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2022 Best Value Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies (Income $75-$110k) in the Southwest Region

67 Ranked Colleges
7,822 Degrees Awarded
$16,400 Avg Net Price*
Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Bachelor's in the Southwest Region For Those Making $75-$110k

It’s not easy to decide which college to attend when there so many options available for students. College Factual has developed its “Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $75-$110k” ranking as one item you can use to help make this 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 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 bachelor’s degree level specifically, there were 7,822 parks, recreation, leisure, and fitness studies graduates with average earnings and debt of $38,896 and $23,899 respectively.

This year’s “Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $75-$110k” ranking analyzed 67 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.

To come up with these rankings, we looked at factors such as the cost to attend the school after aid is awarded and overall quality of the parks, recreation, leisure, and fitness studies program at the school. For more information, check out our ranking methodology.

One Size Does Not Fit All

Since picking the right college can be one of the most important decisions of your life, we’ve developed the “Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $75-$110k” ranking, along with many other major-related rankings, to help you make that decision.

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 a Bachelor’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $75-$110k

The colleges and universities below are the best for southwest region bachelor’s degree parks & rec students whose families make $75-$110k.

Top 25 Best Value Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies (Income $75-$110k) in the Southwest Region

#21 in overall quality

Out of the 67 schools in the Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $75-$110k that were part of this year’s ranking, The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley landed the #1 spot on the list. This large school is located in Edinburg, Texas, and it awarded 305 bachelors’s parks and rec degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at UT Rio Grande Valley, the school also landed the #21 spot in our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for UT Rio Grande Valley is $11,400 for southwest region bachelor’s degree parks & rec students whose families make $75-$110k.

The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 4.8%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley

#7 in overall quality

Out of the 67 schools in the Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $75-$110k that were part of this year’s ranking, Northwestern Oklahoma State University landed the #2 spot on the list. Alva, Oklahoma is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s parks and rec degrees to 33 students in 2019-2020.

NWOSU also took the #7 spot in our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend NWOSU is $13,711 for Southwest Region Bachelor’s Degree Parks & Rec students whose families make $75-$110k.

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

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Texas A&M International University. The school came in at #3 for the Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $75-$110k. Texas A&M International University is a public institution located in Laredo, Texas. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 62 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

The yearly cost to attend Texas A&M International University is $8,807 for Southwest Region Bachelor’s Degree Parks & Rec students whose families make $75-$110k.

Read more about Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Texas A&M International University

#1 in overall quality

Out of the 67 schools in the Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $75-$110k that were part of this year’s ranking, The University of Texas at Austin landed the #4 spot on the list. UT Austin is a large public school situated in Austin, Texas. It awarded 247 bachelors’s parks and rec degrees in 2019-2020.

UT Austin not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #1 on our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for UT Austin is $20,454 for Southwest Region Bachelor’s Degree Parks & Rec students whose families make $75-$110k.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 97%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 2.7%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Full The University of Texas at Austin Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Report

#17 in overall quality

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend The University of Texas of the Permian Basin. The school came in at #5 for the Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $75-$110k. UT Permian Basin is a public institution located in Odessa, Texas. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 46 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

UT Permian Basin not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #17 on our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” list. The yearly cost to attend The University of Texas of the Permian Basin is $10,923 for Southwest Region Bachelor’s Degree Parks & Rec students whose families make $75-$110k.

Full UT Permian Basin Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Report

#6

Rice University

Houston, Texas
#3 in overall quality

Rice University landed the #6 spot on the 2022 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $75-$110k ranking. Rice University is a private not-for-profit institution located in Houston, Texas. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 102 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our southwest region bachelor’s degree parks & rec students whose families make $75-$110k list, Rice has also earned the #3 rank in our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Rice University is $24,321 for Southwest Region Bachelor’s Degree Parks & Rec students whose families make $75-$110k.

