2022 Best Value Associate Degree Colleges for Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies (Income $0-$30k)
When pursuing a degree in today’s world, students have many different options to choose from. Our mission at College Factual is to arm you with as much information as we can to help you make that decision. Our “Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for an Associate For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking is one tool we have developed to help in this regard.
Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies is the 15th most popular major in the country with 72,122 degrees awarded in 2019-2020. In 2017-2018, parks, recreation, leisure, and fitness studies graduates who were awarded their degree in 2015-2017, earned an average of $29,823 and had an average of $24,576 in loans still to pay off.
At the associate degree level specifically, there were 5,688 parks, recreation, leisure, and fitness studies graduates with average earnings and debt of $33,082 and $17,678 respectively.
This year’s “Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for an Associate For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking analyzed 29 colleges that offered a degree in parks, recreation, leisure, and fitness studies. Not only do the schools that top this list have excellent parks, recreation, leisure, and fitness 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, leisure, and fitness studies program at the school and the cost of the school after aid is awarded among other things. See our ranking methodology to learn more.
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One Size Does Not Fit All
The parks & rec school you choose to invest your time and money in matters. To help you make the decision that is right for you, we’ve developed a number of major-specific rankings, including this list of “Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for an Associate For Those Making $0-$30k”.
You can create your own custom comparison that focuses on the factors most important to you using our tool, College Combat. Go ahead and give it a try, or bookmark the link so you can check it out later.
Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for an Associate For Those Making $0-$30k
The following schools top our list of the Best Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for an Associate For Those Making $0-$30k.
Top 26 Best Value Associate Degree Colleges for Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies (Income $0-$30k)
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Cincinnati State Technical and Community College. It ranked #1 on our 2022 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for an Associate For Those Making $0-$30k list. Cincinnati State Technical and Community College is located in Cincinnati, Ohio and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 5 associates’s parks and rec degrees to qualified students.
In addition to being on our associate degree parks & rec students whose families make $0-$30k list, Cincinnati State has also earned the #1 rank in our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Associate Degree Schools” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Cincinnati State is $3,756 for Associate Degree Parks & Rec students whose families make $0-$30k.
Full Cincinnati State Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Report
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Mt. San Antonio College. It ranked #2 on our 2022 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for an Associate For Those Making $0-$30k list. Mt. San Antonio College is a large school located in Walnut, California that handed out 474 associates’s parks and rec degrees in 2019-2020.
Mt. SAC not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #5 on our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Associate Degree Schools” list. It costs about $898 for Associate Degree Parks & Rec students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Mt. San Antonio College.
Full Mt. SAC Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Report
Out of the 29 schools in the Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for an Associate For Those Making $0-$30k that were part of this year’s ranking, South Texas College landed the #3 spot on the list. McAllen, Texas is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out associates’s parks and rec degrees to 67 students in 2019-2020.
In addition to being on our associate degree parks & rec students whose families make $0-$30k list, South Texas College has also earned the #8 rank in our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Associate Degree Schools” ranking. It costs about $904 for associate degree parks & rec students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend South Texas College.
Read more about Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at South Texas College
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Gogebic Community College. The school came in at #4 for the Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for an Associate For Those Making $0-$30k. Gogebic Community College is a public institution located in Ironwood, Michigan. The school has a small population, and it awarded 5 associates’s degrees in 2019-2020.
Gogebic Community College also took the #2 spot in our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Associate Degree Schools” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Gogebic Community College is $5,674 for associate degree parks & rec students whose families make $0-$30k.
Read full report on Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Gogebic Community College
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Riverside City College. The school came in at #5 for the Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for an Associate For Those Making $0-$30k. Riverside City College is a public institution located in Riverside, California. The school has a large population, and it awarded 178 associates’s degrees in 2019-2020.
Riverside City College did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #4 on our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Associate Degree Schools” list. The estimated yearly cost for Riverside City College is $4,620 for Associate Degree Parks & Rec students whose families make $0-$30k.
Full Riverside City College Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Report
Onondaga Community College ranked #6 on this year’s Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for an Associate For Those Making $0-$30k list. Syracuse, New York is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out associates’s parks and rec degrees to 13 students in 2019-2020.
