2023 Best Value Colleges for Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies (Income $48-$75k) in the Far Western US Region
14
Ranked Colleges
787
Degrees Awarded
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 in the Far Western US Region For Those Making $48-$75k” ranking is one tool we have developed to help in this regard.
In 2020-2021, 3,106 people earned their degree in parks, recreation and leisure studies, making the major the 218th most popular in the United States.
Across the Far Western US region, there were 787 parks, recreation and leisure studies graduates with average earnings and debt of $0 and $0 respectively.
This year’s “Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in the Far Western US Region For Those Making $48-$75k” ranking analyzed 14 colleges that offered a degree in parks, recreation and leisure studies. Not only do the schools that top this list have excellent parks, recreation and leisure studies programs, but they also cost less that schools of similar quality.
Some of the factors we look at when determining these rankings are overall quality of the parks, recreation and leisure studies program at the school and the cost of the school after aid is awarded among other things. Check out our ranking methodology for more information.
More Ways to Rank Parks, Recreation & Leisure 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 in the Far Western US Region For Those Making $48-$75k”.
One of our other unique offerings is College Combat. This tool lets you build your own customized comparisons utilizing the factors that are most important to 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 the Far Western US Region For Those Making $48-$75k
The following schools top our list of the Best Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in the Far Western US Region For Those Making $48-$75k.
Top 14 Best Value Colleges for Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies (Income $48-$75k) in the Far Western US Region
Out of the 14 schools in the Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in the Far Western US Region For Those Making $48-$75k that were part of this year’s ranking, California State University - Long Beach landed the #1 spot on the list. This large school is located in Long Beach, California, and it awarded 91 ’s parks and rec degrees in 2020-2021.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at CSULB, the school also landed the #3 spot in our “Best Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies Schools in the Far Western US Region” ranking. It costs about $11,189 for Far Western US Region Parks & Rec students whose families make $48-$75k per year to attend California State University - Long Beach.
Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 89%. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.4%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Read more about Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies at CSULB
Out of the 14 schools in the Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in the Far Western US Region For Those Making $48-$75k that were part of this year’s ranking, California State University - Sacramento landed the #2 spot on the list. California State University - Sacramento is a large school located in Sacramento, California that handed out 100 ’s parks and rec degrees in 2020-2021.
Sac State did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #5 on our “Best Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies Schools in the Far Western US Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for Sac State is $12,602 for Far Western US Region Parks & Rec students whose families make $48-$75k.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 3.9% 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 Sac State Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies Report
Out of the 14 schools in the Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in the Far Western US Region For Those Making $48-$75k that were part of this year’s ranking, California State University - Fresno landed the #3 spot on the list. Located in Fresno, California, this large public school awarded 37 degrees to qualified ’s parks and rec students in 2020-2021.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at Fresno State, the school also landed the #9 spot in our “Best Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies Schools in the Far Western US Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Fresno State is $8,030 for Far Western US Region Parks & Rec students whose families make $48-$75k.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 3.2% 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 87%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.
Read more about Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies at California State University - Fresno
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend California State University - Chico. It ranked #4 on our 2023 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in the Far Western US Region For Those Making $48-$75k list. Located in Chico, California, this fairly large public school awarded 99 diplomas to qualified ’s parks and rec students in 2020-2021.
Chico State also made our “Best Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies Schools in the Far Western US Region” list, coming in at #2. It costs about $16,738 for far western us region parks & rec students whose families make $48-$75k per year to attend California State University - Chico.
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%.
Read full report on Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies at California State University - Chico
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend San Jose State University. The school came in at #5 for the Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in the Far Western US Region For Those Making $48-$75k. San Jose State University is a large school located in San Jose, California that handed out 40 ’s parks and rec degrees in 2020-2021.
San Jose State not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #4 on our “Best Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies Schools in the Far Western US Region” list. It costs about $17,338 for Far Western US Region Parks & Rec students whose families make $48-$75k per year to attend San Jose State.
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 low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.9% 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 San Jose State University Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies Report
California Polytechnic State University - San Luis Obispo landed the #6 spot on the 2023 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in the Far Western US Region For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. This large school is located in San Luis Obispo, California, and it awarded 119 ’s parks and rec degrees in 2020-2021.
Cal Poly San Luis Obispo also took the #1 spot in our “Best Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies Schools in the Far Western US Region” ranking. It costs about $17,340 for Far Western US Region Parks & Rec students whose families make $48-$75k per year to attend California Polytechnic State University - San Luis Obispo.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 0.7% 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%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 94%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.
