2023 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in North Carolina For Those Getting Aid
28
Ranked Colleges
3,565
Degrees Awarded
$18,700
Avg Net Price*
With all of the options students have for higher education today, it can be tough to choose which direction to take. Our mission at College Factual is to arm you with as much information as we can to help you make that decision. Our “Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in North Carolina For Those Getting Aid” ranking is one tool we have developed to help in this regard.
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 North Carolina, there were 3,565 parks, recreation, leisure, and fitness studies graduates with average earnings and debt of $27,466 and $26,583 respectively.
This year’s “Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in North Carolina For Those Getting Aid” ranking looked at 28 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.
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.
More Ways to Rank Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Schools
When choosing the right school for you, it’s important to arm yourself with all the facts you can. To that end, we’ve created a number of major-specific rankings, including this “Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in North Carolina For Those Getting Aid” list to help you make the college 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. 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 North Carolina For Those Getting Aid
The following schools top our list of the Best Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in North Carolina For Those Getting Aid.
Top 25 Best Value Colleges for Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies in North Carolina (With Aid)
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. The school came in at #1 for the Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in North Carolina For Those Getting Aid. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill is a public institution located in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. The school has a large population, and it awarded 401 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
In addition to being on our north carolina parks & rec students with aid list, UNC Chapel Hill has also earned the #1 rank in our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Schools in North Carolina” ranking. It costs about $12,469 for north carolina 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%. With a freshman retention rate of 95%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.
Full University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Report
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend North Carolina State University. The school came in at #2 for the Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in North Carolina For Those Getting Aid. North Carolina State University is a public institution located in Raleigh, North Carolina. The school has a large population, and it awarded 193 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
NC State also took the #2 spot in our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Schools in North Carolina” ranking. It costs about $16,411 for North Carolina Parks & Rec students with aid per year to attend North Carolina State University.
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%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 94%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.
Read more about Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at NC State
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Appalachian State University. The school came in at #3 for the Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in North Carolina For Those Getting Aid. Appalachian State University is a public institution located in Boone, North Carolina. The school has a large population, and it awarded 308 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
In addition to being on our north carolina parks & rec students with aid list, Appalachian State has also earned the #6 rank in our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Schools in North Carolina” ranking. It costs about $13,989 for North Carolina Parks & Rec students with aid per year to attend Appalachian State University.
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 school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 3.6%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Read more about Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Appalachian State University
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of North Carolina at Greensboro. It ranked #4 on our 2023 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in North Carolina For Those Getting Aid list. Greensboro, North Carolina is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s parks and rec degrees to 314 students in 2020-2021.
UNC Greensboro not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #7 on our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Schools in North Carolina” list. The estimated yearly cost for UNC Greensboro is $11,629 for north carolina parks & rec students with aid.
Read more about Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at UNC Greensboro
Out of the 28 schools in the Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in North Carolina For Those Getting Aid that were part of this year’s ranking, East Carolina University landed the #5 spot on the list. This large school is located in Greenville, North Carolina, and it awarded 194 ’s parks and rec degrees in 2020-2021.
ECU not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #5 on our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Schools in North Carolina” list. The yearly cost to attend ECU is $16,550 for North Carolina Parks & Rec students with aid.
Full East Carolina University Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Report
University of North Carolina at Wilmington ranked #6 on this year’s Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in North Carolina For Those Getting Aid list. University of North Carolina at Wilmington is a public institution located in Wilmington, North Carolina. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 244 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
UNCW also made our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Schools in North Carolina” list, coming in at #4. It costs about $19,136 for north carolina parks & rec students with aid per year to attend UNCW.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 3.1% 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 full report on Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at UNCW
North Carolina A & T State University landed the #7 spot on the 2023 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in North Carolina For Those Getting Aid ranking. Greensboro, North Carolina is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s parks and rec degrees to 152 students in 2020-2021.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at NC A&T, the school also landed the #23 spot in our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Schools in North Carolina” ranking. It costs about $10,563 for North Carolina Parks & Rec students with aid per year to attend North Carolina A & T State University.
