2026 Best Value Health & Physical Education Schools in South Carolina
[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.
College Factual analyzed 25 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best value health & physical education schools.
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2026 Best Value Health & Physical Education Schools in South Carolina
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in health & physical education, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Health & Physical Education Schools
Coastal Carolina University earned the #1 spot for value among health & physical education schools in South Carolina. Set in the city of Conway, Coastal Carolina University is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $11,640, with out-of-state students paying around $29,628. Typical student debt for health & physical education graduates is $26,997. Soon after graduation, health & physical education degree recipients from Coastal Carolina University generally make around $36,399. Set against $26,997 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Coastal Carolina University admits about 75% of applicants.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at University Of South Carolina Aiken earned it the #2 place for health & physical education. University Of South Carolina Aiken is a mid-sized public school located in the suburb of Aiken. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $10,760, compared with $21,218 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $30,975 to complete the health & physical education program here. Early-career health & physical education graduates make about $25,467. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 78%.
Lander University came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the best value health & physical education schools. Set in the town of Greenwood, Lander University is a mid-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $11,700, compared with $21,300 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for health & physical education graduates is $24,995. Health & Physical Education graduates of Lander University earn a median of $27,155 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $24,995 median debt. Roughly 81% of applicants are accepted.
Winthrop University is a great value for students pursuing a degree in health & physical education, landing the #4 spot this year. Winthrop University is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Rock Hill. In-state tuition and fees average $14,678, with out-of-state students paying around $28,676. Typical student debt for health & physical education graduates is $27,000. Early-career health & physical education graduates make about $35,704. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Winthrop University admits about 79% of applicants.
A rank of #5 makes Allen University one of the best values for health & physical education. Located in the city of Columbia, Allen University is a small private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $14,304. Health & Physical Education graduates carry a median of $39,771 in student loans. Early-career health & physical education graduates make about $23,346. That is a strong return on a $39,771 median debt. Roughly 72% of applicants are accepted.
Coker College earned the #6 position for value in health & physical education this year. Set in the town of Hartsville, Coker College is a small private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $33,416. Typical student debt for health & physical education graduates is $26,475. Health & Physical Education graduates of Coker College earn a median of $30,333 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 94% of applicants are accepted.
Benedict College earned the #7 position for value in health & physical education this year. Set in the city of Columbia, Benedict College is a small private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $17,748 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $37,311 to complete the health & physical education program here. Soon after graduation, health & physical education degree recipients from Benedict College generally make around $25,769. That is a strong return on a $37,311 median debt. The acceptance rate is 96%.
Bob Jones University ranked #8 on our 2026 list of the best value health & physical education schools. Bob Jones University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Greenville. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $22,892. Typical student debt for health & physical education graduates is $23,000. Soon after graduation, health & physical education degree recipients from Bob Jones University generally make around $32,481. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Newberry College ranked #9 on our 2026 list of the best value health & physical education schools. Set in the town of Newberry, Newberry College is a small private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $31,100. Typical student debt for health & physical education graduates is $28,375. Health & Physical Education graduates of Newberry College earn a median of $33,159 early in their careers. Set against $28,375 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Newberry College admits about 90% of applicants.
Citadel Military College Of South Carolina earned the #10 position for value in health & physical education this year. Located in the city of Charleston, Citadel Military College Of South Carolina is a mid-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $12,570, while out-of-state students pay about $38,508. Health & Physical Education graduates carry a median of $22,250 in student loans. Early-career health & physical education graduates make about $43,409. That is a strong return on a $22,250 median debt. Roughly 23% of applicants are accepted.
North Greenville University landed the #11 spot for health & physical education value this year. North Greenville University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the rural area of Tigerville. In-state tuition and fees average $25,800. Typical student debt for health & physical education graduates is $28,000. Early-career health & physical education graduates make about $27,537. That is a strong return on a $28,000 median debt. Roughly 67% of applicants are accepted.
Columbia International University ranked #12 on our 2026 list of the best value health & physical education schools. Set in the city of Columbia, Columbia International University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $27,900. Health & Physical Education graduates carry a median of $21,667 in student loans. Health & Physical Education graduates of Columbia International University earn a median of $32,296 early in their careers. Set against $21,667 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 94%.
Claflin University ranked #13 on our 2026 list of the best value health & physical education schools. Located in the town of Orangeburg, Claflin University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $17,046. Health & Physical Education graduates carry a median of $35,425 in student loans. Health & Physical Education graduates of Claflin University earn a median of $22,642 early in their careers. Set against $35,425 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 65%.
Charleston Southern University ranked #14 on our 2026 list of the best value health & physical education schools. Charleston Southern University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Charleston. In-state tuition and fees average $32,520. Health & Physical Education graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Health & Physical Education graduates of Charleston Southern University earn a median of $26,722 early in their careers. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 96% of applicants are accepted.
Erskine College And Seminary earned the #15 position for value in health & physical education this year. Located in the rural area of Due West, Erskine College And Seminary is a small private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $36,710. Typical student debt for health & physical education graduates is $27,000. Early-career health & physical education graduates make about $35,695. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. Roughly 63% of applicants are accepted.
Clemson University earned the #16 position for value in health & physical education this year. Set in the suburb of Clemson, Clemson University is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $15,554 in tuition and fees, compared with $40,866 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $23,783 to complete the health & physical education program here. Health & Physical Education graduates of Clemson University earn a median of $47,774 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $23,783 median debt. Clemson University admits about 38% of applicants.
Limestone College came in at #17 for value in health & physical education this year. Set in the town of Gaffney, Limestone College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $27,800. Typical student debt for health & physical education graduates is $27,000. Health & Physical Education graduates of Limestone College earn a median of $26,809 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. The acceptance rate is 97%.
University Of South Carolina Columbia came in at #18 for value in health & physical education this year. Located in the city of Columbia, University Of South Carolina Columbia is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $12,688, while out-of-state students pay about $36,298. Health & Physical Education graduates carry a median of $25,000 in student loans. Soon after graduation, health & physical education degree recipients from University Of South Carolina Columbia generally make around $37,903. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 60% of applicants are accepted.
Anderson University Sc earned the #19 position for value in health & physical education this year. Located in the city of Anderson, Anderson University Sc is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $34,970. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the health & physical education program here. Soon after graduation, health & physical education degree recipients from Anderson University Sc generally make around $27,340. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. The acceptance rate is 55%.
Furman University landed the #20 spot for health & physical education value this year. Set in the suburb of Greenville, Furman University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $59,770 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for health & physical education graduates is $23,764. Soon after graduation, health & physical education degree recipients from Furman University generally make around $36,520. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 43%.
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 · 25 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.
