Best Value Health and Physical Education/Fitness Colleges in New York

Three CUNY campuses deliver Health and Physical Education/Fitness degrees for under $4,000 annually while producing graduates who earn over $27,000. Brooklyn College leads with $35,060 graduate earnings at just $2,943 net cost, creating an strong return on investment in New York's competitive fitness market. The state's 20 programs span from $2,943 to $41,026, yet earnings vary dramatically from $16,008 to $37,748, making school selection critical for career success. New York's massive healthcare system and fitness industry, including major hospital networks and corporate wellness programs throughout the metropolitan area, creates steady demand for qualified fitness professionals and health educators. Private institutions like Ithaca College command $32,965 annually but deliver the highest graduate earnings at $37,748, while SUNY schools offer strong middle-ground options with net costs around $15,000-$20,000.

Programs

$2,943 – $41,026

Net Price Range

$29,243

Avg. Program Earnings

60.7%

Avg. Graduation Rate

37 Health and Physical Education/Fitness Programs

Program rankings
#	School	Net Price	Program Earnings	In-State Tuition	Graduation Rate	Acceptance Rate
1	CUNY Brooklyn College Brooklyn, New York	$2,943	$35,060	$7,452	56.6%	54.5%
2	CUNY Queens College Queens, New York	$3,830	$34,847	$7,538	60.2%	69.5%
3	CUNY Lehman College Bronx, New York	$3,482	$27,765	$7,410	49.3%	55.3%
4	Farmingdale State College Farmingdale, New York	$9,173	$32,119	$8,576	57.1%	73.2%
5	SUNY Brockport Brockport, New York	$15,844	$32,747	$8,678	56.6%	67.9%
6	SUNY at Fredonia Fredonia, New York	$15,644	$28,598	$8,771	53.5%	84.6%
7	State University of New York at Cortland Cortland, New York	$19,951	$33,993	$8,815	68.2%	59.8%
8	St. Thomas Aquinas College Sparkill, New York	$21,344	$34,704	$37,720	62.6%	88.6%
9	Niagara University Niagara University, New York	$18,740	$23,864	$38,135	70.2%	89.6%
10	Canisius University Buffalo, New York	$18,322	$22,329	$32,720	70.7%	77.7%
11	St. John Fisher University Rochester, New York	$28,150	$33,665	$39,666	74.4%	73.1%
12	St. John's University-New York Queens, New York	$26,985	$31,833	$50,110	68.5%	84.7%
13	Ithaca College Ithaca, New York	$32,965	$37,748	$50,510	74.1%	75.2%
14	St Bonaventure University Saint Bonaventure, New York	$27,151	$27,584	$40,150	70.4%	81.1%
15	Long Island University Brookville, New York	$23,901	$22,192	$41,642	55.4%	92.7%
16	Adelphi University Garden City, New York	$28,348	$24,188	$47,290	68.9%	72.8%
17	Syracuse University Syracuse, New York	$41,026	$27,126	$63,061	81.4%	51.8%
18	Manhattan College Riverdale, New York	$26,881	$16,008	$50,850	66.0%	82.3%
19	SUNY College of Technology at Canton Canton, New York	$15,001		$8,689	44.1%	94.9%
20	Utica University Utica, New York	$21,869		$24,308	55.5%	80.9%
21	SUNY College at Plattsburgh Plattsburgh, New York	$16,547		$8,881	58.8%	70.2%
22	SUNY College at Potsdam Potsdam, New York	$14,295		$8,712	47.9%	82.7%
23	State University of New York at Oswego Oswego, New York	$17,231		$8,769	60.4%	82.6%
24	SUNY Oneonta Oneonta, New York	$18,833		$8,812	70.2%	72.5%
25	Hilbert College Hamburg, New York	$22,100		$32,150	47.0%	95.5%
26	University at Buffalo Buffalo, New York	$20,470		$10,782	73.4%	67.7%
27	SUNY Morrisville Morrisville, New York	$17,393		$8,769	31.9%	87.2%
28	SUNY College of Technology at Delhi Delhi, New York	$17,387		$8,710	48.0%	83.2%
29	Mercy University Dobbs Ferry, New York	$15,770		$22,106	48.1%	85.9%
30	SUNY College of Technology at Alfred Alfred, New York	$14,488		$8,862	52.7%	81.7%
31	Skidmore College Saratoga Springs, New York	$34,581		$65,030	81.7%	25.5%
32	Rochester Institute of Technology Rochester, New York	$29,694		$57,016	70.8%	67.2%
33	Roberts Wesleyan University Rochester, New York	$23,461		$37,504	63.9%	99.5%
34	Pace University New York, New York	$31,046		$51,424	61.4%	82.9%
35	New York Institute of Technology Old Westbury, New York	$20,709		$44,360	56.0%	75.7%
36	Manhattanville College Purchase, New York	$25,842		$42,950	53.7%	84.1%
37	Monroe College Bronx, New York	$10,376		$17,922	57.5%	59.8%

Frequently Asked Questions

What makes CUNY schools such strong value picks for Health and Physical Education degrees?

CUNY Brooklyn College delivers the best value combination with $35,060 graduate earnings at just $2,943 net cost annually. Queens College follows closely with $34,847 earnings for $3,830 net cost, while maintaining a 60.20% graduation rate. These schools provide access to New York City's extensive healthcare and fitness markets at a fraction of private school costs.

How do graduation rates compare between public and private Health and Physical Education programs?

Private schools generally achieve higher completion rates, with St. John Fisher University leading at 74.40% and Ithaca College at 74.10%. SUNY Cortland tops public institutions with 68.20% graduation rate at $19,951 net cost. CUNY schools range from 49.30% to 60.20%, but their low costs offset slightly lower completion rates for value-conscious students.

Does paying more for private education translate to higher earnings in this field?

Not consistently across all private schools in New York. Ithaca College justifies its $32,965 cost with $37,748 graduate earnings, the state's highest. However, Canisius University charges $18,322 but produces only $22,329 in graduate earnings. Several CUNY schools deliver comparable or better earnings outcomes at dramatically lower costs.

Where do Health and Physical Education graduates find the best employment opportunities in New York?

New York City's massive healthcare network and corporate wellness programs create the strongest job market, benefiting CUNY graduates who already live in the metro area. Upstate regions offer opportunities in school districts and recreational facilities, supporting SUNY graduates. The state's high cost of living makes the $27,000-$37,000 typical earnings range more challenging in expensive metropolitan areas.

What debt levels should students expect from New York Health and Physical Education programs?

Debt varies significantly, from CUNY Lehman's manageable $9,880 to SUNY Brockport's $23,375 average debt load. Private schools typically generate $22,000-$26,000 in student debt, while some CUNY programs keep debt under $15,000. Brooklyn College combines the lowest net cost with reasonable $14,993 debt levels for strong financial outcomes.

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Net price reflects the average cost after grants and scholarships for first-time, full-time students. See our methodology for details.