2023 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in the Southeast Region For Those Getting Aid
142
Ranked Colleges
19,760
Degrees Awarded
$13,400
Avg Net Price*
When it comes to choosing a college, students have a lot of options - but not all of them are good. 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 in the Southeast Region For Those Getting Aid” ranking.
Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies is the 15th most popular major in the country with 73,813 degrees awarded in 2020-2021. 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 Southeast region, there were 19,760 parks, recreation, leisure, and fitness studies graduates with average earnings and debt of $30,102 and $25,352 respectively.
For this year’s “Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in the Southeast Region For Those Getting Aid” ranking, we looked at 142 colleges that offer a degree 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.
More Ways to Rank Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Schools
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 in the Southeast Region For Those Getting Aid” ranking, along with many other major-related rankings, to help you make that 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. Test it out when you get a chance! You may also want to bookmark the link and share it with others who are trying to make the college decision.
Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in the Southeast Region For Those Getting Aid
The colleges and universities below are the best for southeast region parks & rec students with aid.
Top 25 Best Value Colleges for Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies in the Southeast Region (With Aid)
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend American Public University System. It ranked #1 on our 2023 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in the Southeast Region For Those Getting Aid list. American Public University System is a large school located in Charles Town, West Virginia that handed out 683 ’s parks and rec degrees in 2020-2021.
American Military University also made our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Schools in the Southeast Region” list, coming in at #3. It costs about $10,563 for Southeast Region Parks & Rec students with aid per year to attend American Military University.
With a freshman retention rate of 98%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.
Read full report on Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at American Public University System
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Florida. It ranked #2 on our 2023 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in the Southeast Region For Those Getting Aid list. Gainesville, Florida is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s parks and rec degrees to 306 students in 2020-2021.
In addition to being on our southeast region parks & rec students with aid list, UF has also earned the #4 rank in our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Schools in the Southeast Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for University of Florida is $5,135 for southeast region parks & rec students with aid.
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 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%.
Full UF Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Report
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. It ranked #3 on our 2023 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in the Southeast Region For Those Getting Aid list. This large school is located in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, and it awarded 401 ’s parks and rec degrees in 2020-2021.
In addition to being on our southeast region parks & rec students with aid list, UNC Chapel Hill has also earned the #6 rank in our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Schools in the Southeast Region” ranking. It costs about $12,469 for Southeast Region Parks & Rec students with aid per year to attend University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.4%, which is much lower than the national rate of 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
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Florida International University. It ranked #4 on our 2023 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in the Southeast Region For Those Getting Aid list. Florida International University is a public institution located in Miami, Florida. The school has a large population, and it awarded 274 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
FIU also took the #16 spot in our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Schools in the Southeast Region” ranking. It costs about $5,298 for southeast region parks & rec students with aid per year to attend Florida International University.
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%. With a freshman retention rate of 91%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.
Read full report on Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at FIU
Out of the 142 schools in the Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in the Southeast Region For Those Getting Aid that were part of this year’s ranking, The University of West Florida landed the #5 spot on the list. UWF is located in Pensacola, Florida and, has a fairly large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 147 ’s parks and rec degrees to qualified students.
The estimated yearly cost for The University of West Florida is $7,089 for southeast region parks & rec students with aid.
Read more about Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at UWF
University of Georgia ranked #6 on this year’s Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in the Southeast Region For Those Getting Aid list. UGA is a large public school situated in Athens, Georgia. It awarded 303 ’s parks and rec degrees in 2020-2021.
UGA also made our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Schools in the Southeast Region” list, coming in at #7. It costs about $14,257 for southeast region parks & rec students with aid per year to attend UGA.
The low undergrad 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%. With a freshman retention rate of 94%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.
Full University of Georgia Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Report
Florida State University came in at #7 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in the Southeast Region For Those Getting Aid ranking. Located in Tallahassee, Florida, this large public school handed out 219 degrees to qualified ’s parks and rec students in 2020-2021.