Full California Polytechnic State University - San Luis Obispo Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies Report
Southern Oregon University landed the #7 spot on the 2023 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in the Far Western US Region For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. Southern Oregon University is located in Ashland, Oregon and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 27 ’s parks and rec degrees to qualified students.
Southern Oregon University also took the #13 spot in our “Best Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies Schools in the Far Western US Region” ranking. It costs about $11,223 for far western us region parks & rec students whose families make $48-$75k per year to attend Southern Oregon University.
Read more about Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies at Southern Oregon University
Western Washington University came in at #7 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in the Far Western US Region For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. Bellingham, Washington is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s parks and rec degrees to 48 students in 2020-2021.
WWU not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #6 on our “Best Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies Schools in the Far Western US Region” list. The yearly cost to attend WWU is $16,819 for far western us region parks & rec students whose families make $48-$75k.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.7%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Read more about Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies at WWU
San Diego State University ranked #9 on this year’s Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in the Far Western US Region For Those Making $48-$75k list. Located in San Diego, California, this large public school handed out 32 degrees to qualified ’s parks and rec students in 2020-2021.
SDSU also took the #8 spot in our “Best Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies Schools in the Far Western US Region” ranking. It costs about $14,698 for Far Western US Region Parks & Rec students whose families make $48-$75k per year to attend SDSU.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.2%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 89%.
Full SDSU Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies Report
Eastern Washington University landed the #10 spot on the 2023 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in the Far Western US Region For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. Eastern Washington University is located in Cheney, Washington and, has a fairly large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 10 ’s parks and rec degrees to qualified students.
EWU not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #10 on our “Best Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies Schools in the Far Western US Region” list. The yearly cost to attend Eastern Washington University is $12,224 for Far Western US Region Parks & Rec students whose families make $48-$75k.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 4.0% 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%.
Read more about Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies at Eastern Washington University
California State University - East Bay did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in the Far Western US Region For Those Making $48-$75k ranking, coming in at #11. Located in Hayward, California, this fairly large public school awarded 31 diplomas to qualified ’s parks and rec students in 2020-2021.
Cal State East Bay did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #11 on our “Best Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies Schools in the Far Western US Region” list. It costs about $15,615 for far western us region parks & rec students whose families make $48-$75k per year to attend Cal State East Bay.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 4.4%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Full California State University - East Bay Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies Report
San Francisco State University ranked #12 on this year’s Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in the Far Western US Region For Those Making $48-$75k list. San Francisco State University is located in San Francisco, California and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 46 ’s parks and rec degrees to qualified students.
In addition to being on our far western us region parks & rec students whose families make $48-$75k list, SFSU has also earned the #7 rank in our “Best Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies Schools in the Far Western US Region” ranking. It costs about $16,065 for far western us region parks & rec students whose families make $48-$75k per year to attend San Francisco State University.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 4.3%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Full San Francisco State University Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies Report
With a ranking of #13, Humboldt State University did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in the Far Western US Region For Those Making $48-$75k list. Humboldt State University is a medium-sized public school situated in Arcata, California. It awarded 31 ’s parks and rec degrees in 2020-2021.
Humboldt State University also made our “Best Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies Schools in the Far Western US Region” list, coming in at #14. The estimated yearly cost for Humboldt State University is $16,716 for Far Western US Region Parks & Rec students whose families make $48-$75k.
Read full report on Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies at Humboldt State University
With a ranking of #14, Oregon State University did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in the Far Western US Region For Those Making $48-$75k list. This large school is located in Corvallis, Oregon, and it awarded 14 ’s parks and rec degrees in 2020-2021.
Oregon State not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #12 on our “Best Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies Schools in the Far Western US Region” list. The yearly cost to attend Oregon State is $21,716 for far western us region parks & rec students whose families make $48-$75k.
Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 85%. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.8%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Full Oregon State University Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies Report
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Best Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies Schools in the Far Western US Region
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Best Value Colleges for Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies in the Far Western US Region (With Aid)
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Best Value Colleges for Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies in the Far Western US Region
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Best Value Colleges for Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies (Income $48-$75k) in the Far Western US Region
Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies students with family income $48-$75k in the Far Western US Region
Best Value Colleges for Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies (Income Over $110k) in the Far Western US Region
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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
- *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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