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2022 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Bachelor’s in Tennessee For Those Making $0-$30k

19 Ranked Colleges
2,224 Degrees Awarded
$13,400 Avg Net Price*
Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Bachelor's in Tennessee For Those Making $0-$30k

With all of the options students have for higher education today, it can be tough to choose which direction to take. 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 a Bachelor’s in Tennessee For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking is one tool we have developed to help in this regard.

In 2019-2020, 72,122 people earned their degree in parks, recreation, leisure, and fitness studies, making the major the 15th most popular in the United States. 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.

Across Tennessee, there were 2,529 parks, recreation, leisure, and fitness studies graduates with average earnings and debt of $0 and $0 respectively. At the bachelor’s degree level specifically, there were 2,224 parks, recreation, leisure, and fitness studies graduates with average earnings and debt of $0 and $0 respectively.

For this year’s “Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Bachelor’s in Tennessee For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking, we looked at 19 colleges that offer 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. Check out our ranking methodology for more information.

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 a Bachelor’s in Tennessee For Those Making $0-$30k”.

In addition to our rankings, you can take two colleges and compare them based on the criteria that matters most to you in our unique tool, College Combat. If you’re torn between two schools, you can use it to help you see how they stack up against one another. Bookmark it so you can compare any new schools that might interest you.

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

The colleges and universities below are the best for tennessee bachelor’s degree parks & rec students whose families make $0-$30k.

Top 19 Best Value Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies (Income $0-$30k) in Tennessee

#1 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend The University of Tennessee - Knoxville. It ranked #1 on our 2022 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Bachelor’s in Tennessee For Those Making $0-$30k list. The University of Tennessee - Knoxville is a public institution located in Knoxville, Tennessee. The school has a large population, and it awarded 413 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

UT Knoxville also took the #1 spot in our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Tennessee” ranking. It costs about $10,224 for tennessee bachelor’s degree parks & rec students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend The University of Tennessee - Knoxville.

The low student loan default rate of 4.3% 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, & Fitness Studies at The University of Tennessee - Knoxville

#2

Middle Tennessee State University

Murfreesboro, Tennessee
#2 in overall quality

Out of the 19 schools in the Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Bachelor’s in Tennessee For Those Making $0-$30k that were part of this year’s ranking, Middle Tennessee State University landed the #2 spot on the list. Middle Tennessee State University is a large public school situated in Murfreesboro, Tennessee. It awarded 185 bachelors’s parks and rec degrees in 2019-2020.

Middle Tennessee State University also took the #2 spot in our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Tennessee” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Middle Tennessee State University is $8,919 for tennessee bachelor’s degree parks & rec students whose families make $0-$30k.

Full Middle Tennessee State University Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Report

#3 in overall quality

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend The University of Tennessee - Chattanooga. The school came in at #3 for the Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Bachelor’s in Tennessee For Those Making $0-$30k. This fairly large school is located in Chattanooga, Tennessee, and it awarded 191 bachelors’s parks and rec degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at UT Chattanooga, the school also landed the #3 spot in our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Tennessee” ranking. It costs about $8,108 for Tennessee Bachelor’s Degree Parks & Rec students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend UT Chattanooga.

Read more about Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at UT Chattanooga

#4

Tennessee Wesleyan University

Athens, Tennessee
#14 in overall quality

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Tennessee Wesleyan University. The school came in at #4 for the Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Bachelor’s in Tennessee For Those Making $0-$30k. TWU is a private not-for-profit institution located in Athens, Tennessee. The school has a small population, and it awarded 31 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at TWU, the school also landed the #14 spot in our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Tennessee” ranking. The yearly cost to attend TWU is $10,002 for tennessee bachelor’s degree parks & rec students whose families make $0-$30k.

Read more about Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at TWU

#9 in overall quality

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend The University of Tennessee - Martin. The school came in at #5 for the Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Bachelor’s in Tennessee For Those Making $0-$30k. Located in Martin, Tennessee, this medium-sized public school awarded 100 degrees to qualified bachelors’s parks and rec students in 2019-2020.

UT Martin not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #9 on our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Tennessee” list. It costs about $7,524 for Tennessee Bachelor’s Degree Parks & Rec students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend UT Martin.

Full UT Martin Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Report

#6

University of Memphis

Memphis, Tennessee
#8 in overall quality

With a ranking of #6, University of Memphis did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Bachelor’s in Tennessee For Those Making $0-$30k list. UofM is a large public school situated in Memphis, Tennessee. It awarded 393 bachelors’s parks and rec degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at UofM, the school also landed the #8 spot in our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Tennessee” ranking. The yearly cost to attend University of Memphis is $10,256 for tennessee bachelor’s degree parks & rec students whose families make $0-$30k.

Read full report on Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at UofM

#7

Tennessee Technological University

Cookeville, Tennessee
#7 in overall quality

Tennessee Technological University came in at #7 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Bachelor’s in Tennessee For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Tennessee Tech University is a fairly large public school situated in Cookeville, Tennessee. It awarded 96 bachelors’s parks and rec degrees in 2019-2020.

Tennessee Tech University not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #7 on our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Tennessee” list. The estimated yearly cost for Tennessee Tech University is $11,641 for tennessee bachelor’s degree parks & rec students whose families make $0-$30k.

The student loan default rate at the school is 4.8%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Full Tennessee Tech University Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Report

#8

East Tennessee State University

Johnson City, Tennessee
#16 in overall quality

With a ranking of #8, East Tennessee State University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Bachelor’s in Tennessee For Those Making $0-$30k list. This fairly large school is located in Johnson City, Tennessee, and it awarded 152 bachelors’s parks and rec degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our tennessee bachelor’s degree parks & rec students whose families make $0-$30k list, ETSU has also earned the #16 rank in our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Tennessee” ranking. The yearly cost to attend ETSU is $10,632 for tennessee bachelor’s degree parks & rec students whose families make $0-$30k.

