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2022 Best Value Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies in the Southeast Region (With Aid)

187 Ranked Colleges
15,371 Degrees Awarded
$12,000 Avg Net Price*
Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Bachelor's in the Southeast Region For Those Getting Aid

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 for a Bachelor’s in the Southeast Region For Those Getting Aid” 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 the Southeast region, there were 19,063 parks, recreation, leisure, and fitness studies graduates with average earnings and debt of $28,950 and $25,504 respectively. At the bachelor’s degree level specifically, there were 15,371 parks, recreation, leisure, and fitness studies graduates with average earnings and debt of $36,277 and $25,415 respectively.

For this year’s “Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southeast Region For Those Getting Aid” ranking, we looked at 187 colleges that offer 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. Check out our ranking methodology for more information.

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 Southeast Region For Those Getting Aid” ranking, along with many other major-related rankings, to help you make that decision.

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. 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 for a Bachelor’s in the Southeast Region For Those Getting Aid

The following schools top our list of the Best Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southeast Region For Those Getting Aid.

Top 25 Best Value Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies in the Southeast Region (With Aid)

#1

University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Chapel Hill, North Carolina
#5 in overall quality

Out of the 187 schools in the Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southeast Region For Those Getting Aid that were part of this year’s ranking, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill landed the #1 spot on the list. Chapel Hill, North Carolina is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s parks and rec degrees to 346 students in 2019-2020.

UNC Chapel Hill also made our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southeast Region” list, coming in at #5. The estimated yearly cost for University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill is $12,352 for Southeast Region Bachelor’s Degree Parks & Rec students with aid.

The low student loan default rate of 1.9% 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 95%.

Full University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Report

#2

Berea College

Berea, Kentucky
Top 15% in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Berea College. It ranked #2 on our 2022 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southeast Region For Those Getting Aid list. Berea College is a small school located in Berea, Kentucky that handed out 24 bachelors’s parks and rec degrees in 2019-2020.

Berea also claimed a top spot on our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southeast Region” list. It’s in the top 15% of all schools reviewed in that analysis. It costs about $5,184 for southeast region bachelor’s degree parks & rec students with aid per year to attend Berea College.

The student loan default rate at the school is 4.3%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 87%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students. The student-to-faculty ratio of 9 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one.

Read more about Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Berea College

#3

American Public University System

Charles Town, West Virginia
#1 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend American Public University System. It ranked #3 on our 2022 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southeast Region For Those Getting Aid list. American Public University System is a private for-profit institution located in Charles Town, West Virginia. The school has a large population, and it awarded 433 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

American Military University also made our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southeast Region” list, coming in at #1. The estimated yearly cost for American Military University is $10,222 for Southeast Region Bachelor’s Degree Parks & Rec students with aid.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 98%.

Full American Public University System Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Report

#4

University of Florida

Gainesville, Florida
#7 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Florida. It ranked #4 on our 2022 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southeast Region For Those Getting Aid list. This large school is located in Gainesville, Florida, and it awarded 151 bachelors’s parks and rec degrees in 2019-2020.

UF also made our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southeast Region” list, coming in at #7. It costs about $6,302 for Southeast Region Bachelor’s Degree Parks & Rec students with aid per year to attend University of Florida.

The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 2.0%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 97%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students.

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

#19 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Florida International University. It ranked #5 on our 2022 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southeast Region For Those Getting Aid list. FIU is a large school located in Miami, Florida that handed out 261 bachelors’s parks and rec degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our southeast region bachelor’s degree parks & rec students with aid list, FIU has also earned the #19 rank in our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southeast Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for FIU is $7,296 for southeast region bachelor’s degree parks & rec students with aid.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 91%.

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

#6

Elizabeth City State University

Elizabeth City, North Carolina

With a ranking of #6, Elizabeth City State University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southeast Region For Those Getting Aid list. ECSU is a public institution located in Elizabeth City, North Carolina. The school has a small population, and it awarded 19 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

The estimated yearly cost for Elizabeth City State University is $2,350 for southeast region bachelor’s degree parks & rec students with aid.

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

#7

North Carolina State University

Raleigh, North Carolina
#9 in overall quality

North Carolina State University landed the #7 spot on the 2022 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southeast Region For Those Getting Aid ranking. North Carolina State University is located in Raleigh, North Carolina and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 137 bachelors’s parks and rec degrees to qualified students.

