2026 Best Value Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies Master’s Degree Schools
[Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies](/majors/parks-recreation-fitness/parks-recreation-leisure-studies/parks-recreation-and-leisure-studies/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
For its 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 152 schools to find the best return on investment for parks, recreation & leisure studies students.
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2026 Best Value Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies Schools in the United States
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in parks, recreation & leisure studies, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies Schools
University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign tops our 2026 list of the best value parks, recreation & leisure studies schools in the United States. University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign is a very large public school located in the city of Champaign. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $18,267, with out-of-state students paying around $40,096. Typical student debt for parks, recreation & leisure studies graduates is $23,447. Soon after graduation, parks, recreation & leisure studies degree recipients from University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign generally make around $47,726. That is a strong return on a $23,447 median debt. University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign admits about 42% of applicants.
Northwest Missouri State University came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the best value parks, recreation & leisure studies schools. Northwest Missouri State University is a large public school located in the town of Maryville. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $10,611, while out-of-state students pay about $17,324. Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies graduates carry a median of $25,250 in student loans. Early-career parks, recreation & leisure studies graduates make about $42,389. Set against $25,250 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Northwest Missouri State University admits about 86% of applicants.
Students looking for strong value in parks, recreation & leisure studies will find it at Indiana University Bloomington, which ranked #3. Located in the city of Bloomington, Indiana University Bloomington is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $12,144, with out-of-state students paying around $41,891. Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies graduates carry a median of $19,750 in student loans. Soon after graduation, parks, recreation & leisure studies degree recipients from Indiana University Bloomington generally make around $42,647. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Indiana University Bloomington admits about 78% of applicants.
Suny College At Cortland came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the best value parks, recreation & leisure studies schools. Located in the town of Cortland, Suny College At Cortland is a moderately-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $8,874, while out-of-state students pay about $18,784. Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies graduates carry a median of $25,369 in student loans. Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies graduates of Suny College At Cortland earn a median of $38,709 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $25,369 median debt. The acceptance rate is 60%.
Other Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies Degree Levels
Explore the best-value parks, recreation & leisure studies schools at other degree levels:
View All Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies Rankings >
Notes and References
This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. Schools are scored on the balance of cost (tuition and student debt) against student outcomes (post-graduation earnings) — a measure of return on investment, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 152 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 6 ranked schools only.
- 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).
More about our data sources and methodologies.
