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Best Value Health and Physical Education/Fitness Colleges in North Carolina

Ranked by best return on investment (earnings vs. cost). See our methodology.

University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill graduates in Health and Physical Education earn $26,086 annually despite the program's selective 17.11% acceptance rate, while students at UNC Pembroke pay just $9,918 in net costs and earn nearly the same at $26,817. This earnings compression across North Carolina's fitness programs reflects the state's steady demand for physical education teachers and wellness coordinators, particularly as Charlotte's banking sector and the Research Triangle's tech companies expand employee wellness initiatives. The 20 programs span from ultra-affordable public options like UNC Pembroke to private institutions charging over $25,000 annually. North Carolina State leads earnings at $35,594 with an 84.6% graduation rate, while several historically black colleges and universities contribute significantly to the state's teacher pipeline. Public universities dominate the value equation, with 11 of the top 15 schools offering in-state tuition below $9,000.
44
Programs
$7,237 – $41,048
Net Price Range
$28,246
Avg. Program Earnings
51.8%
Avg. Graduation Rate

44 Health and Physical Education/Fitness Programs

Program rankings
# School Net Price Program Earnings In-State Tuition Graduation Rate Acceptance Rate
1 $10,170 $29,540 $7,593 57.9% 91.9%
2 $9,918 $26,817 $3,571 44.5% 89.7%
3 $10,980 $25,194 $6,748 55.3% 56.4%
4 $12,579 $26,739 $4,532 59.1% 84.8%
5 $16,931 $35,594 $8,895 84.6% 47.2%
6 $15,028 $30,305 $6,542 46.0% 84.4%
7 $12,983 $26,086 $8,989 92.1% 17.1%
8 $16,514 $32,284 $7,361 62.1% 92.3%
9 $14,745 $28,013 $7,214 67.7% 79.6%
10 $19,472 $35,274 $7,317 70.7% 68.8%
11 $13,393 $22,868 $6,735 48.6% 73.4%
12 $17,893 $30,228 $25,950 47.5% 74.6%
13 $16,487 $25,967 $7,541 73.1% 83.1%
14 $16,189 $23,340 $27,110 28.5% 86.7%
15 $18,210 $26,121 $33,400 52.1% 67.1%
16 $23,665 $32,382 $35,600 51.5% 94.6%
17 $21,200 $28,236 $41,140 47.7% 83.5%
18 $27,786 $35,594 $43,285 65.9% 71.3%
19 $23,613 $29,685 $19,500 46.4% 97.2%
20 $23,393 $29,374 $30,900 51.0% 82.9%
21 $24,137 $29,685 $33,450 61.7% 75.0%
22 $18,165 $21,052 $35,536 40.4% 68.4%
23 $20,011 $22,192 $20,480 34.1% 25.3%
24 $23,991 $25,967 $40,410 55.9% 88.6%
25 $21,371 $22,771 $40,196 46.8% 86.2%
26 $24,978 $26,353 $39,664 40.1% 75.7%
27 $33,756 $31,133 $30,800 27.1% 64.8%
28 $28,746 $26,353 $64,758 90.9% 21.4%
29 $41,048 $33,993 $44,536 83.0% 74.5%
30 $25,765 $31,140 44.2% 61.3%
31 $20,197 $43,936 65.0% 73.2%
32 $21,376 $31,250 39.0% 39.9%
33 $14,083 $17,176 20.2% 61.0%
34 $18,835 $32,236 56.3% 87.5%
35 $17,740 $16,896 33.2% 58.9%
36 $15,662 $18,296 27.1% 63.8%
37 $21,953 $33,930 42.6% 69.1%
38 $21,728 $33,150 44.3% 63.2%
39 $7,237 $3,412 48.1% 74.2%
40 $7,360 $3,969 35.2% 81.2%
41 $19,314 $20,400 40.8% 84.3%
42 $20,313 $37,270 41.9% 74.2%
43 $40,721 $44,208 70.0% 78.9%
44 $26,328 $33,860 40.6% 68.1%

Frequently Asked Questions

What explains the narrow earnings range across North Carolina's fitness programs?

Graduates earn between $22,868 and $35,594, a relatively tight $12,726 spread that reflects standardized teacher salary scales across the state. Most fitness and physical education majors enter K-12 teaching or community recreation roles with predetermined pay structures. North Carolina State's $35,594 average suggests some graduates move into higher-paying corporate wellness or athletic administration positions.

How do historically black colleges perform in this field?

North Carolina A&T, North Carolina Central, and Winston-Salem State all appear in the top rankings with strong value propositions. NC A&T charges $10,980 in net costs with a 55.3% graduation rate, while NC Central graduates earn $30,305 annually. These institutions traditionally supply significant numbers of physical education teachers to the state's public school system.

Is private college worth the extra cost for fitness majors?

Private options like University of Mount Olive cost $17,893 annually but produce similar earnings to much cheaper public alternatives. Catawba College charges $18,210 with graduates earning just $26,121, while UNC Pembroke costs $9,918 for $26,817 in earnings. The data suggests public universities offer superior value in this field.

Does acceptance rate correlate with program quality?

Not necessarily in this field. UNC Chapel Hill's highly selective 17.11% acceptance rate produces $26,086 earners, while East Carolina's 92.34% acceptance rate leads to $32,284 in graduate earnings. North Carolina State combines moderate selectivity at 47.17% with the field's highest earnings at $35,594, suggesting program focus matters more than admission standards.

Where do the best values cluster geographically?

The Greensboro area houses two top-tier options with UNC Greensboro at $10,170 and NC A&T at $10,980, both offering strong graduation rates above 55%. Western Carolina in Cullowhee provides excellent value at $12,579 with a 59.1% graduation rate. These smaller cities offer lower living costs that boost the overall value proposition for fitness majors.

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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.