2023 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region For Those Making $48-$75k
18
Ranked Colleges
2,772
Degrees Awarded
Students have lots of options to chooose from today when trying to decide which college to attend. 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 the Rocky Mountains Region For Those Making $48-$75k” ranking - to help you make that decision.
In 2020-2021, 73,813 people earned their degree in parks, recreation, leisure, and fitness studies, making the major the 15th most popular in the United States. In 2019-2020, parks, recreation, leisure, and fitness studies graduates who were awarded their degree in 2017-2019, earned an average of $31,423 and had an average of $24,388 in loans still to pay off.
Across the Rocky Mountains region, there were 2,772 parks, recreation, leisure, and fitness studies graduates with average earnings and debt of $29,911 and $19,677 respectively.
This year’s “Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region For Those Making $48-$75k” ranking analyzed 18 colleges that offered a degree in parks, recreation, leisure, and fitness studies. The schools that top this list are recognized because they have great parks, recreation, leisure, and fitness studies programs and 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.
More Ways to Rank Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Schools
Since the program you select can have a significant impact on your future, we’ve developed a number of rankings, including this “Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region For Those Making $48-$75k” list, to help you choose the best school for you.
You can create your own custom comparison that focuses on the factors most important to you using our 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 in the Rocky Mountains Region For Those Making $48-$75k
The following schools top our list of the Best Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region For Those Making $48-$75k.
Top 18 Best Value Colleges for Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies (Income $48-$75k) in the Rocky Mountains Region
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Brigham Young University - Provo. It ranked #1 on our 2023 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region For Those Making $48-$75k list. Provo, Utah is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s parks and rec degrees to 267 students in 2020-2021.
BYU also took the #2 spot in our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region” ranking. It costs about $12,676 for Rocky Mountains Region Parks & Rec students whose families make $48-$75k per year to attend BYU.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.3% 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%. With a freshman retention rate of 92%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.
Full Brigham Young University - Provo Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Report
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Utah. It ranked #2 on our 2023 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region For Those Making $48-$75k list. University of Utah is a public institution located in Salt Lake City, Utah. The school has a large population, and it awarded 382 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
U of U did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #1 on our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for U of U is $13,842 for rocky mountains region 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 low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.7% 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%.
Read full report on Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at U of U
Out of the 18 schools in the Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region For Those Making $48-$75k that were part of this year’s ranking, Brigham Young University - Idaho landed the #3 spot on the list. Brigham Young University - Idaho is located in Rexburg, Idaho and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 46 ’s parks and rec degrees to qualified students.
BYU - I also made our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region” list, coming in at #16. The yearly cost to attend BYU - I is $5,422 for rocky mountains region parks & rec students whose families make $48-$75k.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 3.1%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Full Brigham Young University - Idaho Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Report
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Wyoming. It ranked #4 on our 2023 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region For Those Making $48-$75k list. This fairly large school is located in Laramie, Wyoming, and it awarded 97 ’s parks and rec degrees in 2020-2021.
UW also took the #5 spot in our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend University of Wyoming is $9,394 for Rocky Mountains Region Parks & Rec students whose families make $48-$75k.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 3.5% 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%.
Full University of Wyoming Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Report
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Colorado State University - Fort Collins. It ranked #5 on our 2023 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region For Those Making $48-$75k list. Located in Fort Collins, Colorado, this large public school handed out 326 diplomas to qualified ’s parks and rec students in 2020-2021.
Colorado State also took the #3 spot in our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Colorado State is $15,086 for Rocky Mountains Region Parks & Rec students whose families make $48-$75k.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.6%, which is much lower than the national 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, & Fitness Studies at Colorado State
University of Northern Colorado ranked #6 on this year’s Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region For Those Making $48-$75k list. University of Northern Colorado is a public institution located in Greeley, Colorado. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 202 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at University of Northern Colorado, the school also landed the #4 spot in our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for University of Northern Colorado is $14,111 for rocky mountains region parks & rec students whose families make $48-$75k.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 4.4% 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%.
Read more about Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at University of Northern Colorado
Utah State University did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region For Those Making $48-$75k ranking, coming in at #7. USU is a public institution located in Logan, Utah. The school has a large population, and it awarded 131 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
In addition to being on our rocky mountains region parks & rec students whose families make $48-$75k list, USU has also earned the #6 rank in our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend USU is $13,553 for rocky mountains region parks & rec students whose families make $48-$75k.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 3.6%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Read full report on Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Utah State University
Utah Valley University landed the #8 spot on the 2023 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. UVU is a large school located in Orem, Utah that handed out 133 ’s parks and rec degrees in 2020-2021.
UVU also made our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region” list, coming in at #15. It costs about $11,196 for rocky mountains region parks & rec students whose families make $48-$75k per year to attend UVU.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 4.4% 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%.
