2024 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in Alabama
9
Ranked Colleges
974
Degrees Awarded
$18,800
Avg Net Price*
With all of the options students have for higher education today, it can be tough to choose which direction to take. 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 in Alabama” ranking is part of that endeavor.
In 2020-2021, 73,813 people earned their degree in parks, recreation, leisure, & fitness studies, making the major the 15th most popular in the United States. In 2019-2020, parks, recreation, leisure, & 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 Alabama, there were 974 parks, recreation, leisure, & fitness studies graduates with average earnings and debt of $33,352 and $27,732 respectively.
This year’s “Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in Alabama” ranking analyzed 9 colleges that offered a degree in parks, recreation, leisure, & fitness studies. The schools that top this list are recognized because they have great parks, recreation, leisure, & fitness studies programs and cost less that schools of similar quality.
When determining these rankings, we looked at things such as overall quality of the parks, recreation, leisure, & 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 Alabama” 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. We encourage you to try it out and pit your favorite colleges and universities head to head! If you don’t have time right now, you can bookmark it for later.
Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in Alabama
The colleges and universities below are the best for alabama parks & rec students.
Top 9 Best Value Colleges for Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies in Alabama
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Troy University. It ranked #1 on our 2024 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in Alabama list. TROY is a public institution located in Troy, Alabama. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 111 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
TROY did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #3 on our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Schools in Alabama” list. It costs about $14,992 for Alabama Parks & Rec students per year to attend Troy University.
Read more about Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Troy University
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Auburn University at Montgomery. The school came in at #2 for the Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in Alabama. Auburn University at Montgomery is a medium-sized school located in Montgomery, Alabama that handed out 57 ’s parks & rec degrees in 2020-2021.
AUM not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #7 on our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Schools in Alabama” list. The yearly cost to attend Auburn University at Montgomery is $13,678 for Alabama Parks & Rec students.
Full AUM Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Report
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of Alabama in Huntsville. The school came in at #3 for the Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in Alabama. Huntsville, Alabama is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s parks & rec degrees to 48 students in 2020-2021.
UAH also made our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Schools in Alabama” list, coming in at #6. The estimated yearly cost for UAH is $17,208 for Alabama Parks & Rec students.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 4.7% 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%.
Read full report on Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at University of Alabama in Huntsville
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of Montevallo. The school came in at #4 for the Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in Alabama. University of Montevallo is a small public school situated in Montevallo, Alabama. It awarded 42 ’s parks & rec degrees in 2020-2021.
Montevallo also took the #4 spot in our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Schools in Alabama” ranking. The yearly cost to attend University of Montevallo is $18,584 for alabama parks & rec students.
Read full report on Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Montevallo
Out of the 9 schools in the Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in Alabama that were part of this year’s ranking, University of South Alabama landed the #5 spot on the list. University of South Alabama is a fairly large school located in Mobile, Alabama that handed out 41 ’s parks & rec degrees in 2020-2021.
USA did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #8 on our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Schools in Alabama” list. It costs about $16,826 for alabama parks & rec students per year to attend USA.
Read full report on Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at USA
United States Sports Academy landed the #6 spot on the 2024 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in Alabama ranking. The Academy is a private not-for-profit institution located in Daphne, Alabama. The school has a small population, and it awarded 50 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
In addition to being on our alabama parks & rec students list, The Academy has also earned the #1 rank in our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Schools in Alabama” ranking.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 3.8%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. Since the school has a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 9 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors.
Read full report on Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at The Academy
Jacksonville State University landed the #7 spot on the 2024 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in Alabama ranking. Located in Jacksonville, Alabama, this medium-sized public school handed out 56 diplomas to qualified ’s parks & rec students in 2020-2021.
Jacksonville State University not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #9 on our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Schools in Alabama” list. The yearly cost to attend Jacksonville State University is $17,523 for alabama parks & rec students.
Read full report on Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Jacksonville State University
Huntingdon College did quite well in the 2024 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in Alabama ranking, coming in at #8. Huntingdon College is a private not-for-profit institution located in Montgomery, Alabama. The school has a small population, and it awarded 49 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Huntingdon College also made our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Schools in Alabama” list, coming in at #5. The estimated yearly cost for Huntingdon College is $21,632 for alabama parks & rec students.
Full Huntingdon College Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Report
Samford University came in at #9 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in Alabama ranking. Birmingham, Alabama is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s parks & rec degrees to 30 students in 2020-2021.
Samford did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #2 on our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Schools in Alabama” list. The estimated yearly cost for Samford University is $30,072 for Alabama Parks & Rec students.
With a freshman retention rate of 89%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.0%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Read more about Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Samford
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North Carolina
Best Value Colleges for Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies in North Carolina
Alabama
Best Value Colleges for Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies in Alabama
Georgia
Best Value Colleges for Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies in Georgia
Louisiana
Best Value Colleges for Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies in Louisiana
South Carolina
Best Value Colleges for Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies in South Carolina
Virginia
Best Value Colleges for Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies in Virginia
West Virginia
Best Value Colleges for Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies in West Virginia
Kentucky
Best Value Colleges for Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies in Kentucky
Tennessee
Best Value Colleges for Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies in Tennessee
Mississippi
Best Value Colleges for Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies in Mississippi
Florida
Best Value Colleges for Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies in Florida
Arkansas
Best Value Colleges for Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies in Arkansas
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Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Schools in Alabama
Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies students in the state of Alabama
Best Value Colleges for Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies in Alabama (With Aid)
Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies students getting aid in Alabama
Best Value Colleges for Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies (Income $30-$48k) in Alabama
Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies students with family income $30-$48k in Alabama
Best Value Colleges for Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies (Income $75-$110k) in Alabama
Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies students with family income $75-$110k in Alabama
Best Value Colleges for Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies in Alabama
Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies students in Alabama
Highest Paid Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Graduates in Alabama
Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies students in Alabama
Best Value Colleges for Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies (Income $0-$30k) in Alabama
Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies students with family income less than $30k in Alabama
Best Value Colleges for Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies (Income $48-$75k) in Alabama
Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies students with family income $48-$75k in Alabama
Best Value Colleges for Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies (Income Over $110k) in Alabama
Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies students with family income exceeding $110k in Alabama
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
- *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.
Credits
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