Read full report on Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at North Carolina A & T State University
Western Carolina University ranked #8 on this year’s Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in North Carolina For Those Getting Aid list. Cullowhee, North Carolina is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s parks and rec degrees to 99 students in 2020-2021.
In addition to being on our north carolina parks & rec students with aid list, WCU has also earned the #14 rank in our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Schools in North Carolina” ranking. The yearly cost to attend WCU is $13,924 for North Carolina Parks & Rec students with aid.
Read more about Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Western Carolina University
Winston - Salem State University landed the #9 spot on the 2023 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in North Carolina For Those Getting Aid ranking. Located in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, this medium-sized public school handed out 105 diplomas to qualified ’s parks and rec students in 2020-2021.
WSSU not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #19 on our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Schools in North Carolina” list. It costs about $12,415 for North Carolina Parks & Rec students with aid per year to attend WSSU.
Read more about Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Winston - Salem State University
University of North Carolina at Pembroke ranked #10 on this year’s Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in North Carolina For Those Getting Aid list. Located in Pembroke, North Carolina, this medium-sized public school awarded 117 degrees to qualified ’s parks and rec students in 2020-2021.
The estimated yearly cost for UNC Pembroke is $10,792 for north carolina parks & rec students with aid.
Read full report on Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at University of North Carolina at Pembroke
University of North Carolina at Charlotte ranked #11 on this year’s Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in North Carolina For Those Getting Aid list. This large school is located in Charlotte, North Carolina, and it awarded 124 ’s parks and rec degrees in 2020-2021.
UNC Charlotte also took the #16 spot in our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Schools in North Carolina” ranking. The yearly cost to attend University of North Carolina at Charlotte is $17,634 for North Carolina Parks & Rec students with aid.
With a freshman retention rate of 85%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. 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 UNC Charlotte
Lenoir - Rhyne University came in at #12 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in North Carolina For Those Getting Aid ranking. Lenoir - Rhyne University is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Hickory, North Carolina. It awarded 52 ’s parks and rec degrees in 2020-2021.
Lenoir - Rhyne University not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #9 on our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Schools in North Carolina” list. The estimated yearly cost for Lenoir - Rhyne University is $18,772 for North Carolina Parks & Rec students with aid.
Read more about Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Lenoir - Rhyne University
North Carolina Central University ranked #13 on this year’s Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in North Carolina For Those Getting Aid list. This medium-sized school is located in Durham, North Carolina, and it awarded 82 ’s parks and rec degrees in 2020-2021.
North Carolina Central University did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #24 on our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Schools in North Carolina” list. The estimated yearly cost for North Carolina Central University is $14,332 for north carolina parks & rec students with aid.
Full North Carolina Central University Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Report
With a ranking of #14, Catawba College did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in North Carolina For Those Getting Aid list. Catawba is a private not-for-profit institution located in Salisbury, North Carolina. The school has a small population, and it awarded 29 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Catawba not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #12 on our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Schools in North Carolina” list. The yearly cost to attend Catawba is $18,702 for north carolina parks & rec students with aid.
Read full report on Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Catawba College
Wingate University ranked #15 on this year’s Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in North Carolina For Those Getting Aid list. This small school is located in Wingate, North Carolina, and it awarded 118 ’s parks and rec degrees in 2020-2021.
Wingate also took the #11 spot in our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Schools in North Carolina” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Wingate is $20,827 for North Carolina Parks & Rec students with aid.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 4.0%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Full Wingate Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Report
Wake Forest University did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in North Carolina For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #16. Wake Forest University is a medium-sized school located in Winston-Salem, North Carolina that handed out 69 ’s parks and rec degrees in 2020-2021.