In addition to being on our associate degree parks & rec students whose families make $0-$30k list, OCC has also earned the #9 rank in our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Associate Degree Schools” ranking. It costs about $4,897 for associate degree parks & rec students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend OCC.
Read full report on Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at OCC
With a ranking of #7, Union County College did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for an Associate For Those Making $0-$30k list. Located in Cranford, New Jersey, this medium-sized public school handed out 21 degrees to qualified associates’s parks and rec students in 2019-2020.
Union County College also made our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Associate Degree Schools” list, coming in at #13. It costs about $8,409 for associate degree parks & rec students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Union County College.
Read full report on Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Union County College
Cabrillo College ranked #8 on this year’s Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for an Associate For Those Making $0-$30k list. Cabrillo College is a medium-sized school located in Aptos, California that handed out 120 associates’s parks and rec degrees in 2019-2020.
Cabrillo College also took the #3 spot in our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Associate Degree Schools” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Cabrillo College is $7,302 for associate degree parks & rec students whose families make $0-$30k.
Read full report on Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Cabrillo College
Cuyahoga Community College District came in at #9 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for an Associate For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Cleveland, Ohio is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out associates’s parks and rec degrees to 20 students in 2019-2020.
Cuyahoga Community College District also took the #19 spot in our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Associate Degree Schools” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Cuyahoga Community College District is $3,635 for Associate Degree Parks & Rec students whose families make $0-$30k.
Read more about Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Cuyahoga Community College District
Norco College came in at #10 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for an Associate For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Norco College is located in Norco, California and, has a fairly large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 39 associates’s parks and rec degrees to qualified students.
Norco College did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #16 on our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Associate Degree Schools” list. It costs about $5,099 for associate degree parks & rec students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Norco College.
Full Norco College Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Report
Lake Superior State University ranked #11 on this year’s Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for an Associate For Those Making $0-$30k list. This small school is located in Sault Ste Marie, Michigan, and it awarded 8 associates’s parks and rec degrees in 2019-2020.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at Lake Superior State University, the school also landed the #10 spot in our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Associate Degree Schools” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Lake Superior State University is $7,067 for Associate Degree Parks & Rec students whose families make $0-$30k.
Read more about Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Lake Superior State University
Sinclair Community College ranked #12 on this year’s Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for an Associate For Those Making $0-$30k list. Sinclair Community College is a fairly large school located in Dayton, Ohio that handed out 10 associates’s parks and rec degrees in 2019-2020.
Sinclair Community College also took the #22 spot in our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Associate Degree Schools” ranking. It costs about $2,567 for associate degree parks & rec students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Sinclair Community College.
Full Sinclair Community College Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Report
Northampton County Area Community College did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for an Associate For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #13. This medium-sized school is located in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, and it awarded 7 associates’s parks and rec degrees in 2019-2020.
In addition to being on our associate degree parks & rec students whose families make $0-$30k list, Northampton Community College has also earned the #11 rank in our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Associate Degree Schools” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Northampton Community College is $7,556 for Associate Degree Parks & Rec students whose families make $0-$30k.
Full Northampton County Area Community College Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Report
County College of Morris landed the #14 spot on the 2022 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for an Associate For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. This medium-sized school is located in Randolph, New Jersey, and it awarded 28 associates’s parks and rec degrees in 2019-2020.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at County College of Morris, the school also landed the #15 spot in our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Associate Degree Schools” ranking. It costs about $6,186 for Associate Degree Parks & Rec students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend County College of Morris.
Full County College of Morris Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Report
Hudson Valley Community College did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for an Associate For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #15. Located in Troy, New York, this medium-sized public school handed out 35 diplomas to qualified associates’s parks and rec students in 2019-2020.
HVCC also made our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Associate Degree Schools” list, coming in at #18. The yearly cost to attend HVCC is $5,671 for associate degree parks & rec students whose families make $0-$30k.
Read more about Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Hudson Valley Community College
With a ranking of #16, Wake Technical Community College did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for an Associate For Those Making $0-$30k list. Wake Technical Community College is a large school located in Raleigh, North Carolina that handed out 4 associates’s parks and rec degrees in 2019-2020.
In addition to being on our associate degree parks & rec students whose families make $0-$30k list, Wake Technical Community College has also earned the #24 rank in our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Associate Degree Schools” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Wake Technical Community College is $4,607 for associate degree parks & rec students whose families make $0-$30k.