Full UVU Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Report
Metropolitan State University of Denver ranked #9 on this year’s Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region For Those Making $48-$75k list. This fairly large school is located in Denver, Colorado, and it awarded 127 ’s parks and rec degrees in 2020-2021.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at MSU Denver, the school also landed the #8 spot in our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Metropolitan State University of Denver is $14,679 for rocky mountains region parks & rec students whose families make $48-$75k.
Read more about Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at MSU Denver
University of Idaho came in at #10 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. University of Idaho is a public institution located in Moscow, Idaho. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 47 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
U of I did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #10 on our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for U of I is $13,998 for rocky mountains region 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%.
Read full report on Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at U of I
With a ranking of #11, Weber State University did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region For Those Making $48-$75k list. Weber State University is a public institution located in Ogden, Utah. The school has a large population, and it awarded 46 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
In addition to being on our rocky mountains region parks & rec students whose families make $48-$75k list, WSU has also earned the #12 rank in our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region” ranking. It costs about $12,318 for Rocky Mountains Region Parks & Rec students whose families make $48-$75k per year to attend WSU.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 4.1% 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 WSU
Boise State University came in at #12 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. Boise, Idaho is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s parks and rec degrees to 97 students in 2020-2021.
Boise State did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #7 on our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region” list. It costs about $16,204 for rocky mountains region parks & rec students whose families make $48-$75k per year to attend Boise State University.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 4.3%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Read full report on Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Boise State University
Colorado Mesa University ranked #13 on this year’s Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region For Those Making $48-$75k list. Located in Grand Junction, Colorado, this medium-sized public school handed out 151 degrees to qualified ’s parks and rec students in 2020-2021.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at Colorado Mesa, the school also landed the #9 spot in our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Colorado Mesa is $16,572 for Rocky Mountains Region Parks & Rec students whose families make $48-$75k.
Full Colorado Mesa Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Report
Adams State University landed the #14 spot on the 2023 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. Located in Alamosa, Colorado, this small public school handed out 70 degrees to qualified ’s parks and rec students in 2020-2021.
In addition to being on our rocky mountains region parks & rec students whose families make $48-$75k list, Adams State has also earned the #11 rank in our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Adams State University is $13,688 for Rocky Mountains Region Parks & Rec students whose families make $48-$75k.
Full Adams State Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Report
Southern Utah University did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region For Those Making $48-$75k ranking, coming in at #15. Southern Utah University is a public institution located in Cedar City, Utah. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 117 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Southern Utah University also made our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region” list, coming in at #13. It costs about $13,460 for rocky mountains region parks & rec students whose families make $48-$75k per year to attend Southern Utah University.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 4.5% 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 Southern Utah University
Fort Lewis College came in at #16 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. Durango, Colorado is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s parks and rec degrees to 65 students in 2020-2021.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at FLC, the school also landed the #14 spot in our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend FLC is $16,067 for rocky mountains region parks & rec students whose families make $48-$75k.
Read more about Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Fort Lewis College
With a ranking of #17, Western Colorado University did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region For Those Making $48-$75k list. Located in Gunnison, Colorado, this small public school handed out 57 diplomas to qualified ’s parks and rec students in 2020-2021.
Western also took the #17 spot in our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Western is $16,216 for rocky mountains region parks & rec students whose families make $48-$75k.
Read more about Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Western Colorado University
Colorado State University - Pueblo ranked #18 on this year’s Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region For Those Making $48-$75k list. Colorado State University - Pueblo is a medium-sized school located in Pueblo, Colorado that handed out 40 ’s parks and rec degrees in 2020-2021.
In addition to being on our rocky mountains region parks & rec students whose families make $48-$75k list, Colorado State University - Pueblo has also earned the #18 rank in our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region” ranking. It costs about $13,811 for rocky mountains region parks & rec students whose families make $48-$75k per year to attend Colorado State University - Pueblo.
Full Colorado State University - Pueblo Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Report
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Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region
Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies students in the Rocky Mountains Region
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Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies students in the Rocky Mountains Region
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Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies students with family income less than $30k in the Rocky Mountains Region
Best Value Colleges for Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies (Income $48-$75k) in the Rocky Mountains Region
Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies students with family income $48-$75k in the Rocky Mountains Region
Best Value Colleges for Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies (Income Over $110k) in the Rocky Mountains Region
Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies students with family income exceeding $110k in the Rocky Mountains Region
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Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies students in the Rocky Mountains Region
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Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies students in the Rocky Mountains Region
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Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies students getting aid in the Rocky Mountains Region
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Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies students with family income $30-$48k in the Rocky Mountains Region
Best Value Colleges for Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies (Income $75-$110k) in the Rocky Mountains Region
Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies students with family income $75-$110k in the Rocky Mountains Region
Best Value Colleges for Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies in the Rocky Mountains Region
Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies students in the Rocky Mountains Region
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
- *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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