Find Schools

Study Area & Zipcode

Find Schools Near

2022 Best Value Master’s Degree Colleges for Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies (Income $0-$30k)

16 Ranked Colleges
158 Degrees Awarded
$23,400 Avg Grad Tuition & Fees*
Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Master's For Those Making $0-$30k

When pursuing a degree in today’s world, students have many different options to choose from. College Factual has developed its “Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking as one item you can use to help make this decision.

Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies is the 191st most popular major in the country with 3,224 degrees awarded in 2019-2020.

At the master’s degree level specifically, there were 158 parks, recreation and leisure studies graduates with average earnings and debt of $56,398 and $43,194 respectively.

This year’s “Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking analyzed 16 colleges that offered a degree in parks, recreation and leisure studies. Not only do the schools that top this list have excellent parks, recreation and leisure studies programs, but they also cost less that schools of similar quality.

Some of the factors we look at when determining these rankings are overall quality of the parks, recreation and leisure studies program at the school and the cost of the school after aid is awarded among other things. For more information, check out our ranking methodology.

More Ways to Rank Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies Schools

Since the program you select can have a significant impact on your future, we’ve developed a number of rankings, including this “Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k” list, to help you choose the best school for you.

In addition to College Factual’s rankings, you may want to take a look at College Combat, our unique tool that lets you pit your favorite schools head-to-head and compare how they rate on factors that most interest you. We encourage you to try it out and pit your favorite colleges and universities head to head! If you don’t have time right now, you can bookmark it for later.

Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k

The following schools top our list of the Best Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k.

Top 16 Best Value Master’s Degree Colleges for Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies (Income $0-$30k)

#1 in overall quality

Out of the 16 schools in the Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k that were part of this year’s ranking, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign landed the #1 spot on the list. Located in Champaign, Illinois, this large public school handed out 29 diplomas to qualified masters’s parks and rec students in 2019-2020.

UIUC not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #1 on our “Best Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies Master’s Degree Schools” list. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at UIUC are $30,083.

Read full report on Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies at UIUC

#2

Indiana University - Bloomington

Bloomington, Indiana
#2 in overall quality

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Indiana University - Bloomington. The school came in at #2 for the Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k. This large school is located in Bloomington, Indiana, and it awarded 23 masters’s parks and rec degrees in 2019-2020.

IU Bloomington also made our “Best Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies Master’s Degree Schools” list, coming in at #2. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at IU Bloomington are $33,338.

Read full report on Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies at Indiana University - Bloomington

#6 in overall quality

Out of the 16 schools in the Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k that were part of this year’s ranking, California State University - Long Beach landed the #3 spot on the list. California State University - Long Beach is a large school located in Long Beach, California that handed out 4 masters’s parks and rec degrees in 2019-2020.

CSULB also took the #6 spot in our “Best Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies Master’s Degree Schools” ranking. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at CSULB are $17,784.

Read full report on Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies at California State University - Long Beach

#4

University of Northern Iowa

Cedar Falls, Iowa
#3 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Northern Iowa. It ranked #4 on our 2022 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k list. Cedar Falls, Iowa is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s parks and rec degrees to 7 students in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our master’s degree parks & rec students whose families make $0-$30k list, UNI has also earned the #3 rank in our “Best Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies Master’s Degree Schools” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at University of Northern Iowa are $22,648, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read full report on Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies at University of Northern Iowa

#5

SUNY Cortland

Cortland, New York
#4 in overall quality

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend SUNY Cortland. The school came in at #5 for the Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k. Cortland, New York is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s parks and rec degrees to 17 students in 2019-2020.

SUNY Cortland did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #4 on our “Best Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies Master’s Degree Schools” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at SUNY Cortland are $24,707, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read full report on Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies at SUNY Cortland

#11 in overall quality

California State University - Sacramento landed the #6 spot on the 2022 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. California State University - Sacramento is a large public school situated in Sacramento, California. It awarded 4 masters’s parks and rec degrees in 2019-2020.

Sac State not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #11 on our “Best Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies Master’s Degree Schools” list. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at California State University - Sacramento are $18,356.

