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2022 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Bachelor’s in Massachusetts

12 Ranked Colleges
869 Degrees Awarded
$25,400 Avg Net Price*
Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Bachelor's in Massachusetts

When pursuing a degree in today’s world, students have many different options to choose from. 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 for a Bachelor’s in Massachusetts” ranking is one tool we have developed to help in this regard.

In 2019-2020, 72,122 people earned their degree in parks, recreation, leisure, and fitness studies, making the major the 15th most popular in the United States. 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 Massachusetts, there were 1,102 parks, recreation, leisure, and fitness studies graduates with average earnings and debt of $35,071 and $25,549 respectively. At the bachelor’s degree level specifically, there were 869 parks, recreation, leisure, and fitness studies graduates with average earnings and debt of $42,887 and $24,387 respectively.

For this year’s “Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Bachelor’s in Massachusetts” ranking, we looked at 12 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.

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

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 Massachusetts” 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. 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 Massachusetts

The colleges and universities below are the best for massachusetts bachelor’s degree parks & rec students.

Top 12 Best Value Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies in Massachusetts

#1

University of Massachusetts Amherst

Amherst, Massachusetts
#1 in overall quality

Out of the 12 schools in the Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Bachelor’s in Massachusetts that were part of this year’s ranking, University of Massachusetts Amherst landed the #1 spot on the list. University of Massachusetts Amherst is a public institution located in Amherst, Massachusetts. The school has a large population, and it awarded 132 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our massachusetts bachelor’s degree parks & rec students list, UMass Amherst has also earned the #1 rank in our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Massachusetts” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for UMass Amherst is $22,501 for massachusetts bachelor’s degree parks & rec students.

The student loan default rate at the school is 2.8%, 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 89%.

Read full report on Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at University of Massachusetts Amherst

#2

Westfield State University

Westfield, Massachusetts
#5 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Westfield State University. It ranked #2 on our 2022 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Bachelor’s in Massachusetts list. Located in Westfield, Massachusetts, this medium-sized public school handed out 67 degrees to qualified bachelors’s parks and rec students in 2019-2020.

Westfield also took the #5 spot in our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Massachusetts” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Westfield is $19,167 for massachusetts bachelor’s degree parks & rec students.

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 Westfield State University Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Report

#3

Fitchburg State University

Fitchburg, Massachusetts
#8 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Fitchburg State University. It ranked #3 on our 2022 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Bachelor’s in Massachusetts list. Fitchburg State is a public institution located in Fitchburg, Massachusetts. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 2 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

Fitchburg State also made our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Massachusetts” list, coming in at #8. It costs about $16,001 for massachusetts bachelor’s degree parks & rec students per year to attend Fitchburg State.

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

#4

Salem State University

Salem, Massachusetts
#7 in overall quality

Out of the 12 schools in the Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Bachelor’s in Massachusetts that were part of this year’s ranking, Salem State University landed the #4 spot on the list. Salem State University is a medium-sized public school situated in Salem, Massachusetts. It awarded 58 bachelors’s parks and rec degrees in 2019-2020.

Salem State also took the #7 spot in our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Massachusetts” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Salem State is $18,399 for massachusetts bachelor’s degree parks & rec students.

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

#6 in overall quality

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of Massachusetts - Boston. The school came in at #5 for the Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Bachelor’s in Massachusetts. This fairly large school is located in Boston, Massachusetts, and it awarded 145 bachelors’s parks and rec degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our massachusetts bachelor’s degree parks & rec students list, UMass Boston has also earned the #6 rank in our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Massachusetts” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for UMass Boston is $18,340 for Massachusetts Bachelor’s Degree Parks & Rec students.

Read more about Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at University of Massachusetts - Boston

#6

Endicott College

Beverly, Massachusetts
#2 in overall quality

Endicott College came in at #6 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Bachelor’s in Massachusetts ranking. Endicott is located in Beverly, Massachusetts and, has a small student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 87 bachelors’s parks and rec degrees to qualified students.

Endicott did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #2 on our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Massachusetts” list. The estimated yearly cost for Endicott is $35,642 for Massachusetts Bachelor’s Degree Parks & Rec students.

The student loan default rate at the school is 3.2%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

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

#7

Springfield College

Springfield, Massachusetts
#3 in overall quality

Springfield College ranked #7 on this year’s Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Bachelor’s in Massachusetts list. Springfield College is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Springfield, Massachusetts. It awarded 82 bachelors’s parks and rec degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Springfield College, the school also landed the #3 spot in our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Massachusetts” ranking. It costs about $30,134 for Massachusetts Bachelor’s Degree Parks & Rec students per year to attend Springfield College.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 85%.

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

#8

Nichols College

Dudley, Massachusetts
#10 in overall quality

Nichols College came in at #8 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Bachelor’s in Massachusetts ranking. Nichols is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Dudley, Massachusetts. It awarded 48 bachelors’s parks and rec degrees in 2019-2020.

Nichols not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #10 on our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Massachusetts” list. The yearly cost to attend Nichols College is $27,721 for massachusetts bachelor’s degree parks & rec students.

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

#9

Gordon College

Wenham, Massachusetts
#9 in overall quality

Gordon College ranked #9 on this year’s Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Bachelor’s in Massachusetts list. Gordon College is located in Wenham, Massachusetts and, has a small student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 15 bachelors’s parks and rec degrees to qualified students.

Gordon College not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #9 on our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Massachusetts” list. It costs about $25,777 for massachusetts bachelor’s degree parks & rec students per year to attend Gordon College.

The student loan default rate at the school is 2.4%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. With a student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed.

Full Gordon College Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Report

#10

Lasell University

Newton, Massachusetts
#4 in overall quality

Lasell University came in at #10 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Bachelor’s in Massachusetts ranking. Lasell University is located in Newton, Massachusetts and, has a small student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 42 bachelors’s parks and rec degrees to qualified students.

Lasell also made our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Massachusetts” list, coming in at #4. The estimated yearly cost for Lasell is $27,428 for massachusetts bachelor’s degree parks & rec students.

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

#11

Becker College

Worcester, Massachusetts
#12 in overall quality

With a ranking of #11, Becker College did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Bachelor’s in Massachusetts list. Becker College is located in Worcester, Massachusetts and, has a small student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 14 bachelors’s parks and rec degrees to qualified students.

Becker College also took the #12 spot in our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Massachusetts” ranking. It costs about $32,920 for Massachusetts Bachelor’s Degree Parks & Rec students per year to attend Becker College.

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

#12

Regis College

Weston, Massachusetts
#11 in overall quality

Regis College landed the #12 spot on the 2022 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Bachelor’s in Massachusetts ranking. Regis College is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Weston, Massachusetts. It awarded 11 bachelors’s parks and rec degrees in 2019-2020.

Regis College not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #11 on our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Massachusetts” list. It costs about $30,408 for Massachusetts Bachelor’s Degree Parks & Rec students per year to attend Regis College.

The impressive student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools.

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

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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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