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2022 Best Value Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies in Tennessee

19 Ranked Colleges
2,224 Degrees Awarded
$17,500 Avg Net Price*
Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Bachelor's in Tennessee

It’s not easy to decide which college to attend when there so many options available for students. College Factual was founded, in part, to help students make the decision as to what would be the best school for them. Our “Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Bachelor’s in Tennessee” ranking is part of that endeavor.

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 Tennessee, there were 2,529 parks, recreation, leisure, and fitness studies graduates with average earnings and debt of $0 and $0 respectively. At the bachelor’s degree level specifically, there were 2,224 parks, recreation, leisure, and fitness studies graduates with average earnings and debt of $0 and $0 respectively.

This year’s “Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Bachelor’s in Tennessee” ranking looked at 19 colleges that offer degrees in a bachelor’s in parks, recreation, leisure, and fitness studies. Not only do the schools that top this list have excellent parks, recreation, leisure, and fitness studies programs, but they also cost less that 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. Check out our ranking methodology for more information.

More Ways to Rank Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Schools

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 for a Bachelor’s in Tennessee”.

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. Go ahead and give it a try, or bookmark the link so you can check it out later.

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

The following schools top our list of the Best Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Bachelor’s in Tennessee.

Top 19 Best Value Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies in Tennessee

#1

Middle Tennessee State University

Murfreesboro, Tennessee
#2 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Middle Tennessee State University. It ranked #1 on our 2022 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Bachelor’s in Tennessee list. Murfreesboro, Tennessee is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s parks and rec degrees to 185 students in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Middle Tennessee State University, the school also landed the #2 spot in our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Tennessee” ranking. It costs about $12,464 for tennessee bachelor’s degree parks & rec students per year to attend Middle Tennessee State University.

Read more about Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Middle Tennessee State University

#3 in overall quality

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend The University of Tennessee - Chattanooga. The school came in at #2 for the Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Bachelor’s in Tennessee. Chattanooga, Tennessee is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s parks and rec degrees to 191 students in 2019-2020.

UT Chattanooga also made our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Tennessee” list, coming in at #3. The yearly cost to attend UT Chattanooga is $12,952 for tennessee bachelor’s degree parks & rec students.

Full The University of Tennessee - Chattanooga Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Report

#1 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend The University of Tennessee - Knoxville. It ranked #3 on our 2022 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Bachelor’s in Tennessee list. Knoxville, Tennessee is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s parks and rec degrees to 413 students in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at UT Knoxville, the school also landed the #1 spot in our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Tennessee” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for The University of Tennessee - Knoxville is $18,825 for tennessee bachelor’s degree parks & rec students.

With a freshman retention rate of 89%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its 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%.

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

#4

Tennessee Technological University

Cookeville, Tennessee
#7 in overall quality

Out of the 19 schools in the Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Bachelor’s in Tennessee that were part of this year’s ranking, Tennessee Technological University landed the #4 spot on the list. Tennessee Technological University is a fairly large school located in Cookeville, Tennessee that handed out 96 bachelors’s parks and rec degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Tennessee Tech University, the school also landed the #7 spot in our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Tennessee” ranking. It costs about $15,929 for tennessee bachelor’s degree parks & rec students per year to attend Tennessee Technological University.

The low student loan default rate of 4.8% 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%.

Full Tennessee Technological University Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Report

#9 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend The University of Tennessee - Martin. It ranked #5 on our 2022 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Bachelor’s in Tennessee list. This medium-sized school is located in Martin, Tennessee, and it awarded 100 bachelors’s parks and rec degrees in 2019-2020.

UT Martin also made our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Tennessee” list, coming in at #9. It costs about $10,955 for tennessee bachelor’s degree parks & rec students per year to attend UT Martin.

Full The University of Tennessee - Martin Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Report

#6

University of Memphis

Memphis, Tennessee
#8 in overall quality

University of Memphis landed the #6 spot on the 2022 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Bachelor’s in Tennessee ranking. This large school is located in Memphis, Tennessee, and it awarded 393 bachelors’s parks and rec degrees in 2019-2020.

UofM also took the #8 spot in our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Tennessee” ranking. The yearly cost to attend UofM is $13,248 for tennessee bachelor’s degree parks & rec students.

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

#7

East Tennessee State University

Johnson City, Tennessee
#16 in overall quality

East Tennessee State University came in at #7 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Bachelor’s in Tennessee ranking. ETSU is a fairly large public school situated in Johnson City, Tennessee. It awarded 152 bachelors’s parks and rec degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our tennessee bachelor’s degree parks & rec students list, ETSU has also earned the #16 rank in our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Tennessee” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for East Tennessee State University is $14,332 for tennessee bachelor’s degree parks & rec students.

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

#8

Tennessee State University

Nashville, Tennessee
#17 in overall quality

Tennessee State University landed the #8 spot on the 2022 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Bachelor’s in Tennessee ranking. Located in Nashville, Tennessee, this medium-sized public school awarded 50 degrees to qualified bachelors’s parks and rec students in 2019-2020.

Tennessee State University not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #17 on our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Tennessee” list. The estimated yearly cost for Tennessee State University is $12,443 for Tennessee Bachelor’s Degree Parks & Rec students.

