2026 Best Value Health & Physical Education Schools in Virginia
[Health & Physical Education](/majors/parks-recreation-fitness/health-and-physical-education/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. 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 Virginia
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
Our analysis ranked Old Dominion University the best value for a degree in health & physical education in Virginia. Located in the city of Norfolk, Old Dominion University is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $12,750 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $33,780. Students borrow a median of $26,375 to complete the health & physical education program here. Early-career health & physical education graduates make about $37,596. Set against $26,375 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Old Dominion University admits about 90% of applicants.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Norfolk State University earned it the #2 place for health & physical education. Located in the city of Norfolk, Norfolk State University is a moderately-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $10,180 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $21,682. Soon after graduation, health & physical education degree recipients from Norfolk State University generally make around $54,971. Roughly 88% of applicants are accepted.
Radford University is a great value for students pursuing a degree in health & physical education, landing the #3 spot this year. Set in the town of Radford, Radford University is a moderately-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $12,548 in tuition and fees, compared with $25,633 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $25,514 to complete the health & physical education program here. Early-career health & physical education graduates make about $47,271. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 90% of applicants are accepted.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at George Mason University earned it the #4 place for health & physical education. Set in the suburb of Fairfax, George Mason University is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $14,220, with out-of-state students paying around $38,688. Students borrow a median of $25,033 to complete the health & physical education program here. Soon after graduation, health & physical education degree recipients from George Mason University generally make around $36,484. That is a strong return on a $25,033 median debt. Roughly 88% of applicants are accepted.
Virginia Commonwealth University is a great value for students pursuing a degree in health & physical education, landing the #5 spot this year. Virginia Commonwealth University is a very large public school located in the city of Richmond. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $16,720, compared with $39,884 for out-of-state students. Health & Physical Education graduates carry a median of $23,813 in student loans. Soon after graduation, health & physical education degree recipients from Virginia Commonwealth University generally make around $45,781. That is a strong return on a $23,813 median debt. Virginia Commonwealth University admits about 93% of applicants.
Virginia State University came in at #6 for value in health & physical education this year. Located in the suburb of Petersburg, Virginia State University is a moderately-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $10,043 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $22,650. Typical student debt for health & physical education graduates is $29,010. Soon after graduation, health & physical education degree recipients from Virginia State University generally make around $34,682. That is a strong return on a $29,010 median debt. Roughly 89% of applicants are accepted.
Randolph College ranked #7 on our 2026 list of the best value health & physical education schools. Located in the city of Lynchburg, Randolph College is a small private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $30,310. Typical student debt for health & physical education graduates is $23,750. Early-career health & physical education graduates make about $43,197. That is a strong return on a $23,750 median debt. Roughly 94% of applicants are accepted.
Lynchburg College ranked #8 on our 2026 list of the best value health & physical education schools. Located in the city of Lynchburg, Lynchburg College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $36,750. Early-career health & physical education graduates make about $107,159. The acceptance rate is 43%.
Bridgewater College earned the #9 position for value in health & physical education this year. Bridgewater College is a small private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Bridgewater. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $16,090. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the health & physical education program here. Early-career health & physical education graduates make about $30,243. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 92% of applicants are accepted.
James Madison University ranked #10 on our 2026 list of the best value health & physical education schools. Located in the city of Harrisonburg, James Madison University is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $13,966 in tuition and fees, compared with $31,312 for out-of-state students. Health & Physical Education graduates carry a median of $21,500 in student loans. Early-career health & physical education graduates make about $40,528. Set against $21,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 72%.
Virginia Wesleyan College ranked #11 on our 2026 list of the best value health & physical education schools. Virginia Wesleyan College is a small private not-for-profit school located in the city of Virginia Beach. Students from in state pay about $37,500 in tuition and fees. Health & Physical Education graduates carry a median of $27,925 in student loans. Soon after graduation, health & physical education degree recipients from Virginia Wesleyan College generally make around $45,517. Set against $27,925 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Virginia Wesleyan College admits about 73% of applicants.
Longwood University earned the #12 position for value in health & physical education this year. Set in the town of Farmville, Longwood University is a moderately-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $15,740, compared with $27,980 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the health & physical education program here. Health & Physical Education graduates of Longwood University earn a median of $39,479 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. Longwood University admits about 90% of applicants.
Emory And Henry College came in at #13 for value in health & physical education this year. Located in the rural area of Emory, Emory And Henry College is a small private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $39,000 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for health & physical education graduates is $27,000. Early-career health & physical education graduates make about $28,146. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 84% of applicants are accepted.
College Of William And Mary ranked #14 on our 2026 list of the best value health & physical education schools. Set in the suburb of Williamsburg, College Of William And Mary is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $25,734 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $51,038. Health & Physical Education graduates carry a median of $21,413 in student loans. Health & Physical Education graduates of College Of William And Mary earn a median of $27,114 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. College Of William And Mary admits about 34% of applicants.
University Of Virginia Main Campus placed #15 among the best values for health & physical education. Located in the suburb of Charlottesville, University Of Virginia Main Campus is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $23,118 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $61,591. Health & Physical Education graduates carry a median of $23,250 in student loans. Health & Physical Education graduates of University Of Virginia Main Campus earn a median of $40,998 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $23,250 median debt. University Of Virginia Main Campus admits about 17% of applicants.
Bluefield College placed #16 among the best values for health & physical education. Located in the town of Bluefield, Bluefield College is a small private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $26,770. Typical student debt for health & physical education graduates is $27,000. Health & Physical Education graduates of Bluefield College earn a median of $24,450 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. The acceptance rate is 59%.
Averett University ranked #17 on our 2026 list of the best value health & physical education schools. Located in the town of Danville, Averett University is a small private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $38,550 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $28,000 to complete the health & physical education program here. Soon after graduation, health & physical education degree recipients from Averett University generally make around $36,908. That is a strong return on a $28,000 median debt. Roughly 57% of applicants are accepted.
Roanoke College came in at #18 for value in health & physical education this year. Set in the suburb of Salem, Roanoke College is a small private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $38,068. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the health & physical education program here. Soon after graduation, health & physical education degree recipients from Roanoke College generally make around $27,304. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. Roughly 83% of applicants are accepted.
Liberty University placed #19 among the best values for health & physical education. Liberty University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Lynchburg. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $16,173. Typical student debt for health & physical education graduates is $25,645. Soon after graduation, health & physical education degree recipients from Liberty University generally make around $35,930. That is a strong return on a $25,645 median debt. Liberty University admits about 99% of applicants.
Shenandoah University came in at #20 for value in health & physical education this year. Located in the city of Winchester, Shenandoah University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $36,950. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the health & physical education program here. Early-career health & physical education graduates make about $37,676. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. Shenandoah University admits about 77% of applicants.
Hampton University earned the #21 position for value in health & physical education this year. Located in the suburb of Hampton, Hampton University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $30,592. Typical student debt for health & physical education graduates is $26,000. Soon after graduation, health & physical education degree recipients from Hampton University generally make around $27,633. Set against $26,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 62%.
More Health & Physical Education Rankings
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Notes and References
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. The methodology weighs the cost of a degree against the earnings graduates go on to achieve, 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 16 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.