NC State did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #9 on our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southeast Region” list. The yearly cost to attend NC State is $16,458 for southeast region bachelor’s degree parks & rec students with aid.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 94%, 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 2.9%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Full North Carolina State University Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Report

#8

The University of West Florida

Pensacola, Florida

The University of West Florida landed the #8 spot on the 2022 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southeast Region For Those Getting Aid ranking. UWF is a public institution located in Pensacola, Florida. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 135 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

The yearly cost to attend The University of West Florida is $7,406 for southeast region bachelor’s degree parks & rec students with aid.

Read full report on Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at The University of West Florida

#9

University of North Florida

Jacksonville, Florida
Top 20% in overall quality

University of North Florida landed the #9 spot on the 2022 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southeast Region For Those Getting Aid ranking. Located in Jacksonville, Florida, this fairly large public school handed out 82 degrees to qualified bachelors’s parks and rec students in 2019-2020.

On top of its placing in this ranking, UNF also did well on our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southeast Region” list. It’s in the top 20% of all schools in this category. The estimated yearly cost for University of North Florida is $9,606 for Southeast Region Bachelor’s Degree Parks & Rec students with aid.

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%.

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

#10

University of Georgia

Athens, Georgia
#6 in overall quality

University of Georgia ranked #10 on this year’s Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southeast Region For Those Getting Aid list. Athens, Georgia is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s parks and rec degrees to 270 students in 2019-2020.

UGA also took the #6 spot in our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southeast Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend UGA is $13,649 for Southeast Region Bachelor’s Degree Parks & Rec students with aid.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 94%. The low student loan default rate of 2.5% 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 UGA

#11

Appalachian State University

Boone, North Carolina
Top 20% in overall quality

Appalachian State University ranked #11 on this year’s Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southeast Region For Those Getting Aid list. Appalachian State is a large school located in Boone, North Carolina that handed out 368 bachelors’s parks and rec degrees in 2019-2020.

Appalachian State also claimed a top spot on our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southeast Region” list. It’s in the top 20% of all schools reviewed in that analysis. The yearly cost to attend Appalachian State is $13,920 for southeast region bachelor’s degree parks & rec students with aid.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 86%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The low student loan default rate of 3.9% 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 Appalachian State

#12

Florida State University

Tallahassee, Florida
#21 in overall quality

Florida State University landed the #12 spot on the 2022 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southeast Region For Those Getting Aid ranking. This large school is located in Tallahassee, Florida, and it awarded 159 bachelors’s parks and rec degrees in 2019-2020.

Florida State also took the #21 spot in our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southeast Region” ranking. It costs about $9,789 for southeast region bachelor’s degree parks & rec students with aid per year to attend Florida State University.

With a freshman retention rate of 95%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students. The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 3.5%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

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

#13

University of North Carolina at Greensboro

Greensboro, North Carolina

University of North Carolina at Greensboro did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southeast Region For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #13. This fairly large school is located in Greensboro, North Carolina, and it awarded 215 bachelors’s parks and rec degrees in 2019-2020.

The yearly cost to attend University of North Carolina at Greensboro is $12,748 for Southeast Region Bachelor’s Degree Parks & Rec students with aid.

Full UNC Greensboro Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Report

#14

Florida Gulf Coast University

Fort Myers, Florida

Florida Gulf Coast University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southeast Region For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #14. FGCU is located in Fort Myers, Florida and, has a fairly large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 50 bachelors’s parks and rec degrees to qualified students.

The yearly cost to attend FGCU is $11,606 for Southeast Region Bachelor’s Degree Parks & Rec students with aid.

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

#15

Shepherd University

Shepherdstown, West Virginia

Shepherd University ranked #15 on this year’s Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southeast Region For Those Getting Aid list. Shepherd University is located in Shepherdstown, West Virginia and, has a small student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 40 bachelors’s parks and rec degrees to qualified students.

It costs about $11,021 for Southeast Region Bachelor’s Degree Parks & Rec students with aid per year to attend Shepherd University.

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

#16

James Madison University

Harrisonburg, Virginia
#4 in overall quality

James Madison University came in at #16 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southeast Region For Those Getting Aid ranking. James Madison University is a large public school situated in Harrisonburg, Virginia. It awarded 252 bachelors’s parks and rec degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our southeast region bachelor’s degree parks & rec students with aid list, JMU has also earned the #4 rank in our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southeast Region” ranking. It costs about $22,169 for Southeast Region Bachelor’s Degree Parks & Rec students with aid per year to attend JMU.

