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Best Value Health and Physical Education/Fitness Colleges in Ohio

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

Ohio State University stands apart in Health and Physical Education/Fitness programs, charging just $18,292 net cost while delivering a remarkable 87.70% graduation rate and $35,327 median earnings. This performance gap becomes more striking when compared to Youngstown State's $11,877 price point, which produces $30,926 earnings with only 52.90% of students completing their degrees. The earnings spread across Ohio's 15 programs ranges from $28,055 to $38,289, reflecting the state's varied health sector employment opportunities. Cleveland Clinic and Ohio State Wexner Medical Center create strong demand for fitness professionals and health educators, particularly in corporate wellness and rehabilitation settings. Private institutions like Mount St. Joseph University offer competitive value at $16,135 net cost, while public options dominate the lower price tiers. Graduation rates vary significantly, from 43% at Shawnee State to nearly 88% at Ohio State, suggesting program quality differences that affect long-term career prospects.
50
Programs
$4,503 – $38,111
Net Price Range
$30,642
Avg. Program Earnings
53.4%
Avg. Graduation Rate

50 Health and Physical Education/Fitness Programs

Program rankings
# School Net Price Program Earnings In-State Tuition Graduation Rate Acceptance Rate
1 $11,877 $30,926 $10,791 52.9% 80.6%
2 $15,216 $35,060 $11,188 45.9% 95.2%
3 $14,981 $32,162 $12,799 48.2% 82.9%
4 $16,135 $33,993 $36,650 54.7% 54.4%
5 $17,430 $36,077 $36,298 49.5% 96.3%
6 $18,292 $35,327 $12,859 87.7% 52.7%
7 $15,389 $28,366 $9,622 43.0%
8 $21,994 $38,289 $28,910 60.6% 71.8%
9 $20,413 $34,847 $13,746 66.4% 86.5%
10 $20,918 $35,194 $14,081 62.8% 78.7%
11 $17,460 $28,055 $12,377 55.6% 92.2%
12 $22,140 $35,060 $34,899 68.9% 83.7%
13 $20,204 $30,771 $31,440 52.7% 86.4%
14 $19,614 $29,540 $12,846 65.5% 88.0%
15 $21,619 $31,848 $52,357 61.7% 52.2%
16 $19,476 $27,642 $34,370 47.9% 52.4%
17 $31,236 $43,798 $47,600 81.5% 74.1%
18 $21,296 $29,685 $36,032 41.9% 54.1%
19 $21,662 $27,439 $33,628 49.8% 71.4%
20 $23,156 $29,202 $13,570 71.5% 86.2%
21 $23,585 $27,494 $41,788 65.5% 72.2%
22 $23,722 $27,488 $38,778 36.7% 62.9%
23 $23,731 $27,204 $39,646 62.6% 86.0%
24 $27,662 $31,400 $17,809 81.8% 87.9%
25 $22,539 $25,194 $35,400 64.9% 75.8%
26 $27,654 $30,554 $37,938 68.6% 77.0%
27 $22,881 $25,194 $36,120 51.3% 77.6%
28 $22,872 $24,267 $30,962 55.1% 88.1%
29 $25,727 $26,739 $37,800 74.2% 54.4%
30 $32,342 $32,925 $48,125 70.5% 84.5%
31 $25,022 $18,154 $36,078 74.3% 64.9%
32 $23,758 $32,400 43.0% 82.8%
33 $29,541 $20,560 32.2%
34 $20,004 $34,595 61.7% 72.5%
35 $19,470 $44,602 53.8% 93.9%
36 $5,971 $6,178 17.7%
37 $20,609 $12,930 54.2%
38 $6,133 $6,178 13.7%
39 $5,328 $6,178 19.3%
40 $6,483 $6,178 12.1%
41 $4,503 $6,178 20.0%
42 $20,477 $32,606 36.6% 78.5%
43 $16,544 $7,824 25.6% 88.8%
44 $21,812 $35,524 63.6% 85.3%
45 $18,372 $38,974 58.1% 82.9%
46 $21,596 $28,930 38.1% 60.4%
47 $28,617 $49,100 76.5% 82.4%
48 $20,088 $26,265 59.1% 93.1%
49 $22,605 $9,577 30.3%
50 $38,111 $64,000 80.1% 22.0%

Frequently Asked Questions

What explains Ohio State's high graduation rate compared to other public universities?

Ohio State achieves an 87.70% graduation rate while charging $18,292 net cost, significantly outperforming peers like University of Akron (48.20%) and Wright State (45.90%). The university's research resources and connections to major medical centers provide students with internship and job placement advantages. Ohio State also maintains lower debt levels at $20,250 compared to the state average of $25,000.

How do private college costs compare to earnings potential in Ohio?

Mount St. Joseph University delivers strong value at $16,135 net cost despite a $36,650 sticker price, producing $33,993 median earnings. Bluffton University costs slightly more at $17,430 but generates the highest earnings at $36,077. Private institutions typically offer substantial financial aid, making them competitive with public options while providing smaller class sizes.

Is Youngstown State University worth considering despite its low graduation rate?

Youngstown State offers the lowest net cost at $11,877 and produces $30,926 median earnings, creating strong return on investment despite its 52.90% graduation rate. The university serves a working-class region where many students attend part-time or transfer to other institutions. For motivated students, the low cost and decent earning potential make it a viable option.

Does Ohio's healthcare industry create good job prospects for fitness graduates?

Cleveland Clinic and Ohio State Wexner Medical Center increasingly hire fitness professionals for cardiac rehabilitation and preventive health programs. Manufacturing companies like Honda also employ wellness coordinators to reduce worker injury rates. Median earnings across Ohio programs range from $28,055 to $38,289, reflecting this varied employment market in corporate wellness, healthcare, and education sectors.

Where can students find the best balance of cost and graduation success?

Bowling Green State University offers solid value at $20,918 net cost with a 62.80% graduation rate and $35,194 earnings. Ohio University provides another strong option at $20,413 with 66.40% graduation rate and similar earnings. Both schools significantly outperform lower-cost alternatives in student completion while maintaining reasonable debt levels around $23,000-$25,000.

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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.