2026 Best Value Health & Physical Education Schools in Kentucky
[Health & Physical Education](/majors/parks-recreation-fitness/health-and-physical-education/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. 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 21 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 Kentucky
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 Northern Kentucky University, our #1 best value for health & physical education in Kentucky. Northern Kentucky University is a large public school located in the suburb of Highland Heights. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $11,088, compared with $21,912 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $23,500 to complete the health & physical education program here. Early-career health & physical education graduates make about $42,725. Set against $23,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 68%.
Berea College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in health & physical education, landing the #2 spot this year. Set in the town of Berea, Berea College is a small private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $51,658. Health & Physical Education graduates carry a median of $5,801 in student loans. Early-career health & physical education graduates make about $31,428. Set against $5,801 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 19%.
Students looking for strong value in health & physical education will find it at Kentucky State University, which ranked #3. Set in the town of Frankfort, Kentucky State University is a mid-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,387, while out-of-state students pay about $13,578. Health & Physical Education graduates carry a median of $29,774 in student loans. Early-career health & physical education graduates make about $28,497. Set against $29,774 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Kentucky State University admits about 96% of applicants.
Eastern Kentucky University came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the best value health & physical education schools. Located in the town of Richmond, Eastern Kentucky University is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $10,320 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $21,230. Health & Physical Education graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Soon after graduation, health & physical education degree recipients from Eastern Kentucky University generally make around $33,722. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 78% of applicants are accepted.
Morehead State University is a great value for students pursuing a degree in health & physical education, landing the #5 spot this year. Located in the town of Morehead, Morehead State University is a moderately-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $10,024 in tuition and fees, compared with $14,980 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for health & physical education graduates is $25,946. Early-career health & physical education graduates make about $30,696. Set against $25,946 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 77% of applicants are accepted.
Western Kentucky University landed the #6 spot for health & physical education value this year. Set in the city of Bowling Green, Western Kentucky University is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $11,652, while out-of-state students pay about $27,000. Health & Physical Education graduates carry a median of $24,593 in student loans. Soon after graduation, health & physical education degree recipients from Western Kentucky University generally make around $25,858. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 94%.
University Of The Cumberlands earned the #7 position for value in health & physical education this year. University Of The Cumberlands is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the town of Williamsburg. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,875. Students borrow a median of $22,630 to complete the health & physical education program here. Early-career health & physical education graduates make about $31,401. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of The Cumberlands admits about 99% of applicants.
University Of Kentucky earned the #8 position for value in health & physical education this year. Located in the city of Lexington, University Of Kentucky is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $13,502, compared with $34,140 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $24,094 to complete the health & physical education program here. Soon after graduation, health & physical education degree recipients from University Of Kentucky generally make around $43,994. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 93%.
Georgetown College ranked #9 on our 2026 list of the best value health & physical education schools. Located in the town of Georgetown, Georgetown College is a small private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $42,840 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the health & physical education program here. Soon after graduation, health & physical education degree recipients from Georgetown College generally make around $37,620. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 91%.
University Of Louisville earned the #10 position for value in health & physical education this year. Located in the city of Louisville, University Of Louisville is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $13,136, with out-of-state students paying around $29,482. Students borrow a median of $22,053 to complete the health & physical education program here. Soon after graduation, health & physical education degree recipients from University Of Louisville generally make around $36,995. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 79%.
Campbellsville University came in at #11 for value in health & physical education this year. Located in the town of Campbellsville, Campbellsville University is a large private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $27,998 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the health & physical education program here. Early-career health & physical education graduates make about $43,474. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 80%.
Thomas More College earned the #12 position for value in health & physical education this year. Located in the suburb of Crestview Hills, Thomas More College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $39,025. Health & Physical Education graduates carry a median of $31,608 in student loans. Health & Physical Education graduates of Thomas More College earn a median of $57,440 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $31,608 median debt. Roughly 90% of applicants are accepted.
Asbury University landed the #13 spot for health & physical education value this year. Located in the town of Wilmore, Asbury University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $33,640. Typical student debt for health & physical education graduates is $26,250. Soon after graduation, health & physical education degree recipients from Asbury University generally make around $50,086. That is a strong return on a $26,250 median debt. Asbury University admits about 63% of applicants.
Transylvania University earned the #14 position for value in health & physical education this year. Located in the city of Lexington, Transylvania University is a small private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $46,870. Typical student debt for health & physical education graduates is $26,000. Health & Physical Education graduates of Transylvania University earn a median of $45,208 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $26,000 median debt. Roughly 86% of applicants are accepted.
Bellarmine University earned the #15 position for value in health & physical education this year. Bellarmine University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Louisville. Students from in state pay about $48,770 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $25,944 to complete the health & physical education program here. Soon after graduation, health & physical education degree recipients from Bellarmine University generally make around $30,236. Set against $25,944 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 86%.
Midway College ranked #16 on our 2026 list of the best value health & physical education schools. Located in the rural area of Midway, Midway College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $19,110. Health & Physical Education graduates carry a median of $23,125 in student loans. Soon after graduation, health & physical education degree recipients from Midway College generally make around $42,586. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Midway College admits about 95% of applicants.
Union College Kentucky earned the #17 position for value in health & physical education this year. Set in the town of Barbourville, Union College Kentucky is a small private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $30,946. Students borrow a median of $27,852 to complete the health & physical education program here. Early-career health & physical education graduates make about $54,587. Set against $27,852 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 63% of applicants are accepted.
Kentucky Wesleyan College landed the #18 spot for health & physical education value this year. Located in the city of Owensboro, Kentucky Wesleyan College is a small private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $34,673. Students borrow a median of $25,000 to complete the health & physical education program here. Early-career health & physical education graduates make about $32,568. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 72%.
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Notes and References
This list is compiled 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 · 21 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 10 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.
