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2022 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Master’s in California

19 Ranked Colleges
1,150 Degrees Awarded
$19,600 Avg Grad Tuition & Fees*
Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Master's in California

Students have lots of options to chooose from today when trying to decide which college to attend. 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 Master’s in California” 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 California, there were 11,357 parks, recreation, leisure, and fitness studies graduates with average earnings and debt of $30,588 and $23,018 respectively. At the master’s degree level specifically, there were 1,150 parks, recreation, leisure, and fitness studies graduates with average earnings and debt of $60,281 and $50,119 respectively.

For this year’s “Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Master’s in California” ranking, we looked at 19 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.

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. For more information, check out our ranking methodology.

One Size Does Not Fit All

Since the program you select can have a significant impact on your future, we’ve developed a number of rankings, including this “Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Master’s in California” list, to help you choose the best school for you.

You can create your own custom comparison that focuses on the factors most important to you using our tool, College Combat. 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 Master’s in California

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

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

#1

Concordia University, Irvine

Irvine, California
#3 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Concordia University, Irvine. It ranked #1 on our 2022 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Master’s in California list. Irvine, California is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out masters’s parks and rec degrees to 452 students in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Concordia University, Irvine, the school also landed the #3 spot in our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Master’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Concordia University, Irvine are $8,121.

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

#4 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend California State University - Long Beach. It ranked #2 on our 2022 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Master’s in California list. California State University - Long Beach is a large public school situated in Long Beach, California. It awarded 120 masters’s parks and rec degrees in 2019-2020.

CSULB not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #4 on our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Master’s Degree Schools in California” list. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at California State University - Long Beach are $17,784.

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

#3

Point Loma Nazarene University

San Diego, California
#7 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Point Loma Nazarene University. It ranked #3 on our 2022 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Master’s in California list. PLNU is a small private not-for-profit school situated in San Diego, California. It awarded 64 masters’s parks and rec degrees in 2019-2020.

PLNU did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #7 on our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Master’s Degree Schools in California” list. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Point Loma Nazarene University are $11,880.

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

#4

California Baptist University

Riverside, California
#6 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend California Baptist University. It ranked #4 on our 2022 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Master’s in California list. This fairly large school is located in Riverside, California, and it awarded 103 masters’s parks and rec degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our california master’s degree parks & rec students list, Cal Baptist has also earned the #6 rank in our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Master’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at California Baptist University are $14,140, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

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

#9 in overall quality

Out of the 19 schools in the Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Master’s in California that were part of this year’s ranking, California State University - Chico landed the #5 spot on the list. California State University - Chico is a fairly large school located in Chico, California that handed out 19 masters’s parks and rec degrees in 2019-2020.

Chico State not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #9 on our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Master’s Degree Schools in California” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at Chico State are $18,802, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Full Chico State Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Report

#14 in overall quality

California State University - Fresno ranked #6 on this year’s Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Master’s in California list. California State University - Fresno is a large public school situated in Fresno, California. It awarded 23 masters’s parks and rec degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our california master’s degree parks & rec students list, Fresno State has also earned the #14 rank in our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Master’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Fresno State are $17,581.

Full California State University - Fresno Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Report

#10 in overall quality

With a ranking of #7, California State University - Fullerton did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Master’s in California list. California State University - Fullerton is a large public school situated in Fullerton, California. It awarded 36 masters’s parks and rec degrees in 2019-2020.

Cal State Fullerton also took the #10 spot in our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Master’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Cal State Fullerton are $17,892, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Full Cal State Fullerton Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Report

#16 in overall quality

With a ranking of #8, California State University - Northridge did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Master’s in California list. California State University - Northridge is a public institution located in Northridge, California. The school has a large population, and it awarded 18 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our california master’s degree parks & rec students list, CSUN has also earned the #16 rank in our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Master’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at California State University - Northridge are $17,955.

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

#9

San Jose State University

San Jose, California
#8 in overall quality

With a ranking of #9, San Jose State University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Master’s in California list. Located in San Jose, California, this large public school handed out 29 degrees to qualified masters’s parks and rec students in 2019-2020.

San Jose State not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #8 on our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Master’s Degree Schools in California” list. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at San Jose State are $18,790.

Full San Jose State Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Report

#10

San Diego State University

San Diego, California
#5 in overall quality

San Diego State University landed the #10 spot on the 2022 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Master’s in California ranking. San Diego State University is a public institution located in San Diego, California. The school has a large population, and it awarded 8 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

SDSU did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #5 on our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Master’s Degree Schools in California” list. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at San Diego State University are $18,658.

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

#11

San Francisco State University

San Francisco, California
#12 in overall quality

San Francisco State University ranked #11 on this year’s Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Master’s in California list. This large school is located in San Francisco, California, and it awarded 8 masters’s parks and rec degrees in 2019-2020.

SFSU did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #12 on our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Master’s Degree Schools in California” list. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at San Francisco State University are $17,944.

Full San Francisco State University Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Report

#17 in overall quality

California State University - San Marcos landed the #12 spot on the 2022 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Master’s in California ranking. This fairly large school is located in San Marcos, California, and it awarded 8 masters’s parks and rec degrees in 2019-2020.

CSUSM also took the #17 spot in our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Master’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at CSUSM are $18,661.

Read full report on Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at California State University - San Marcos

#18 in overall quality

With a ranking of #13, California State University - East Bay did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Master’s in California list. This fairly large school is located in Hayward, California, and it awarded 10 masters’s parks and rec degrees in 2019-2020.

Cal State East Bay did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #18 on our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Master’s Degree Schools in California” list. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Cal State East Bay are $17,828.

Read more about Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Cal State East Bay

#19 in overall quality

With a ranking of #15, California State University - Los Angeles did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Master’s in California list. Cal State LA is a public institution located in Los Angeles, California. The school has a large population, and it awarded 9 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

Cal State LA also took the #19 spot in our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Master’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Cal State LA are $17,723, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Full Cal State LA Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Report

#16

National University

La Jolla, California
#15 in overall quality

National University ranked #16 on this year’s Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Master’s in California list. National University is located in La Jolla, California and, has a fairly large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 38 masters’s parks and rec degrees to qualified students.

National University also took the #15 spot in our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Master’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at National University are $15,480, but some majors have different tuition rates.

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

#17

University of San Francisco

San Francisco, California
#2 in overall quality

University of San Francisco landed the #17 spot on the 2022 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Master’s in California ranking. USFCA is a fairly large school located in San Francisco, California that handed out 95 masters’s parks and rec degrees in 2019-2020.

USFCA did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #2 on our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Master’s Degree Schools in California” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at USFCA are $26,710, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

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

#1 in overall quality

Saint Mary’s College of California ranked #18 on this year’s Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Master’s in California list. SMC is a private not-for-profit institution located in Moraga, California. The school has a small population, and it awarded 21 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at SMC, the school also landed the #1 spot in our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Master’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at SMC are $33,509, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

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

#19

University of the Pacific

Stockton, California
#13 in overall quality

With a ranking of #19, University of the Pacific did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Master’s in California list. Pacific is a medium-sized private not-for-profit school situated in Stockton, California. It awarded 10 masters’s parks and rec degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Pacific, the school also landed the #13 spot in our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Master’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Pacific are $49,374.

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

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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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