The low student loan default rate of 1.0% 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%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 97%. Since the school has a student-to-faculty ratio of 6 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 Rice University

#15 in overall quality

The University of Texas at San Antonio did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $75-$110k ranking, coming in at #7. This large school is located in San Antonio, Texas, and it awarded 355 bachelors’s parks and rec degrees in 2019-2020.

UTSA also made our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” list, coming in at #15. The yearly cost to attend The University of Texas at San Antonio is $18,275 for southwest region bachelor’s degree parks & rec students whose families make $75-$110k.

Full The University of Texas at San Antonio Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Report

Southeastern Oklahoma State University came in at #8 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $75-$110k ranking. This medium-sized school is located in Durant, Oklahoma, and it awarded 26 bachelors’s parks and rec degrees in 2019-2020.

It costs about $12,771 for Southwest Region Bachelor’s Degree Parks & Rec students whose families make $75-$110k per year to attend Southeastern Oklahoma State University.

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

#20 in overall quality

Texas Woman’s University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $75-$110k ranking, coming in at #9. TWU is a public institution located in Denton, Texas. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 126 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our southwest region bachelor’s degree parks & rec students whose families make $75-$110k list, TWU has also earned the #20 rank in our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Texas Woman’s University is $14,134 for southwest region bachelor’s degree parks & rec students whose families make $75-$110k.

Full Texas Woman’s University Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Report

The University of Texas at El Paso did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $75-$110k ranking, coming in at #10. UTEP is a large school located in El Paso, Texas that handed out 169 bachelors’s parks and rec degrees in 2019-2020.

The yearly cost to attend UTEP is $15,123 for Southwest Region Bachelor’s Degree Parks & Rec students whose families make $75-$110k.

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

#11

University of North Texas

Denton, Texas
#10 in overall quality

University of North Texas did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $75-$110k ranking, coming in at #11. Denton, Texas is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s parks and rec degrees to 308 students in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at UNT, the school also landed the #10 spot in our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend University of North Texas is $21,613 for southwest region bachelor’s degree parks & rec students whose families make $75-$110k.

With a freshman retention rate of 85%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students.

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

#12

Texas Tech University

Lubbock, Texas
#5 in overall quality

Texas Tech University landed the #12 spot on the 2022 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $75-$110k ranking. This large school is located in Lubbock, Texas, and it awarded 349 bachelors’s parks and rec degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Texas Tech, the school also landed the #5 spot in our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. It costs about $21,305 for Southwest Region Bachelor’s Degree Parks & Rec students whose families make $75-$110k per year to attend Texas Tech.

With a freshman retention rate of 87%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students.

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

#13

East Central University

Ada, Oklahoma

East Central University came in at #13 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $75-$110k ranking. ECU is a public institution located in Ada, Oklahoma. The school has a small population, and it awarded 48 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

The estimated yearly cost for East Central University is $15,029 for southwest region bachelor’s degree parks & rec students whose families make $75-$110k.

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

Southwestern Oklahoma State University came in at #14 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $75-$110k ranking. This small school is located in Weatherford, Oklahoma, and it awarded 67 bachelors’s parks and rec degrees in 2019-2020.

The estimated yearly cost for SWOSU is $16,434 for southwest region bachelor’s degree parks & rec students whose families make $75-$110k.

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

#18 in overall quality

Stephen F Austin State University came in at #15 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $75-$110k ranking. Nacogdoches, Texas is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s parks and rec degrees to 146 students in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our southwest region bachelor’s degree parks & rec students whose families make $75-$110k list, SFASU has also earned the #18 rank in our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend SFASU is $18,653 for Southwest Region Bachelor’s Degree Parks & Rec students whose families make $75-$110k.

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

#16

Texas State University

San Marcos, Texas
#6 in overall quality

Texas State University landed the #16 spot on the 2022 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $75-$110k ranking. Texas State is located in San Marcos, Texas and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 551 bachelors’s parks and rec degrees to qualified students.