In addition to being on our southeast region parks & rec students with aid list, Florida State has also earned the #19 rank in our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Schools in the Southeast Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Florida State University is $9,946 for Southeast Region Parks & Rec students with aid.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.8% 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 95%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.
Read full report on Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Florida State
With a ranking of #8, University of South Florida - Main Campus did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in the Southeast Region For Those Getting Aid list. USF Tampa is located in Tampa, Florida and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 53 ’s parks and rec degrees to qualified students.
It costs about $8,346 for Southeast Region Parks & Rec students with aid per year to attend USF Tampa.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 3.3%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 92%.
Full University of South Florida - Main Campus Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Report
North Carolina State University landed the #9 spot on the 2023 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in the Southeast Region For Those Getting Aid ranking. This large school is located in Raleigh, North Carolina, and it awarded 193 ’s parks and rec degrees in 2020-2021.
In addition to being on our southeast region parks & rec students with aid list, NC State has also earned the #12 rank in our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Schools in the Southeast Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for NC State is $16,411 for Southeast Region Parks & Rec students with aid.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.0% 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 94%.
Read more about Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at NC State
Western Kentucky University ranked #10 on this year’s Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in the Southeast Region For Those Getting Aid list. Western Kentucky University is a public institution located in Bowling Green, Kentucky. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 258 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
On top of its placing in this ranking, WKU also did well on our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Schools in the Southeast Region” list. It’s in the top [COLLEGE_QUALITY_PECTENTILE_ALL_LEVES]% of all schools in this category. It costs about $12,522 for southeast region parks & rec students with aid per year to attend WKU.
Full WKU Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Report
Middle Tennessee State University did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in the Southeast Region For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #11. Middle Tennessee State University is a large school located in Murfreesboro, Tennessee that handed out 212 ’s parks and rec degrees in 2020-2021.
The yearly cost to attend Middle Tennessee State University is $12,752 for Southeast Region Parks & Rec students with aid.
Full Middle Tennessee State University Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Report
West Virginia University came in at #12 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in the Southeast Region For Those Getting Aid ranking. This large school is located in Morgantown, West Virginia, and it awarded 261 ’s parks and rec degrees in 2020-2021.
In addition to being on our southeast region parks & rec students with aid list, WVU has also earned the #25 rank in our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Schools in the Southeast Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for WVU is $13,355 for southeast region parks & rec students with aid.
Full West Virginia University Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Report
James Madison University came in at #13 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in the Southeast Region For Those Getting Aid ranking. JMU is a large public school situated in Harrisonburg, Virginia. It awarded 326 ’s parks and rec degrees in 2020-2021.
JMU not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #5 on our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Schools in the Southeast Region” list. The yearly cost to attend James Madison University is $22,562 for Southeast Region Parks & Rec students with aid.
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 low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.0% 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%.
Read more about Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at James Madison University
Appalachian State University did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in the Southeast Region For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #14. Appalachian State is a large public school situated in Boone, North Carolina. It awarded 308 ’s parks and rec degrees in 2020-2021.
The yearly cost to attend Appalachian State is $13,989 for southeast region parks & rec students with aid.
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%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 86%.
Read full report on Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Appalachian State
Florida Atlantic University came in at #15 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in the Southeast Region For Those Getting Aid ranking. FAU is a large school located in Boca Raton, Florida that handed out 189 ’s parks and rec degrees in 2020-2021.
It costs about $10,735 for Southeast Region Parks & Rec students with aid per year to attend FAU.
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 full report on Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Florida Atlantic University
University of Virginia - Main Campus came in at #16 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in the Southeast Region For Those Getting Aid ranking. 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.
University of Virginia did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #9 on our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Schools in the Southeast Region” list. The yearly cost to attend University of Virginia - Main Campus is $22,006 for Southeast Region Parks & Rec students with aid.
Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 97%. 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 University of Virginia Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Report
With a ranking of #17, Citadel Military College of South Carolina did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in the Southeast Region For Those Getting Aid list. The Citadel is a small school located in Charleston, South Carolina that handed out 58 ’s parks and rec degrees in 2020-2021.
In addition to being on our southeast region parks & rec students with aid list, The Citadel has also earned the #10 rank in our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Schools in the Southeast Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend The Citadel is $18,559 for southeast region parks & rec students with aid.
Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 87%. 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%.
Read more about Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Citadel Military College of South Carolina
University of North Carolina at Greensboro did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in the Southeast Region For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #18. Located in Greensboro, North Carolina, this fairly large public school awarded 314 diplomas to qualified ’s parks and rec students in 2020-2021.
The estimated yearly cost for University of North Carolina at Greensboro is $11,629 for Southeast Region Parks & Rec students with aid.
Read more about Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at UNC Greensboro
Arkansas State University - Main Campus came in at #19 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in the Southeast Region For Those Getting Aid ranking. This fairly large school is located in Jonesboro, Arkansas, and it awarded 276 ’s parks and rec degrees in 2020-2021.
A-State excels when it comes to parks and rec quality. It’s ranked in the top 20% of all schools on our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Schools in the Southeast Region” list. The yearly cost to attend Arkansas State University - Main Campus is $14,189 for southeast region parks & rec students with aid.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 3.3% 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%.
Read full report on Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at A-State
University of Mississippi landed the #20 spot on the 2023 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in the Southeast Region For Those Getting Aid ranking. University, Mississippi is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s parks and rec degrees to 232 students in 2020-2021.
Ole Miss did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #22 on our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Schools in the Southeast Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for University of Mississippi is $12,161 for southeast region parks & rec students with aid.
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 Ole Miss
University of Arkansas ranked #21 on this year’s Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in the Southeast Region For Those Getting Aid list. UARK is a large school located in Fayetteville, Arkansas that handed out 296 ’s parks and rec degrees in 2020-2021.
In addition to being on our southeast region parks & rec students with aid list, UARK has also earned the #15 rank in our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Schools in the Southeast Region” ranking. It costs about $16,507 for southeast region parks & rec students with aid per year to attend UARK.
With a freshman retention rate of 85%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 4.1%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Read full report on Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at University of Arkansas
With a ranking of #22, Clemson University did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in the Southeast Region For Those Getting Aid list. This large school is located in Clemson, South Carolina, and it awarded 227 ’s parks and rec degrees in 2020-2021.
Clemson not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #2 on our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Schools in the Southeast Region” list. It costs about $21,262 for southeast region parks & rec students with aid per year to attend Clemson University.
With a freshman retention rate of 94%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.7%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Read more about Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Clemson
Augusta University landed the #23 spot on the 2023 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in the Southeast Region For Those Getting Aid ranking. Augusta University is a medium-sized school located in Augusta, Georgia that handed out 85 ’s parks and rec degrees in 2020-2021.
The estimated yearly cost for Augusta University is $12,239 for southeast region parks & rec students with aid.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 3.5%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Full Augusta University Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Report
University of Memphis did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in the Southeast Region For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #24. University of Memphis is a large school located in Memphis, Tennessee that handed out 545 ’s parks and rec degrees in 2020-2021.
The yearly cost to attend University of Memphis is $13,904 for Southeast Region Parks & Rec students with aid.
Read more about Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at UofM
Mississippi State University came in at #25 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in the Southeast Region For Those Getting Aid ranking. This large school is located in Mississippi State, Mississippi, and it awarded 310 ’s parks and rec degrees in 2020-2021.
Mississippi State also made our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Schools in the Southeast Region” list, coming in at #18. It costs about $16,122 for southeast region parks & rec students with aid per year to attend Mississippi State University.
Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 85%.
Read full report on Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Mississippi State University
