2022 Best Value Master’s Degree Colleges for Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies (Income $48-$75k) in the Southwest Region

With all of the options students have for higher education today, it can be tough to choose which direction to take. At College Factual, we’re committed to helping you make that decision by providing information such as that found in our “Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Master’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $48-$75k” ranking.
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 the Southwest region, there were 9,967 parks, recreation, leisure, and fitness studies graduates with average earnings and debt of $30,090 and $22,308 respectively. At the master’s degree level specifically, there were 882 parks, recreation, leisure, and fitness studies graduates with average earnings and debt of $53,078 and $37,227 respectively.
This year’s “Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Master’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $48-$75k” ranking analyzed 40 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.
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. For more information, check out our ranking methodology.
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When choosing the right school for you, it’s important to arm yourself with all the facts you can. To that end, we’ve created a number of major-specific rankings, including this “Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Master’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $48-$75k” list to help you make the college decision.
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. 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 in the Southwest Region For Those Making $48-$75k
The colleges and universities below are the best for southwest region master’s degree parks & rec students whose families make $48-$75k.
Top 25 Best Value Master’s Degree Colleges for Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies (Income $48-$75k) in the Southwest Region
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley. It ranked #1 on our 2022 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Master’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $48-$75k list. The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley is a large school located in Edinburg, Texas that handed out 14 masters’s parks and rec degrees in 2019-2020.
Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley are $15,151.
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Texas Woman’s University. The school came in at #2 for the Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Master’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $48-$75k. Located in Denton, Texas, this fairly large public school handed out 31 degrees to qualified masters’s parks and rec students in 2019-2020.
In addition to being on our southwest region master’s degree parks & rec students whose families make $48-$75k list, TWU has also earned the #9 rank in our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Master’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Texas Woman’s University are $14,962, but some majors have different tuition rates.
Full Texas Woman’s University Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Report
Out of the 40 schools in the Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Master’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $48-$75k that were part of this year’s ranking, Southeastern Oklahoma State University landed the #3 spot on the list. Located in Durant, Oklahoma, this medium-sized public school awarded 52 diplomas to qualified masters’s parks and rec students in 2019-2020.
Southeastern Oklahoma State University did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #17 on our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Master’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at Southeastern Oklahoma State University are $11,178, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend MSU Texas. It ranked #4 on our 2022 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Master’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $48-$75k list. MSU Texas is a public institution located in Wichita Falls, Texas. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 29 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at MSU Texas, the school also landed the #11 spot in our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Master’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at MSU Texas are $7,935, but some majors have different tuition rates.
Full MSU Texas Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Report
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend The University of Texas of the Permian Basin. It ranked #5 on our 2022 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Master’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $48-$75k list. Located in Odessa, Texas, this medium-sized public school handed out 2 diplomas to qualified masters’s parks and rec students in 2019-2020.
UT Permian Basin not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #0 on our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Master’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at The University of Texas of the Permian Basin are $6,900, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.
Full UT Permian Basin Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Report
The University of Texas at Austin did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Master’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $48-$75k ranking, coming in at #6. The University of Texas at Austin is a large public school situated in Austin, Texas. It awarded 12 masters’s parks and rec degrees in 2019-2020.
UT Austin did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #2 on our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Master’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” list. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at The University of Texas at Austin are $22,886.
Full UT Austin Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Report
Texas A&M University - College Station landed the #7 spot on the 2022 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Master’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. Texas A&M College Station is a large school located in College Station, Texas that handed out 73 masters’s parks and rec degrees in 2019-2020.
Texas A&M College Station did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #1 on our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Master’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at Texas A&M University - College Station are $22,743, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.
Full Texas A&M University - College Station Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Report
The University of Texas at San Antonio did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Master’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $48-$75k ranking, coming in at #8. The University of Texas at San Antonio is a public institution located in San Antonio, Texas. The school has a large population, and it awarded 35 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.
Average graduate tuition and fees at The University of Texas at San Antonio are $25,807, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.
Full The University of Texas at San Antonio Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Report
University of Houston did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Master’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $48-$75k ranking, coming in at #9. This large school is located in Houston, Texas, and it awarded 11 masters’s parks and rec degrees in 2019-2020.
UH did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #8 on our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Master’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at UH are $18,689, but some majors have different tuition rates.
Read full report on Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at UH
East Central University came in at #10 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Master’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. ECU is a public institution located in Ada, Oklahoma. The school has a small population, and it awarded 35 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.
In addition to being on our southwest region master’s degree parks & rec students whose families make $48-$75k list, ECU has also earned the #23 rank in our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Master’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at East Central University are $11,568, but some majors have different tuition rates.