Texas State not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #6 on our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” list. The yearly cost to attend Texas State is $19,683 for Southwest Region Bachelor’s Degree Parks & Rec students whose families make $75-$110k.

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

#17

Northeastern State University

Tahlequah, Oklahoma

Northeastern State University landed the #17 spot on the 2022 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $75-$110k ranking. Tahlequah, Oklahoma is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s parks and rec degrees to 69 students in 2019-2020.

It costs about $15,029 for Southwest Region Bachelor’s Degree Parks & Rec students whose families make $75-$110k per year to attend Northeastern State University.

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

#18

Cameron University

Lawton, Oklahoma

Cameron University ranked #18 on this year’s Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $75-$110k list. Cameron University is a public institution located in Lawton, Oklahoma. The school has a small population, and it awarded 45 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

It costs about $13,619 for Southwest Region Bachelor’s Degree Parks & Rec students whose families make $75-$110k per year to attend Cameron University.

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

#19

University of Houston

Houston, Texas
#9 in overall quality

University of Houston landed the #19 spot on the 2022 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $75-$110k ranking. University of Houston is a large public school situated in Houston, Texas. It awarded 439 bachelors’s parks and rec degrees in 2019-2020.

UH also made our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” list, coming in at #9. The estimated yearly cost for UH is $18,844 for Southwest Region Bachelor’s Degree Parks & Rec students whose families make $75-$110k.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 86%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Full University of Houston Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Report

#20

MSU Texas

Wichita Falls, Texas

With a ranking of #20, MSU Texas did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $75-$110k list. MSU Texas is a public institution located in Wichita Falls, Texas. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 28 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

It costs about $15,146 for southwest region bachelor’s degree parks & rec students whose families make $75-$110k per year to attend MSU Texas.

Full MSU Texas Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Report

#23 in overall quality

With a ranking of #21, The University of Texas at Tyler did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $75-$110k list. Located in Tyler, Texas, this medium-sized public school awarded 91 degrees to qualified bachelors’s parks and rec students in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at UT Tyler, the school also landed the #23 spot in our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. It costs about $16,995 for Southwest Region Bachelor’s Degree Parks & Rec students whose families make $75-$110k per year to attend The University of Texas at Tyler.

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

#12 in overall quality

The University of Texas at Arlington landed the #22 spot on the 2022 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $75-$110k ranking. The University of Texas at Arlington is located in Arlington, Texas and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 235 bachelors’s parks and rec degrees to qualified students.

UT Arlington also made our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” list, coming in at #12. The yearly cost to attend UT Arlington is $16,473 for southwest region bachelor’s degree parks & rec students whose families make $75-$110k.

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

#23

Lamar University

Beaumont, Texas

Lamar University ranked #23 on this year’s Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $75-$110k list. Lamar University is a fairly large public school situated in Beaumont, Texas. It awarded 46 bachelors’s parks and rec degrees in 2019-2020.

It costs about $18,759 for southwest region bachelor’s degree parks & rec students whose families make $75-$110k per year to attend Lamar University.

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

#24

Sam Houston State University

Huntsville, Texas
#16 in overall quality

With a ranking of #24, Sam Houston State University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $75-$110k list. Located in Huntsville, Texas, this large public school handed out 141 diplomas to qualified bachelors’s parks and rec students in 2019-2020.

SHSU not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #16 on our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for Sam Houston State University is $19,531 for southwest region bachelor’s degree parks & rec students whose families make $75-$110k.

Full Sam Houston State University Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Report

New Mexico State University - Main Campus came in at #25 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $75-$110k ranking. Las Cruces, New Mexico is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s parks and rec degrees to 57 students in 2019-2020.

The estimated yearly cost for New Mexico State University - Main Campus is $12,909 for southwest region bachelor’s degree parks & rec students whose families make $75-$110k.

Read more about Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at NMSU Main Campus

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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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