Full Wake Technical Community College Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Report
Utah Valley University landed the #17 spot on the 2022 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for an Associate For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Utah Valley University is a large public school situated in Orem, Utah. It awarded 6 associates’s parks and rec degrees in 2019-2020.
In addition to being on our associate degree parks & rec students whose families make $0-$30k list, UVU has also earned the #17 rank in our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Associate Degree Schools” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Utah Valley University is $7,334 for associate degree parks & rec students whose families make $0-$30k.
Full UVU Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Report
Luzerne County Community College ranked #18 on this year’s Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for an Associate For Those Making $0-$30k list. Nanticoke, Pennsylvania is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The public school handed out associates’s parks and rec degrees to 3 students in 2019-2020.
Luzerne County Community College also took the #23 spot in our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Associate Degree Schools” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Luzerne County Community College is $6,610 for associate degree parks & rec students whose families make $0-$30k.
With a ranking of #19, Bob Jones University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for an Associate For Those Making $0-$30k list. Bob Jones University is a private not-for-profit institution located in Greenville, South Carolina. The school has a small population, and it awarded 5 associates’s degrees in 2019-2020.
Bob Jones University not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #12 on our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Associate Degree Schools” list. It costs about $10,076 for Associate Degree Parks & Rec students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Bob Jones University.
With a freshman retention rate of 86%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students. The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 2.0%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Read full report on Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Bob Jones University
With a ranking of #20, Portland Community College did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for an Associate For Those Making $0-$30k list. Portland Community College is a large school located in Portland, Oregon that handed out 9 associates’s parks and rec degrees in 2019-2020.
Portland Community College not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #21 on our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Associate Degree Schools” list. It costs about $7,669 for associate degree parks & rec students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Portland Community College.
Read full report on Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Portland Community College
Lane Community College ranked #21 on this year’s Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for an Associate For Those Making $0-$30k list. Lane Community College is a medium-sized public school situated in Eugene, Oregon. It awarded 1 associates’s parks and rec degrees in 2019-2020.
Lane Community College did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #25 on our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Associate Degree Schools” list. The estimated yearly cost for Lane Community College is $8,475 for associate degree parks & rec students whose families make $0-$30k.
Read full report on Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Lane Community College
International Sports Sciences Association ranked #22 on this year’s Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for an Associate For Those Making $0-$30k list. Carpinteria, California is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private for-profit school handed out associates’s parks and rec degrees to 121 students in 2019-2020.
ISSA did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #14 on our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Associate Degree Schools” list.
Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 100%.
Read more about Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at ISSA
The University of Findlay landed the #23 spot on the 2022 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for an Associate For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. The University of Findlay is a private not-for-profit institution located in Findlay, Ohio. The school has a small population, and it awarded 6 associates’s degrees in 2019-2020.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at Findlay, the school also landed the #6 spot in our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Associate Degree Schools” ranking. The yearly cost to attend The University of Findlay is $22,220 for associate degree parks & rec students whose families make $0-$30k.
The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 4.7%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Read more about Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at The University of Findlay
Webber International University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for an Associate For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #24. Webber International University is a small school located in Babson Park, Florida that handed out 2 associates’s parks and rec degrees in 2019-2020.
Webber International University also took the #20 spot in our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Associate Degree Schools” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Webber International University is $22,980 for associate degree parks & rec students whose families make $0-$30k.
Full Webber International University Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Report
Intellitec College - Colorado Springs came in at #25 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for an Associate For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Intellitec College - Colorado Springs is a small private for-profit school situated in Colorado Springs, Colorado. It awarded 4 associates’s parks and rec degrees in 2019-2020.
The yearly cost to attend Intellitec College - Colorado Springs is $17,905 for associate degree parks & rec students whose families make $0-$30k.
With a ranking of #25, Keiser University - Ft Lauderdale did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for an Associate For Those Making $0-$30k list. Located in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, this large private not-for-profit school awarded 96 degrees to qualified associates’s parks and rec students in 2019-2020.
Keiser University - Ft Lauderdale not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #7 on our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Associate Degree Schools” list. It costs about $33,435 for Associate Degree Parks & Rec students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Keiser University - Ft Lauderdale.
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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.
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- Credit for the banner image above goes to NPS Photo/Zurbuch.
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