Cheapest Health and Physical Education/Fitness Colleges in New York

CUNY Brooklyn College stands out among New York's Health and Physical Education programs with graduates earning $35,060 annually while maintaining the state's lowest net cost at just $2,943. The $32,127 gap between the most and least expensive programs highlights stark affordability differences across New York's fitness education market. Three CUNY campuses claim the top spots for value, with Brooklyn, Lehman, and Queens colleges all charging under $4,000 net annually. This positions future fitness professionals strategically within New York's massive wellness industry, where corporate fitness centers, rehabilitation facilities, and youth sports programs drive consistent demand. The state's 20 programs span from ultra-affordable public options to private institutions costing over $15,000, creating pathways for students regardless of financial background. New York's concentration of hospitals, sports teams, and fitness chains provides abundant internship and career opportunities that complement classroom learning.

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

Frequently Asked Questions

What makes CUNY Brooklyn College the best value for Health and Physical Education students?

Brooklyn College combines the lowest net cost at $2,943 with the highest graduate earnings at $35,060, creating strong return on investment. The 56.6% graduation rate matches the state average while keeping student debt at $14,993. This CUNY campus serves over 17,000 students in Brooklyn's varied neighborhoods, providing access to numerous internship sites.

How do public and private costs compare for fitness education in New York?

Public institutions dominate the affordable options, with 12 of the 15 cheapest programs coming from SUNY or CUNY systems. Private schools like Mercy University cost $15,770 net annually, nearly five times more than CUNY options. Most public programs charge around $8,700 in-state tuition before financial aid reduces net costs significantly.

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

New York's massive healthcare system employs fitness professionals in rehabilitation centers, hospitals, and outpatient clinics throughout the state. Corporate wellness programs serve the finance and media industries concentrated in Manhattan, while school districts across all five boroughs hire physical education teachers. The state's year-round sports culture and tourism industry create additional opportunities in recreation and fitness centers.

Does graduate debt vary significantly among New York's fitness programs?

Student debt ranges from $9,880 at CUNY Lehman College to over $23,000 at several SUNY campuses like Brockport. The three most affordable CUNY programs show the lowest debt levels, with Lehman graduates owing nearly $13,000 less than the state average. Private institutions tend to generate higher debt loads despite offering more financial aid.

Is the graduation rate concerning at some of these affordable programs?

SUNY Morrisville shows a troubling 31.9% graduation rate despite moderate costs, while SUNY Canton graduates only 44.1% of students. However, CUNY Queens College achieves 60.2% graduation rates while maintaining low costs, proving affordability doesn't require sacrificing outcomes. The strongest programs balance reasonable prices with solid completion rates above 55%.

More Health and Physical Education/Fitness Rankings

Best Value Health and Physical Education/Fitness in New York Health and Physical Education/Fitness Under $20,000 in New York

All Health and Physical Education/Fitness Programs Best Colleges in New York Best Health and Physical Education/Fitness in New York

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