2023 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools For Those Making $48-$75k
69
Ranked Colleges
3,106
Degrees Awarded
With all of the options students have for higher education today, it can be tough to choose which direction to take. One of our goals at College Factual is to give you as much information as we can - such as our “Best Value Parks & Rec Schools For Those Making $48-$75k” ranking - to help you make that decision.
In 2020-2021, 3,106 people earned their degree in parks, recreation and leisure studies, making the major the 218th most popular in the United States.
For this year’s “Best Value Parks & Rec Schools For Those Making $48-$75k” ranking, we looked at 69 colleges that offer a degree in parks, recreation and leisure studies. The schools that top this list are recognized because they have great parks, recreation and leisure studies programs and 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. Check out our ranking methodology for more information.
More Ways to Rank Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies Schools
Since picking the right college can be one of the most important decisions of your life, we’ve developed the “Best Value Parks & Rec Schools For Those Making $48-$75k” ranking, along with many other major-related rankings, to help you make that decision.
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. Test it out by comparing your favorite schools against others you are considering, or bookmark the tool so you can experiment with it later.
Best Value Parks & Rec Schools For Those Making $48-$75k
The following schools top our list of the Best Best Value Parks & Rec Schools For Those Making $48-$75k.
Top 25 Best Value Colleges for Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies (Income $48-$75k)
Out of the 69 schools in the Best Value Parks & Rec Schools For Those Making $48-$75k that were part of this year’s ranking, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign landed the #1 spot on the list. University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign is a public institution located in Champaign, Illinois. The school has a large population, and it awarded 142 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
UIUC did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #1 on our “Best Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies Schools” list. The yearly cost to attend University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign is $11,505 for Parks & Rec students whose families make $48-$75k.
The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 94%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.3%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Full UIUC Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies Report
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Indiana University - Bloomington. It ranked #2 on our 2023 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools For Those Making $48-$75k list. IU Bloomington is located in Bloomington, Indiana and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 160 ’s parks and rec degrees to qualified students.
IU Bloomington also made our “Best Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies Schools” list, coming in at #2. The yearly cost to attend IU Bloomington is $12,369 for parks & rec students whose families make $48-$75k.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 3.4%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 91%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.
Full IU Bloomington Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies Report
Out of the 69 schools in the Best Value Parks & Rec Schools For Those Making $48-$75k that were part of this year’s ranking, California State University - Long Beach landed the #3 spot on the list. CSULB is a public institution located in Long Beach, California. The school has a large population, and it awarded 91 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
In addition to being on our parks & rec students whose families make $48-$75k list, CSULB has also earned the #9 rank in our “Best Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies Schools” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for California State University - Long Beach is $11,189 for Parks & Rec students whose families make $48-$75k.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.4% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 89%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.
Read more about Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies at CSULB
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Brigham Young University - Provo. It ranked #4 on our 2023 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools For Those Making $48-$75k list. Brigham Young University - Provo is a large private not-for-profit school situated in Provo, Utah. It awarded 110 ’s parks and rec degrees in 2020-2021.
BYU also took the #4 spot in our “Best Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies Schools” ranking. It costs about $12,676 for Parks & Rec students whose families make $48-$75k per year to attend Brigham Young University - Provo.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.3%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 92%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.
Read full report on Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies at Brigham Young University - Provo
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend California State University - Sacramento. The school came in at #5 for the Best Value Parks & Rec Schools For Those Making $48-$75k. This large school is located in Sacramento, California, and it awarded 100 ’s parks and rec degrees in 2020-2021.
Sac State not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #14 on our “Best Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies Schools” list. The yearly cost to attend California State University - Sacramento is $12,602 for parks & rec students whose families make $48-$75k.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 3.9%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Read more about Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies at California State University - Sacramento
With a ranking of #6, California State University - Fresno did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools For Those Making $48-$75k list. Located in Fresno, California, this large public school awarded 37 degrees to qualified ’s parks and rec students in 2020-2021.
It costs about $8,030 for Parks & Rec students whose families make $48-$75k per year to attend California State University - Fresno.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 3.2% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 87%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.