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 school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 2.3%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

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

#17

Middle Tennessee State University

Murfreesboro, Tennessee
Top 20% in overall quality

Middle Tennessee State University ranked #17 on this year’s Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southeast Region For Those Getting Aid list. Middle Tennessee State University is a large school located in Murfreesboro, Tennessee that handed out 185 bachelors’s parks and rec degrees in 2019-2020.

On top of its placing in this ranking, Middle Tennessee State University also did well on our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southeast Region” list. It’s ranked in the top 20% of all schools on our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southeast Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for Middle Tennessee State University is $12,464 for southeast region bachelor’s degree parks & rec students with aid.

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

#18

Florida Atlantic University

Boca Raton, Florida

With a ranking of #18, Florida Atlantic University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southeast Region For Those Getting Aid list. FAU is located in Boca Raton, Florida and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 156 bachelors’s parks and rec degrees to qualified students.

It costs about $10,186 for Southeast Region Bachelor’s Degree Parks & Rec students with aid per year to attend Florida Atlantic University.

Read full report on Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Florida Atlantic University

#19

McNeese State University

Lake Charles, Louisiana

McNeese State University ranked #19 on this year’s Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southeast Region For Those Getting Aid list. McNeese is a medium-sized public school situated in Lake Charles, Louisiana. It awarded 66 bachelors’s parks and rec degrees in 2019-2020.

It costs about $12,267 for Southeast Region Bachelor’s Degree Parks & Rec students with aid per year to attend McNeese.

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

#20

North Carolina A & T State University

Greensboro, North Carolina

North Carolina A & T State University ranked #20 on this year’s Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southeast Region For Those Getting Aid list. NC A&T is a public institution located in Greensboro, North Carolina. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 142 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

The estimated yearly cost for NC A&T is $10,274 for southeast region bachelor’s degree parks & rec students with aid.

Read full report on Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at NC A&T

#21

University of Virginia - Main Campus

Charlottesville, Virginia
#8 in overall quality

University of Virginia - Main Campus did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southeast Region For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #21. University of Virginia is located in Charlottesville, Virginia and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 73 bachelors’s parks and rec degrees to qualified students.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at University of Virginia, the school also landed the #8 spot in our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southeast Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend University of Virginia - Main Campus is $20,397 for Southeast Region Bachelor’s Degree Parks & Rec students with aid.

The low student loan default rate of 1.6% 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%. With a freshman retention rate of 97%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students.

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

#22

Augusta University

Augusta, Georgia

Augusta University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southeast Region For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #22. Located in Augusta, Georgia, this medium-sized public school awarded 71 degrees to qualified bachelors’s parks and rec students in 2019-2020.

The estimated yearly cost for Augusta University is $11,136 for Southeast Region Bachelor’s Degree Parks & Rec students with aid.

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

#23

West Virginia University

Morgantown, West Virginia
Top 25% in overall quality

West Virginia University landed the #23 spot on the 2022 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southeast Region For Those Getting Aid ranking. Morgantown, West Virginia is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s parks and rec degrees to 182 students in 2019-2020.

The estimated yearly cost for WVU is $12,983 for Southeast Region Bachelor’s Degree Parks & Rec students with aid.

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

#24

William & Mary

Williamsburg, Virginia
#11 in overall quality

William & Mary came in at #24 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southeast Region For Those Getting Aid ranking. William & Mary is located in Williamsburg, Virginia and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 129 bachelors’s parks and rec degrees to qualified students.

William & Mary not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #11 on our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southeast Region” list. The yearly cost to attend William & Mary is $19,800 for southeast region bachelor’s degree parks & rec students with aid.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 93%. The student loan default rate at the school is 1.0%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

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

#25

Citadel Military College of South Carolina

Charleston, South Carolina
#14 in overall quality

Citadel Military College of South Carolina came in at #25 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southeast Region For Those Getting Aid ranking. Citadel Military College of South Carolina is located in Charleston, South Carolina and, has a small student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 37 bachelors’s parks and rec degrees to qualified students.

In addition to being on our southeast region bachelor’s degree parks & rec students with aid list, The Citadel has also earned the #14 rank in our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southeast Region” ranking. It costs about $18,548 for Southeast Region Bachelor’s Degree Parks & Rec students with aid per year to attend Citadel Military College of South Carolina.

The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 4.7%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 87%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students.

Read more about Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at The Citadel

Rest of the Best 29 in Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southeast Region For Those Getting Aid

Not only did these schools make the top 29 list, but they also landed in the top 15% of this year’s ranking:

#26

Georgia Southern University

Statesboro, Georgia
#27

Marshall University

Huntington, West Virginia
#29

Valdosta State University

Valdosta, Georgia

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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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