. Health & Physical Education graduates carry a median of $18,750 in student loans. Early-career health & physical education graduates make about $34,630. That is a strong return on a $18,750 median debt. Florida State University admits about 24% of applicants.
Saint Leo University ranked #12 on our 2026 list of the best value health & physical education schools. Located in the town of Saint Leo, Saint Leo University is a large private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $30,000. Students borrow a median of $25,000 to complete the health & physical education program here. Soon after graduation, health & physical education degree recipients from Saint Leo University generally make around $36,962. Set against $25,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 78%.
Bethune Cookman University landed the #13 spot for health & physical education value this year. Set in the city of Daytona Beach, Bethune Cookman University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $14,794. Typical student debt for health & physical education graduates is $31,000. Early-career health & physical education graduates make about $25,459. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 88%.
Florida Agricultural And Mechanical University came in at #14 for value in health & physical education this year. Set in the city of Tallahassee, Florida Agricultural And Mechanical University is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $5,785, while out-of-state students pay about $17,725. Typical student debt for health & physical education graduates is $30,494. Early-career health & physical education graduates make about $36,850. That is a strong return on a $30,494 median debt. Roughly 21% of applicants are accepted.
Warner University ranked #15 on our 2026 list of the best value health & physical education schools. Set in the rural area of Lake Wales, Warner University is a small private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $29,992. Students borrow a median of $26,995 to complete the health & physical education program here. Health & Physical Education graduates of Warner University earn a median of $28,512 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $26,995 median debt. Warner University admits about 43% of applicants.
National Personal Training Institute Winter Park placed #16 among the best values for health & physical education. National Personal Training Institute Winter Park is a small private for-profit school located in the suburb of Orlando. Health & Physical Education graduates carry a median of $6,333 in student loans. Soon after graduation, health & physical education degree recipients from National Personal Training Institute Winter Park generally make around $18,641.
National Personal Training Institute Tampa came in at #17 for value in health & physical education this year. National Personal Training Institute Tampa is a small private for-profit school located in the suburb of Tampa. Students borrow a median of $6,333 to complete the health & physical education program here. Early-career health & physical education graduates make about $18,641.
Barry University earned the #18 position for value in health & physical education this year. Barry University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Miami. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $34,350. Health & Physical Education graduates carry a median of $31,180 in student loans. Health & Physical Education graduates of Barry University earn a median of $40,439 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 77% of applicants are accepted.
Florida Southern College ranked #19 on our 2026 list of the best value health & physical education schools. Set in the city of Lakeland, Florida Southern College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $44,040. Typical student debt for health & physical education graduates is $25,357. Health & Physical Education graduates of Florida Southern College earn a median of $48,665 early in their careers. Set against $25,357 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Florida Southern College admits about 64% of applicants.
Jacksonville University earned the #20 position for value in health & physical education this year. Set in the city of Jacksonville, Jacksonville University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $48,150. Students borrow a median of $25,000 to complete the health & physical education program here. Soon after graduation, health & physical education degree recipients from Jacksonville University generally make around $40,369. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Jacksonville University admits about 57% of applicants.
Flagler College St Augustine placed #21 among the best values for health & physical education. Flagler College St Augustine is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Saint Augustine. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $29,900. Health & Physical Education graduates carry a median of $25,547 in student loans. Early-career health & physical education graduates make about $29,600. That is a strong return on a $25,547 median debt. Flagler College St Augustine admits about 81% of applicants.
Webber International University placed #22 among the best values for health & physical education. Webber International University is a small private not-for-profit school located in the rural area of Babson Park. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $33,770. Health & Physical Education graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Early-career health & physical education graduates make about $34,494. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 69% of applicants are accepted.
Southeastern University earned the #23 position for value in health & physical education this year. Located in the city of Lakeland, Southeastern University is a large private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $32,950. Students borrow a median of $25,343 to complete the health & physical education program here. Soon after graduation, health & physical education degree recipients from Southeastern University generally make around $25,994. Set against $25,343 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 53%.
Nova Southeastern University landed the #24 spot for health & physical education value this year. Nova Southeastern University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Fort Lauderdale. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $38,700. Health & Physical Education graduates carry a median of $24,560 in student loans. Health & Physical Education graduates of Nova Southeastern University earn a median of $23,136 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $24,560 median debt. Nova Southeastern University admits about 73% of applicants.
Palm Beach Atlantic University West Palm Beach ranked #25 on our 2026 list of the best value health & physical education schools. Located in the city of West Palm Beach, Palm Beach Atlantic University West Palm Beach is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $40,650. Health & Physical Education graduates carry a median of $25,000 in student loans. Early-career health & physical education graduates make about $54,317. That is a strong return on a $25,000 median debt. The acceptance rate is 82%.
Rest of the Top 29 Best Value Health & Physical Education Schools
Not far behind, these schools also offered excellent value in health & physical education:
More Health & Physical Education Rankings
View All Health & Physical Education Rankings >
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 · 36 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 18 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.