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2023 Best Value Colleges for Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies (Income $75-$110k) in Virginia

11 Ranked Colleges
1,741 Degrees Awarded
$23,300 Avg Net Price*
Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in Virginia For Those Making $75-$110k

When pursuing a degree in today’s world, students have many different options to choose from. 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 Virginia For Those Making $75-$110k” 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 Virginia, there were 1,741 parks, recreation, leisure, and fitness studies graduates with average earnings and debt of $31,990 and $25,658 respectively.

This year’s “Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in Virginia For Those Making $75-$110k” ranking looked at 11 colleges that offer degrees in a bachelor’s in parks, recreation, leisure, and fitness studies. This ranking identifies schools with high-quality parks, recreation, leisure, and fitness studies programs that also have a lower cost than 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. See our ranking methodology to learn more.

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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 Virginia For Those Making $75-$110k”.

In addition to College Factual’s rankings, you may want to take a look at College Combat, our unique tool that lets you pit your favorite schools head-to-head and compare how they rate on factors that most interest 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 Virginia For Those Making $75-$110k

The following schools top our list of the Best Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in Virginia For Those Making $75-$110k.

Top 11 Best Value Colleges for Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies (Income $75-$110k) in Virginia

1
University of Virginia crest
University of Virginia - Main Campus
Charlottesville, Virginia

Out of the 11 schools in the Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in Virginia For Those Making $75-$110k that were part of this year’s ranking, University of Virginia - Main Campus landed the #1 spot on the list. Charlottesville, Virginia is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s parks and rec degrees to 117 students in 2020-2021.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at University of Virginia, the school also landed the #2 spot in our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Schools in Virginia” ranking. It costs about $22,021 for virginia parks & rec students whose families make $75-$110k per year to attend University of Virginia.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 0.7%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 97%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.

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

2
William & Mary crest
William & Mary
Williamsburg, Virginia

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend William & Mary. It ranked #2 on our 2023 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in Virginia For Those Making $75-$110k list. William & Mary is a medium-sized school located in Williamsburg, Virginia that handed out 125 ’s parks and rec degrees in 2020-2021.

In addition to being on our virginia parks & rec students whose families make $75-$110k list, William & Mary has also earned the #3 rank in our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Schools in Virginia” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for William & Mary is $19,472 for Virginia Parks & Rec students whose families make $75-$110k.

With a freshman retention rate of 93%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 0.7%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Full William & Mary Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Report

3
JMU crest
James Madison University
Harrisonburg, Virginia

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend James Madison University. The school came in at #3 for the Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in Virginia For Those Making $75-$110k. James Madison University is a large school located in Harrisonburg, Virginia that handed out 326 ’s parks and rec degrees in 2020-2021.

JMU did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #1 on our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Schools in Virginia” list. The estimated yearly cost for JMU is $24,471 for Virginia Parks & Rec students whose families make $75-$110k.

With a freshman retention rate of 89%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.0%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

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

4
Old Dominion crest
Old Dominion University
Norfolk, Virginia

Out of the 11 schools in the Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in Virginia For Those Making $75-$110k that were part of this year’s ranking, Old Dominion University landed the #4 spot on the list. Old Dominion is a large public school situated in Norfolk, Virginia. It awarded 142 ’s parks and rec degrees in 2020-2021.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Old Dominion, the school also landed the #7 spot in our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Schools in Virginia” ranking. It costs about $20,919 for Virginia Parks & Rec students whose families make $75-$110k per year to attend Old Dominion University.

Full Old Dominion University Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Report

5
Bridgewater crest
Bridgewater College
Bridgewater, Virginia

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Bridgewater College. It ranked #5 on our 2023 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in Virginia For Those Making $75-$110k list. Bridgewater is a private not-for-profit institution located in Bridgewater, Virginia. The school has a small population, and it awarded 46 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

Bridgewater did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #8 on our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Schools in Virginia” list. The yearly cost to attend Bridgewater is $21,623 for virginia parks & rec students whose families make $75-$110k.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 4.2%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

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

6
GMU crest
George Mason University
Fairfax, Virginia

George Mason University came in at #6 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in Virginia For Those Making $75-$110k ranking. This large school is located in Fairfax, Virginia, and it awarded 113 ’s parks and rec degrees in 2020-2021.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at GMU, the school also landed the #4 spot in our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Schools in Virginia” ranking. It costs about $22,013 for virginia parks & rec students whose families make $75-$110k per year to attend George Mason University.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.5%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 86%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.

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

7
Radford crest
Radford University
Radford, Virginia

Radford University did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in Virginia For Those Making $75-$110k ranking, coming in at #7. Located in Radford, Virginia, this medium-sized public school handed out 44 diplomas to qualified ’s parks and rec students in 2020-2021.

Radford not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #12 on our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Schools in Virginia” list. The yearly cost to attend Radford University is $20,541 for Virginia Parks & Rec students whose families make $75-$110k.

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

8
Roanoke crest
Roanoke College
Salem, Virginia

Roanoke College did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in Virginia For Those Making $75-$110k ranking, coming in at #8. Roanoke College is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Salem, Virginia. It awarded 41 ’s parks and rec degrees in 2020-2021.

Roanoke did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #6 on our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Schools in Virginia” list. The yearly cost to attend Roanoke is $28,042 for virginia parks & rec students whose families make $75-$110k.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 3.6% 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 Roanoke College Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Report

9

Virginia Commonwealth University ranked #9 on this year’s Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in Virginia For Those Making $75-$110k list. Located in Richmond, Virginia, this large public school handed out 47 diplomas to qualified ’s parks and rec students in 2020-2021.

VCU did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #11 on our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Schools in Virginia” list. The estimated yearly cost for Virginia Commonwealth University is $23,030 for Virginia Parks & Rec students whose families make $75-$110k.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.6%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

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

10
AU crest
Averett University
Danville, Virginia

Averett University came in at #10 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in Virginia For Those Making $75-$110k ranking. Danville, Virginia is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s parks and rec degrees to 32 students in 2020-2021.

AU also took the #10 spot in our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Schools in Virginia” ranking. It costs about $26,193 for virginia parks & rec students whose families make $75-$110k per year to attend AU.

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

11
Liberty University crest
Liberty University
Lynchburg, Virginia

Liberty University came in at #11 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in Virginia For Those Making $75-$110k ranking. Liberty University is a private not-for-profit institution located in Lynchburg, Virginia. The school has a large population, and it awarded 403 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

Liberty University also made our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Schools in Virginia” list, coming in at #5. It costs about $28,443 for virginia parks & rec students whose families make $75-$110k per year to attend Liberty University.

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

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