Read more about Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at East Central University
Texas State University landed the #11 spot on the 2022 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Master’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. Located in San Marcos, Texas, this large public school handed out 39 degrees to qualified masters’s parks and rec students in 2019-2020.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at Texas State, the school also landed the #13 spot in our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Master’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Texas State University are $17,040.
Read full report on Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Texas State
Stephen F Austin State University came in at #12 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Master’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. SFASU is a public institution located in Nacogdoches, Texas. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 20 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.
SFASU not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #25 on our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Master’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” list. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at SFASU are $15,695.
Read more about Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at SFASU
Texas Tech University landed the #13 spot on the 2022 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Master’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. Texas Tech is a large school located in Lubbock, Texas that handed out 39 masters’s parks and rec degrees in 2019-2020.
Texas Tech did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #6 on our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Master’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at Texas Tech are $17,530, but some majors have different tuition rates.
Full Texas Tech University Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Report
Oklahoma State University - Main Campus came in at #14 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Master’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. Located in Stillwater, Oklahoma, this large public school handed out 15 diplomas to qualified masters’s parks and rec students in 2019-2020.
In addition to being on our southwest region master’s degree parks & rec students whose families make $48-$75k list, OSU has also earned the #7 rank in our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Master’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Oklahoma State University - Main Campus are $23,963, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.
Read more about Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at OSU
University of North Texas landed the #15 spot on the 2022 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Master’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. UNT is a large school located in Denton, Texas that handed out 44 masters’s parks and rec degrees in 2019-2020.
UNT also took the #12 spot in our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Master’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at University of North Texas are $15,618, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.
Read full report on Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at University of North Texas
The University of Texas at El Paso landed the #16 spot on the 2022 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Master’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. UTEP is a large school located in El Paso, Texas that handed out 8 masters’s parks and rec degrees in 2019-2020.
Average graduate tuition and fees at UTEP are $16,180, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.
Read full report on Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at UTEP
The University of Texas at Tyler landed the #17 spot on the 2022 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Master’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. Located in Tyler, Texas, this medium-sized public school awarded 12 degrees to qualified masters’s parks and rec students in 2019-2020.
Average graduate tuition and fees at UT Tyler are $16,308, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.
Read more about Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at The University of Texas at Tyler
West Texas A&M University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Master’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $48-$75k ranking, coming in at #18. Located in Canyon, Texas, this fairly large public school awarded 8 degrees to qualified masters’s parks and rec students in 2019-2020.
Average graduate tuition and fees at West Texas A&M University are $8,013, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.
Full West Texas A&M University Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Report
The University of Texas at Arlington did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Master’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $48-$75k ranking, coming in at #19. The University of Texas at Arlington is a large school located in Arlington, Texas that handed out 20 masters’s parks and rec degrees in 2019-2020.
UT Arlington not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #14 on our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Master’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at UT Arlington are $23,376, but some majors have different tuition rates.
Full UT Arlington Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Report
Lamar University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Master’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $48-$75k ranking, coming in at #20. Lamar University is a fairly large school located in Beaumont, Texas that handed out 6 masters’s parks and rec degrees in 2019-2020.
Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Lamar University are $15,699.
Read full report on Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Lamar University
Northeastern State University came in at #21 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Master’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. Located in Tahlequah, Oklahoma, this medium-sized public school handed out 13 degrees to qualified masters’s parks and rec students in 2019-2020.
Average graduate tuition and fees at Northeastern State University are $10,600, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.
Full Northeastern State University Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Report
With a ranking of #22, Texas A&M University - Commerce did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Master’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $48-$75k list. Texas A&M University - Commerce is located in Commerce, Texas and, has a fairly large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 35 masters’s parks and rec degrees to qualified students.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at Texas A&M Commerce, the school also landed the #16 spot in our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Master’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Texas A&M Commerce are $14,549, but some majors have different tuition rates.
Read more about Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Texas A&M Commerce
Sam Houston State University came in at #23 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Master’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. This large school is located in Huntsville, Texas, and it awarded 22 masters’s parks and rec degrees in 2019-2020.
SHSU not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #18 on our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Master’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at Sam Houston State University are $15,704, but some majors have different tuition rates.
Full Sam Houston State University Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Report
Texas A&M University - Kingsville came in at #24 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Master’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. Texas A&M University - Kingsville is a medium-sized public school situated in Kingsville, Texas. It awarded 13 masters’s parks and rec degrees in 2019-2020.
Average graduate tuition and fees at Texas A&M Kingsville are $14,066, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.
Read more about Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Texas A&M University - Kingsville
Angelo State University came in at #25 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Master’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. San Angelo, Texas is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s parks and rec degrees to 27 students in 2019-2020.
Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Angelo State University are $14,396.
Read more about Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Angelo State
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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.
Credits
- Credit for the banner image above goes to NPS Photo/Zurbuch.
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