Wake Forest University also took the #3 spot in our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Schools in North Carolina” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Wake Forest University is $32,845 for North Carolina Parks & Rec students with aid.
With a freshman retention rate of 95%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 0.6%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Full Wake Forest University Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Report
With a ranking of #17, University of Mount Olive did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in North Carolina For Those Getting Aid list. University of Mount Olive is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Mount Olive, North Carolina. It awarded 30 ’s parks and rec degrees in 2020-2021.
In addition to being on our north carolina parks & rec students with aid list, UMO has also earned the #25 rank in our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Schools in North Carolina” ranking. It costs about $15,883 for north carolina parks & rec students with aid per year to attend University of Mount Olive.
Read full report on Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at UMO
Gardner - Webb University ranked #18 on this year’s Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in North Carolina For Those Getting Aid list. Gardner - Webb University is a private not-for-profit institution located in Boiling Springs, North Carolina. The school has a small population, and it awarded 19 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Gardner - Webb not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #13 on our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Schools in North Carolina” list. The yearly cost to attend Gardner - Webb University is $20,776 for North Carolina Parks & Rec students with aid.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 3.7%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Read more about Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Gardner - Webb
Johnson & Wales University - Charlotte ranked #19 on this year’s Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in North Carolina For Those Getting Aid list. JWU Charlotte is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Charlotte, North Carolina. It awarded 25 ’s parks and rec degrees in 2020-2021.
JWU Charlotte also made our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Schools in North Carolina” list, coming in at #8. The estimated yearly cost for JWU Charlotte is $26,181 for North Carolina Parks & Rec students with aid.
Read full report on Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at JWU Charlotte
With a ranking of #20, Campbell University did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in North Carolina For Those Getting Aid list. Campbell University is a private not-for-profit institution located in Buies Creek, North Carolina. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 82 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Campbell not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #10 on our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Schools in North Carolina” list. It costs about $26,169 for north carolina parks & rec students with aid per year to attend Campbell University.
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%.
Read more about Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Campbell
Chowan University did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in North Carolina For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #21. This small school is located in Murfreesboro, North Carolina, and it awarded 38 ’s parks and rec degrees in 2020-2021.
It costs about $16,716 for north carolina parks & rec students with aid per year to attend Chowan University.
Read full report on Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Chowan University
Pfeiffer University ranked #22 on this year’s Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in North Carolina For Those Getting Aid list. Pfeiffer University is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Misenheimer, North Carolina. It awarded 28 ’s parks and rec degrees in 2020-2021.
Pfeiffer University not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #15 on our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Schools in North Carolina” list. It costs about $32,342 for north carolina parks & rec students with aid per year to attend Pfeiffer University.
Since the school has a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors.
Full Pfeiffer University Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Report
Belmont Abbey College did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in North Carolina For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #23. Belmont Abbey College is a small school located in Belmont, North Carolina that handed out 39 ’s parks and rec degrees in 2020-2021.
BAC also made our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Schools in North Carolina” list, coming in at #21. It costs about $21,329 for North Carolina Parks & Rec students with aid per year to attend Belmont Abbey College.
Read full report on Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at BAC
Guilford College landed the #24 spot on the 2023 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in North Carolina For Those Getting Aid ranking. Greensboro, North Carolina is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s parks and rec degrees to 38 students in 2020-2021.
Guilford not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #18 on our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Schools in North Carolina” list. The estimated yearly cost for Guilford College is $23,055 for north carolina parks & rec students with aid.
Full Guilford College Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Report
Lees - McRae College ranked #25 on this year’s Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in North Carolina For Those Getting Aid list. Lees - McRae College is a private not-for-profit institution located in Banner Elk, North Carolina. The school has a small population, and it awarded 21 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Lees - McRae College not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #22 on our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Schools in North Carolina” list. It costs about $23,347 for North Carolina Parks & Rec students with aid per year to attend Lees - McRae College.
Full Lees - McRae College Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Report