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

#9

Austin Peay State University

Clarksville, Tennessee
#12 in overall quality

Austin Peay State University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Bachelor’s in Tennessee ranking, coming in at #9. Austin Peay State University is a fairly large public school situated in Clarksville, Tennessee. It awarded 194 bachelors’s parks and rec degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our tennessee bachelor’s degree parks & rec students list, Austin Peay State University has also earned the #12 rank in our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Tennessee” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Austin Peay State University is $13,692 for tennessee bachelor’s degree parks & rec students.

Full Austin Peay State University Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Report

#10

Lee University

Cleveland, Tennessee
#18 in overall quality

Lee University landed the #10 spot on the 2022 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Bachelor’s in Tennessee ranking. Lee University is a medium-sized private not-for-profit school situated in Cleveland, Tennessee. It awarded 24 bachelors’s parks and rec degrees in 2019-2020.

Lee University not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #18 on our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Tennessee” list. The yearly cost to attend Lee University is $17,696 for Tennessee Bachelor’s Degree Parks & Rec students.

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

#11

Lincoln Memorial University

Harrogate, Tennessee
#15 in overall quality

Lincoln Memorial University came in at #11 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Bachelor’s in Tennessee ranking. Lincoln Memorial University is a small school located in Harrogate, Tennessee that handed out 25 bachelors’s parks and rec degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our tennessee bachelor’s degree parks & rec students list, LMU has also earned the #15 rank in our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Tennessee” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Lincoln Memorial University is $15,180 for Tennessee Bachelor’s Degree Parks & Rec students.

The low student loan default rate of 3.8% 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%.

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

#12

Cumberland University

Lebanon, Tennessee
#10 in overall quality

Cumberland University landed the #12 spot on the 2022 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Bachelor’s in Tennessee ranking. Cumberland University is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Lebanon, Tennessee. It awarded 26 bachelors’s parks and rec degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at CU, the school also landed the #10 spot in our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Tennessee” ranking. It costs about $24,458 for Tennessee Bachelor’s Degree Parks & Rec students per year to attend Cumberland University.

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

#13

Union University

Jackson, Tennessee
#13 in overall quality

Union University landed the #13 spot on the 2022 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Bachelor’s in Tennessee ranking. Jackson, Tennessee is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out bachelors’s parks and rec degrees to 14 students in 2019-2020.

Union also took the #13 spot in our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Tennessee” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Union is $28,249 for tennessee bachelor’s degree parks & rec students.

Since the school has a student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors. With a freshman retention rate of 87%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students. The student loan default rate at the school is 4.1%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

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

#14

Carson - Newman University

Jefferson City, Tennessee
#4 in overall quality

Carson - Newman University ranked #14 on this year’s Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Bachelor’s in Tennessee list. Carson - Newman University is a private not-for-profit institution located in Jefferson City, Tennessee. The school has a small population, and it awarded 37 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

Carson - Newman did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #4 on our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Tennessee” list. The estimated yearly cost for Carson - Newman University is $17,471 for Tennessee Bachelor’s Degree Parks & Rec students.

Full Carson - Newman Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Report

#15

Tennessee Wesleyan University

Athens, Tennessee
#14 in overall quality

With a ranking of #15, Tennessee Wesleyan University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Bachelor’s in Tennessee list. TWU is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Athens, Tennessee. It awarded 31 bachelors’s parks and rec degrees in 2019-2020.

TWU also made our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Tennessee” list, coming in at #14. It costs about $13,636 for Tennessee Bachelor’s Degree Parks & Rec students per year to attend TWU.

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

#16

Trevecca Nazarene University

Nashville, Tennessee
#11 in overall quality

With a ranking of #16, Trevecca Nazarene University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Bachelor’s in Tennessee list. Trevecca Nazarene University is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Nashville, Tennessee. It awarded 7 bachelors’s parks and rec degrees in 2019-2020.

TNU also took the #11 spot in our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Tennessee” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for TNU is $17,499 for tennessee bachelor’s degree parks & rec students.

Full Trevecca Nazarene University Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Report

#17

Tusculum University

Greeneville, Tennessee
#19 in overall quality

Tusculum University ranked #17 on this year’s Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Bachelor’s in Tennessee list. Tusculum University is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Greeneville, Tennessee. It awarded 43 bachelors’s parks and rec degrees in 2019-2020.

Tusculum not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #19 on our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Tennessee” list. The estimated yearly cost for Tusculum is $17,537 for Tennessee Bachelor’s Degree Parks & Rec students.

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

#18

Maryville College

Maryville, Tennessee
#6 in overall quality

Maryville College did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Bachelor’s in Tennessee ranking, coming in at #18. Maryville College is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Maryville, Tennessee. It awarded 13 bachelors’s parks and rec degrees in 2019-2020.

Maryville College also took the #6 spot in our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Tennessee” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Maryville College is $19,886 for tennessee bachelor’s degree parks & rec students.

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

#19

Belmont University

Nashville, Tennessee
#5 in overall quality

Belmont University ranked #19 on this year’s Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Bachelor’s in Tennessee list. Nashville, Tennessee is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out bachelors’s parks and rec degrees to 42 students in 2019-2020.

Belmont also made our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Tennessee” list, coming in at #5. The estimated yearly cost for Belmont is $35,548 for tennessee bachelor’s degree parks & rec students.

The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 3.0%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

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

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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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