Read more about Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies at California State University - Fresno
University of Minnesota - Twin Cities came in at #7 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Parks & Rec Schools For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. University of Minnesota - Twin Cities is a large school located in Minneapolis, Minnesota that handed out 11 ’s parks and rec degrees in 2020-2021.
UMN Twin Cities also took the #12 spot in our “Best Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies Schools” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for University of Minnesota - Twin Cities is $12,911 for parks & rec students whose families make $48-$75k.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.7%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 93%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.
Full UMN Twin Cities Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies Report
University of Utah landed the #8 spot on the 2023 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. Located in Salt Lake City, Utah, this large public school awarded 76 degrees to qualified ’s parks and rec students in 2020-2021.
U of U also made our “Best Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies Schools” list, coming in at #6. The estimated yearly cost for U of U is $13,842 for parks & rec students whose families make $48-$75k.
Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 89%. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.7%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Full University of Utah Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies Report
Northwest Missouri State University came in at #9 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Parks & Rec Schools For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. Maryville, Missouri is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s parks and rec degrees to 29 students in 2020-2021.
In addition to being on our parks & rec students whose families make $48-$75k list, Northwest has also earned the #20 rank in our “Best Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies Schools” ranking. It costs about $12,127 for parks & rec students whose families make $48-$75k per year to attend Northwest.
Full Northwest Missouri State University Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies Report
Northern Arizona University did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools For Those Making $48-$75k ranking, coming in at #10. NAU is a large public school situated in Flagstaff, Arizona. It awarded 59 ’s parks and rec degrees in 2020-2021.
NAU not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #16 on our “Best Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies Schools” list. The estimated yearly cost for NAU is $14,142 for Parks & Rec students whose families make $48-$75k.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 4.6%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Read more about Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies at NAU
With a ranking of #11, University of Missouri - Columbia did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools For Those Making $48-$75k list. University of Missouri - Columbia is located in Columbia, Missouri and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 116 ’s parks and rec degrees to qualified students.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at Mizzou, the school also landed the #15 spot in our “Best Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies Schools” ranking. It costs about $13,715 for Parks & Rec students whose families make $48-$75k per year to attend Mizzou.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.5%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 89%.
Read full report on Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies at Mizzou
University of Northern Iowa ranked #12 on this year’s Best Value Parks & Rec Schools For Those Making $48-$75k list. University of Northern Iowa is located in Cedar Falls, Iowa and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 60 ’s parks and rec degrees to qualified students.
UNI did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #8 on our “Best Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies Schools” list. It costs about $15,287 for parks & rec students whose families make $48-$75k per year to attend University of Northern Iowa.
With a freshman retention rate of 86%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.8%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Read more about Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies at University of Northern Iowa
California State University - Chico did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools For Those Making $48-$75k ranking, coming in at #13. California State University - Chico is located in Chico, California and, has a fairly large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 99 ’s parks and rec degrees to qualified students.
Chico State also made our “Best Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies Schools” list, coming in at #7. The estimated yearly cost for California State University - Chico is $16,738 for parks & rec students whose families make $48-$75k.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 4.0%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Read more about Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies at California State University - Chico
With a ranking of #14, Winona State University did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools For Those Making $48-$75k list. This medium-sized school is located in Winona, Minnesota, and it awarded 32 ’s parks and rec degrees in 2020-2021.
Winona State did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #13 on our “Best Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies Schools” list. The estimated yearly cost for Winona State University is $15,289 for Parks & Rec students whose families make $48-$75k.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.7%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Read full report on Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies at Winona State
San Jose State University landed the #15 spot on the 2023 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. Located in San Jose, California, this large public school awarded 40 degrees to qualified ’s parks and rec students in 2020-2021.
In addition to being on our parks & rec students whose families make $48-$75k list, San Jose State has also earned the #10 rank in our “Best Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies Schools” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for San Jose State University is $17,338 for Parks & Rec students whose families make $48-$75k.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.9%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 86%.