Full Sac State Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies Report

#9 in overall quality

Oklahoma State University - Main Campus did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #7. Stillwater, Oklahoma is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s parks and rec degrees to 7 students in 2019-2020.

OSU not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #9 on our “Best Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies Master’s Degree Schools” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at OSU are $23,963, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read full report on Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies at OSU

#8

University of Utah

Salt Lake City, Utah
#7 in overall quality

University of Utah did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #8. Salt Lake City, Utah is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s parks and rec degrees to 3 students in 2019-2020.

U of U also made our “Best Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies Master’s Degree Schools” list, coming in at #7. Average graduate tuition and fees at University of Utah are $24,695, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read full report on Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies at University of Utah

#9

Southern Oregon University

Ashland, Oregon
#14 in overall quality

With a ranking of #9, Southern Oregon University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k list. This medium-sized school is located in Ashland, Oregon, and it awarded 8 masters’s parks and rec degrees in 2019-2020.

Southern Oregon University also made our “Best Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies Master’s Degree Schools” list, coming in at #14. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Southern Oregon University are $23,445.

Read more about Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies at Southern Oregon University

#10

East Carolina University

Greenville, North Carolina
#8 in overall quality

East Carolina University ranked #10 on this year’s Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k list. This large school is located in Greenville, North Carolina, and it awarded 9 masters’s parks and rec degrees in 2019-2020.

ECU not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #8 on our “Best Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies Master’s Degree Schools” list. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at ECU are $20,685.

Full East Carolina University Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies Report

#11

San Francisco State University

San Francisco, California

San Francisco State University came in at #11 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. SFSU is a public institution located in San Francisco, California. The school has a large population, and it awarded 2 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

SFSU did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #0 on our “Best Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies Master’s Degree Schools” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at SFSU are $17,944, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read more about Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies at San Francisco State University

#10 in overall quality

Southern Illinois University Carbondale ranked #12 on this year’s Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k list. SIUC is a fairly large public school situated in Carbondale, Illinois. It awarded 8 masters’s parks and rec degrees in 2019-2020.

SIUC did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #10 on our “Best Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies Master’s Degree Schools” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at Southern Illinois University Carbondale are $32,928, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read more about Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies at SIUC

California State University - Chico did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #13. Located in Chico, California, this fairly large public school handed out 2 diplomas to qualified masters’s parks and rec students in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Chico State, the school also landed the #0 spot in our “Best Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies Master’s Degree Schools” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at California State University - Chico are $18,802, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read full report on Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies at Chico State

#14

Northern Arizona University

Flagstaff, Arizona
#12 in overall quality

Northern Arizona University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #14. Flagstaff, Arizona is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s parks and rec degrees to 6 students in 2019-2020.

NAU also took the #12 spot in our “Best Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies Master’s Degree Schools” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Northern Arizona University are $19,489, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Full NAU Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies Report

#5 in overall quality

Ohio University - Athens Campus did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #15. Ohio University - Athens Campus is a large public school situated in Athens, Ohio. It awarded 10 masters’s parks and rec degrees in 2019-2020.

OHIO Athens also made our “Best Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies Master’s Degree Schools” list, coming in at #5. Average graduate tuition and fees at Ohio University - Athens Campus are $17,712, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read more about Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies at Ohio University - Athens Campus

#16

University of Toledo

Toledo, Ohio
#13 in overall quality

University of Toledo ranked #16 on this year’s Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k list. This fairly large school is located in Toledo, Ohio, and it awarded 19 masters’s parks and rec degrees in 2019-2020.

University of Toledo not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #13 on our “Best Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies Master’s Degree Schools” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at University of Toledo are $27,067, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read more about Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies at University of Toledo

Switch to a Different Ranking Method

Notes and References

References

  • 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).
  • Information about the national average student loan default rate is from the U.S. Department of Education and refers to data about the 2016 borrower cohort tracking period for which the cohort default rate (CDR) was 10.1%.

Read more about our data sources and methodologies

Footnotes

  • *Average salary, average net price, and average tuition and fees are for the top schools only.
  • Some schools otherwise deserving of recognition may have been removed from this ranking in the event that new data identified post-publication warranted it, or at the request of the school.

Featured Athletic Training Schools

Find Schools Near You