2026 Best Value Health & Physical Education Schools in Kansas
[Health & Physical Education](/majors/parks-recreation-fitness/health-and-physical-education/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong health & physical education education at a price that pays off.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 28 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 Kansas
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
Barton County Community College tops our 2026 list of the best value health & physical education schools in Kansas. Located in the rural area of Great Bend, Barton County Community College is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $3,680 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $4,960. Students borrow a median of $14,792 to complete the health & physical education program here. Early-career health & physical education graduates make about $44,536. That is a strong return on a $14,792 median debt.
A rank of #2 makes Wichita State University one of the best values for health & physical education. Located in the city of Wichita, Wichita State University is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $9,684 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $19,869. Students borrow a median of $23,000 to complete the health & physical education program here. Early-career health & physical education graduates make about $34,774. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 94% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Kansas came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the best value health & physical education schools. Set in the city of Lawrence, University Of Kansas is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $12,102, with out-of-state students paying around $30,432. Health & Physical Education graduates carry a median of $22,125 in student loans. Health & Physical Education graduates of University Of Kansas earn a median of $33,891 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 94% of applicants are accepted.
A rank of #4 makes Central Christian College Of Kansas one of the best values for health & physical education. Central Christian College Of Kansas is a small private not-for-profit school located in the town of McPherson. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $21,000. Students borrow a median of $25,295 to complete the health & physical education program here. Health & Physical Education graduates of Central Christian College Of Kansas earn a median of $49,979 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $25,295 median debt. The acceptance rate is 53%.
Washburn University came in at #5 on our 2026 list of the best value health & physical education schools. Washburn University is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Topeka. Students from in state pay about $9,945 in tuition and fees, compared with $20,949 for out-of-state students. Health & Physical Education graduates carry a median of $27,717 in student loans. Health & Physical Education graduates of Washburn University earn a median of $25,679 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Pittsburg State University placed #6 among the best values for health & physical education. Set in the town of Pittsburg, Pittsburg State University is a moderately-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $8,400, while out-of-state students pay about $19,744. Typical student debt for health & physical education graduates is $24,900. Soon after graduation, health & physical education degree recipients from Pittsburg State University generally make around $36,393. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 89%.
Tabor College earned the #7 position for value in health & physical education this year. Tabor College is a small private not-for-profit school located in the rural area of Hillsboro. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $36,200. Median earnings reach $54,058 ten years out. The acceptance rate is 65%.
Baker University came in at #8 for value in health & physical education this year. Located in the rural area of Baldwin City, Baker University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $35,200. Health & Physical Education graduates carry a median of $29,554 in student loans. Early-career health & physical education graduates make about $62,916. That is a strong return on a $29,554 median debt. The acceptance rate is 94%.
Sterling College Kansas landed the #9 spot for health & physical education value this year. Sterling College Kansas is a small private not-for-profit school located in the rural area of Sterling. In-state tuition and fees average $33,700. Typical student debt for health & physical education graduates is $27,250. Health & Physical Education graduates of Sterling College Kansas earn a median of $30,086 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $27,250 median debt. Sterling College Kansas admits about 48% of applicants.
University Of Saint Mary landed the #10 spot for health & physical education value this year. Located in the town of Leavenworth, University Of Saint Mary is a small private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $35,380. Students borrow a median of $27,946 to complete the health & physical education program here. Soon after graduation, health & physical education degree recipients from University Of Saint Mary generally make around $29,151. Set against $27,946 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 87% of applicants are accepted.
Kansas Wesleyan University landed the #11 spot for health & physical education value this year. Kansas Wesleyan University is a small private not-for-profit school located in the town of Salina. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $34,630. Typical student debt for health & physical education graduates is $26,076. Soon after graduation, health & physical education degree recipients from Kansas Wesleyan University generally make around $42,094. That is a strong return on a $26,076 median debt. Roughly 72% of applicants are accepted.
Mcpherson College came in at #12 for value in health & physical education this year. Mcpherson College is a small private not-for-profit school located in the town of McPherson. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $37,146. Typical student debt for health & physical education graduates is $27,000. Health & Physical Education graduates of Mcpherson College earn a median of $42,278 early in their careers. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 77% of applicants are accepted.
Friends University ranked #13 on our 2026 list of the best value health & physical education schools. Friends University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Wichita. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $34,192. Health & Physical Education graduates carry a median of $26,500 in student loans. Health & Physical Education graduates of Friends University earn a median of $24,870 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Friends University admits about 55% of applicants.
Southwestern College earned the #14 position for value in health & physical education this year. Southwestern College is a small private not-for-profit school located in the town of Winfield. In-state tuition and fees average $39,822. Typical student debt for health & physical education graduates is $31,875. Soon after graduation, health & physical education degree recipients from Southwestern College generally make around $58,036. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 76% of applicants are accepted.
Benedictine College placed #15 among the best values for health & physical education. Located in the town of Atchison, Benedictine College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $36,350 in tuition and fees. Health & Physical Education graduates carry a median of $26,798 in student loans. Early-career health & physical education graduates make about $46,255. Set against $26,798 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 98% of applicants are accepted.
Ottawa University Ottawa ranked #16 on our 2026 list of the best value health & physical education schools. Set in the town of Ottawa, Ottawa University Ottawa is a small private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $35,880. Typical student debt for health & physical education graduates is $27,000. Health & Physical Education graduates of Ottawa University Ottawa earn a median of $30,426 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. The acceptance rate is 83%.
Bethany College Kansas earned the #17 position for value in health & physical education this year. Bethany College Kansas is a small private not-for-profit school located in the rural area of Lindsborg. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $33,000. Health & Physical Education graduates carry a median of $25,000 in student loans. Health & Physical Education graduates of Bethany College Kansas earn a median of $28,881 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Bethany College Kansas admits about 56% of applicants.
Midamerica Nazarene University placed #18 among the best values for health & physical education. Located in the suburb of Olathe, Midamerica Nazarene University is a small private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $37,174. Students borrow a median of $25,740 to complete the health & physical education program here. Health & Physical Education graduates of Midamerica Nazarene University earn a median of $63,799 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 79%.
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 · 28 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.
