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2022 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in Massachusetts For Those Making $30-$48k

14 Ranked Colleges
1,102 Degrees Awarded
$19,300 Avg Net Price*
Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in Massachusetts For Those Making $30-$48k

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 in Massachusetts For Those Making $30-$48k” ranking - to help you make that decision.

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.

Across Massachusetts, there were 1,102 parks, recreation, leisure, and fitness studies graduates with average earnings and debt of $35,071 and $25,549 respectively.

This year’s “Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in Massachusetts For Those Making $30-$48k” ranking looked at 14 colleges that offer degrees in a bachelor’s 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.

When determining these rankings, we looked at things such as overall quality of the parks, recreation, leisure, and fitness studies program at the school and the cost to attend the school once aid has been awarded. Check out our ranking methodology for more information.

More Ways to Rank Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Schools

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 in Massachusetts For Those Making $30-$48k”.

One of our other unique offerings is College Combat. This tool lets you build your own customized comparisons utilizing the factors that are most important to 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 in Massachusetts For Those Making $30-$48k

The following schools top our list of the Best Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in Massachusetts For Those Making $30-$48k.

Top 14 Best Value Colleges for Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies (Income $30-$48k) in Massachusetts

#1

Northeastern University

Boston, Massachusetts

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Northeastern University. The school came in at #1 for the Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in Massachusetts For Those Making $30-$48k. Northeastern University is a large school located in Boston, Massachusetts that handed out 6 ’s parks and rec degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Northeastern, the school also landed the #3 spot in our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Schools in Massachusetts” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Northeastern is $12,823 for Massachusetts Parks & Rec students whose families make $30-$48k.

The student loan default rate at the school is 2.2%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 97%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Full Northeastern Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Report

#2

University of Massachusetts Amherst

Amherst, Massachusetts

Out of the 14 schools in the Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in Massachusetts For Those Making $30-$48k that were part of this year’s ranking, University of Massachusetts Amherst landed the #2 spot on the list. UMass Amherst is a large school located in Amherst, Massachusetts that handed out 156 ’s parks and rec degrees in 2019-2020.

UMass Amherst not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #1 on our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Schools in Massachusetts” list. It costs about $14,474 for Massachusetts Parks & Rec students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend UMass Amherst.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 89%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The low student loan default rate of 2.8% 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 full report on Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at UMass Amherst

#3

Smith College

Northampton, Massachusetts

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Smith College. The school came in at #3 for the Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in Massachusetts For Those Making $30-$48k. Smith College is located in Northampton, Massachusetts and, has a small student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 13 ’s parks and rec degrees to qualified students.

Smith also made our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Schools in Massachusetts” list, coming in at #4. It costs about $10,169 for massachusetts parks & rec students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend Smith College.

The student loan default rate at the school is 1.1%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. Since the school has a student-to-faculty ratio of 7 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors.

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

#4

Westfield State University

Westfield, Massachusetts

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Westfield State University. It ranked #4 on our 2022 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in Massachusetts For Those Making $30-$48k list. This medium-sized school is located in Westfield, Massachusetts, and it awarded 67 ’s parks and rec degrees in 2019-2020.

Westfield did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #6 on our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Schools in Massachusetts” list. The yearly cost to attend Westfield is $14,071 for massachusetts parks & rec students whose families make $30-$48k.

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%.

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

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of Massachusetts - Boston. The school came in at #5 for the Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in Massachusetts For Those Making $30-$48k. Located in Boston, Massachusetts, this fairly large public school awarded 153 degrees to qualified ’s parks and rec students in 2019-2020.

UMass Boston did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #8 on our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Schools in Massachusetts” list. It costs about $15,055 for massachusetts parks & rec students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend University of Massachusetts - Boston.

Read more about Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at University of Massachusetts - Boston

#6

Fitchburg State University

Fitchburg, Massachusetts

Fitchburg State University landed the #6 spot on the 2022 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in Massachusetts For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Fitchburg State is a public institution located in Fitchburg, Massachusetts. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 2 ’s degrees in 2019-2020.

Fitchburg State did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #10 on our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Schools in Massachusetts” list. The yearly cost to attend Fitchburg State is $13,208 for massachusetts parks & rec students whose families make $30-$48k.

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

#7

Salem State University

Salem, Massachusetts

Salem State University landed the #7 spot on the 2022 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in Massachusetts For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Located in Salem, Massachusetts, this medium-sized public school handed out 58 degrees to qualified ’s parks and rec students in 2019-2020.

Salem State not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #9 on our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Schools in Massachusetts” list. It costs about $16,416 for Massachusetts Parks & Rec students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend Salem State.

Full Salem State Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Report

#8

Springfield College

Springfield, Massachusetts

Springfield College landed the #8 spot on the 2022 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in Massachusetts For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Located in Springfield, Massachusetts, this small private not-for-profit school awarded 118 diplomas to qualified ’s parks and rec students in 2019-2020.

Springfield College also made our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Schools in Massachusetts” list, coming in at #5. The estimated yearly cost for Springfield College is $22,254 for Massachusetts Parks & Rec students whose families make $30-$48k.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 85%.

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

#9

Endicott College

Beverly, Massachusetts

With a ranking of #9, Endicott College did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in Massachusetts For Those Making $30-$48k list. Endicott College is a private not-for-profit institution located in Beverly, Massachusetts. The school has a small population, and it awarded 91 ’s degrees in 2019-2020.

Endicott did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #2 on our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Schools in Massachusetts” list. It costs about $25,921 for Massachusetts Parks & Rec students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend Endicott.

The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 3.2%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

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

#10

Lasell University

Newton, Massachusetts

Lasell University landed the #10 spot on the 2022 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in Massachusetts For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Lasell is located in Newton, Massachusetts and, has a small student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 55 ’s parks and rec degrees to qualified students.

Lasell did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #7 on our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Schools in Massachusetts” list. It costs about $22,786 for massachusetts parks & rec students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend Lasell University.

Full Lasell Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Report

#11

Gordon College

Wenham, Massachusetts

Gordon College came in at #11 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in Massachusetts For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Located in Wenham, Massachusetts, this small private not-for-profit school awarded 15 diplomas to qualified ’s parks and rec students in 2019-2020.

Gordon College not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #11 on our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Schools in Massachusetts” list. The yearly cost to attend Gordon College is $23,286 for massachusetts parks & rec students whose families make $30-$48k.

The impressive student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools. The student loan default rate at the school is 2.4%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

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

#12

Nichols College

Dudley, Massachusetts

Nichols College landed the #12 spot on the 2022 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in Massachusetts For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Dudley, Massachusetts is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s parks and rec degrees to 48 students in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Nichols, the school also landed the #12 spot in our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Schools in Massachusetts” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Nichols College is $24,074 for massachusetts parks & rec students whose families make $30-$48k.

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

#13

Regis College

Weston, Massachusetts

Regis College landed the #13 spot on the 2022 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in Massachusetts For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Regis College is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Weston, Massachusetts. It awarded 11 ’s parks and rec degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Regis College, the school also landed the #13 spot in our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Schools in Massachusetts” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Regis College is $26,115 for massachusetts parks & rec students whose families make $30-$48k.

Since the school has a student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors.

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

#14

Becker College

Worcester, Massachusetts

With a ranking of #14, Becker College did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in Massachusetts For Those Making $30-$48k list. Becker College is located in Worcester, Massachusetts and, has a small student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 14 ’s parks and rec degrees to qualified students.

Becker College not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #14 on our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Schools in Massachusetts” list. It costs about $29,680 for Massachusetts Parks & Rec students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend Becker College.

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

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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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