Full San Jose State Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies Report
Lehman College landed the #16 spot on the 2023 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. Lehman is located in Bronx, New York and, has a fairly large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 26 ’s parks and rec degrees to qualified students.
The estimated yearly cost for Lehman College is $8,084 for parks & rec students whose families make $48-$75k.
Read more about Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies at Lehman College
California Polytechnic State University - San Luis Obispo landed the #17 spot on the 2023 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. Cal Poly San Luis Obispo is located in San Luis Obispo, California and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 119 ’s parks and rec degrees to qualified students.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, the school also landed the #3 spot in our “Best Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies Schools” ranking. The yearly cost to attend California Polytechnic State University - San Luis Obispo is $17,340 for Parks & Rec students whose families make $48-$75k.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 0.7% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 94%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.
Read full report on Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo
Oklahoma State University - Main Campus landed the #18 spot on the 2023 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. Located in Stillwater, Oklahoma, this large public school awarded 35 diplomas to qualified ’s parks and rec students in 2020-2021.
In addition to being on our parks & rec students whose families make $48-$75k list, OSU has also earned the #18 rank in our “Best Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies Schools” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for OSU is $14,127 for parks & rec students whose families make $48-$75k.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.7% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 85%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.
Read more about Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies at Oklahoma State University - Main Campus
University of Iowa ranked #19 on this year’s Best Value Parks & Rec Schools For Those Making $48-$75k list. Iowa is a large public school situated in Iowa City, Iowa. It awarded 53 ’s parks and rec degrees in 2020-2021.
Iowa also took the #5 spot in our “Best Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies Schools” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for University of Iowa is $18,026 for Parks & Rec students whose families make $48-$75k.
With a freshman retention rate of 88%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.2%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Read full report on Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies at Iowa
University of Nebraska at Kearney did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools For Those Making $48-$75k ranking, coming in at #20. Kearney, Nebraska is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s parks and rec degrees to 60 students in 2020-2021.
UNK also made our “Best Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies Schools” list, coming in at #22. The yearly cost to attend UNK is $16,311 for Parks & Rec students whose families make $48-$75k.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 3.1%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Read more about Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies at University of Nebraska at Kearney
University of Arkansas did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools For Those Making $48-$75k ranking, coming in at #21. This large school is located in Fayetteville, Arkansas, and it awarded 77 ’s parks and rec degrees in 2020-2021.
In addition to being on our parks & rec students whose families make $48-$75k list, UARK has also earned the #19 rank in our “Best Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies Schools” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for UARK is $16,256 for parks & rec students whose families make $48-$75k.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 4.1%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 85%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.
Read more about Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies at UARK
Pittsburg State University landed the #22 spot on the 2023 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. Pitt State is a public institution located in Pittsburg, Kansas. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 19 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Pitt State did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #25 on our “Best Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies Schools” list. It costs about $14,800 for parks & rec students whose families make $48-$75k per year to attend Pitt State.
Read more about Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies at Pittsburg State University
Southern Illinois University Carbondale ranked #23 on this year’s Best Value Parks & Rec Schools For Those Making $48-$75k list. Southern Illinois University Carbondale is located in Carbondale, Illinois and, has a fairly large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 44 ’s parks and rec degrees to qualified students.
It costs about $14,499 for parks & rec students whose families make $48-$75k per year to attend SIUC.
Read more about Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies at SIUC
Southern Oregon University ranked #24 on this year’s Best Value Parks & Rec Schools For Those Making $48-$75k list. This medium-sized school is located in Ashland, Oregon, and it awarded 27 ’s parks and rec degrees in 2020-2021.
It costs about $11,223 for parks & rec students whose families make $48-$75k per year to attend Southern Oregon University.
Read more about Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies at Southern Oregon University
Western Washington University came in at #24 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Parks & Rec Schools For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. WWU is located in Bellingham, Washington and, has a fairly large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 48 ’s parks and rec degrees to qualified students.
WWU did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #21 on our “Best Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies Schools” list. It costs about $16,819 for parks & rec students whose families make $48-$75k per year to attend Western Washington University.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.7%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Read full report on Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies at Western Washington University