Read more about Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at ETSU

#9

Lincoln Memorial University

Harrogate, Tennessee
#15 in overall quality

With a ranking of #9, Lincoln Memorial University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Bachelor’s in Tennessee For Those Making $0-$30k list. LMU is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Harrogate, Tennessee. It awarded 25 bachelors’s parks and rec degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at LMU, the school also landed the #15 spot in our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Tennessee” ranking. It costs about $9,736 for Tennessee Bachelor’s Degree Parks & Rec students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend LMU.

The low student loan default rate of 3.8% 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%.

Read more about Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Lincoln Memorial University

#10

Tennessee State University

Nashville, Tennessee
#17 in overall quality

Tennessee State University came in at #10 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Bachelor’s in Tennessee For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Tennessee State University is a medium-sized public school situated in Nashville, Tennessee. It awarded 50 bachelors’s parks and rec degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our tennessee bachelor’s degree parks & rec students whose families make $0-$30k list, Tennessee State University has also earned the #17 rank in our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Tennessee” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Tennessee State University is $11,015 for Tennessee Bachelor’s Degree Parks & Rec students whose families make $0-$30k.

Read full report on Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Tennessee State University

#11

Trevecca Nazarene University

Nashville, Tennessee
#11 in overall quality

Trevecca Nazarene University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Bachelor’s in Tennessee For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #11. Trevecca Nazarene University is located in Nashville, Tennessee and, has a small student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 7 bachelors’s parks and rec degrees to qualified students.

TNU not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #11 on our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Tennessee” list. It costs about $15,228 for Tennessee Bachelor’s Degree Parks & Rec students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Trevecca Nazarene University.

Read full report on Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Trevecca Nazarene University

#12

Maryville College

Maryville, Tennessee
#6 in overall quality

Maryville College did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Bachelor’s in Tennessee For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #12. Maryville College is a small school located in Maryville, Tennessee that handed out 13 bachelors’s parks and rec degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Maryville College, the school also landed the #6 spot in our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Tennessee” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Maryville College is $14,150 for tennessee bachelor’s degree parks & rec students whose families make $0-$30k.

Full Maryville College Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Report

#13

Austin Peay State University

Clarksville, Tennessee
#12 in overall quality

Austin Peay State University came in at #13 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Bachelor’s in Tennessee For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Austin Peay State University is a fairly large school located in Clarksville, Tennessee that handed out 194 bachelors’s parks and rec degrees in 2019-2020.

Austin Peay State University did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #12 on our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Tennessee” list. The yearly cost to attend Austin Peay State University is $10,909 for Tennessee Bachelor’s Degree Parks & Rec students whose families make $0-$30k.

Read full report on Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Austin Peay State University

#14

Carson - Newman University

Jefferson City, Tennessee
#4 in overall quality

Carson - Newman University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Bachelor’s in Tennessee For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #14. Jefferson City, Tennessee is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out bachelors’s parks and rec degrees to 37 students in 2019-2020.

Carson - Newman also made our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Tennessee” list, coming in at #4. The estimated yearly cost for Carson - Newman is $14,686 for tennessee bachelor’s degree parks & rec students whose families make $0-$30k.

Read full report on Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Carson - Newman University

#15

Tusculum University

Greeneville, Tennessee
#19 in overall quality

With a ranking of #15, Tusculum University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Bachelor’s in Tennessee For Those Making $0-$30k list. Tusculum is a private not-for-profit institution located in Greeneville, Tennessee. The school has a small population, and it awarded 43 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Tusculum, the school also landed the #19 spot in our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Tennessee” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Tusculum University is $13,752 for tennessee bachelor’s degree parks & rec students whose families make $0-$30k.

Read more about Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Tusculum

#16

Lee University

Cleveland, Tennessee
#18 in overall quality

Lee University came in at #16 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Bachelor’s in Tennessee For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Lee University is a private not-for-profit institution located in Cleveland, Tennessee. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 24 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

Lee University did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #18 on our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Tennessee” list. It costs about $13,841 for tennessee bachelor’s degree parks & rec students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Lee University.

Full Lee University Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Report

#17

Belmont University

Nashville, Tennessee
#5 in overall quality

Belmont University ranked #17 on this year’s Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Bachelor’s in Tennessee For Those Making $0-$30k list. Belmont University is a private not-for-profit institution located in Nashville, Tennessee. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 42 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our tennessee bachelor’s degree parks & rec students whose families make $0-$30k list, Belmont has also earned the #5 rank in our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Tennessee” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Belmont is $25,980 for tennessee bachelor’s degree parks & rec students whose families make $0-$30k.

The student loan default rate at the school is 3.0%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Belmont

#18

Cumberland University

Lebanon, Tennessee
#10 in overall quality

Cumberland University ranked #18 on this year’s Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Bachelor’s in Tennessee For Those Making $0-$30k list. Lebanon, Tennessee is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out bachelors’s parks and rec degrees to 26 students in 2019-2020.

CU also made our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Tennessee” list, coming in at #10. It costs about $21,979 for tennessee bachelor’s degree parks & rec students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend CU.

Read more about Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Cumberland University

#19

Union University

Jackson, Tennessee
#13 in overall quality

With a ranking of #19, Union University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Bachelor’s in Tennessee For Those Making $0-$30k list. Union University is a private not-for-profit institution located in Jackson, Tennessee. The school has a small population, and it awarded 14 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

Union not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #13 on our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Tennessee” list. The yearly cost to attend Union University is $26,079 for tennessee bachelor’s degree parks & rec students whose families make $0-$30k.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 87%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one. The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 4.1%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Union

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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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