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

14 Ranked Colleges
158 Degrees Awarded
$24,100 Avg Grad Tuition & Fees*
Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Master's

It’s not easy to decide which college to attend when there so many options available for students. At College Factual, we’re committed to helping you make that decision by providing information such as that found in our “Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Master’s” ranking.

Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies is the 191st most popular major in the country with 3,224 degrees awarded in 2019-2020.

At the master’s degree level specifically, there were 158 parks, recreation and leisure studies graduates with average earnings and debt of $56,398 and $43,194 respectively.

This year’s “Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Master’s” ranking looked at 14 colleges that offer degrees in a bachelor’s in parks, recreation and leisure studies. The schools that top this list are recognized because they have great parks, recreation and leisure 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 and leisure studies program at the school. Check out our ranking methodology for more information.

One Size Does Not Fit All

Since picking the right college can be one of the most important decisions of your life, we’ve developed the “Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Master’s” ranking, along with many other major-related rankings, to help you make that 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. If you’re torn between two schools, you can use it to help you see how they stack up against one another. Bookmark it so you can compare any new schools that might interest you.

Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Master’s

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

Top 14 Best Value Master’s Degree Colleges for Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies

#1

University of Northern Iowa

Cedar Falls, Iowa
#3 in overall quality

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of Northern Iowa. The school came in at #1 for the Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Master’s. University of Northern Iowa is located in Cedar Falls, Iowa and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 7 masters’s parks and rec degrees to qualified students.

UNI also made our “Best Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies Master’s Degree Schools” list, coming in at #3. Average graduate tuition and fees at UNI are $22,648, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read more about Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies at UNI

#5 in overall quality

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Ohio University - Athens Campus. The school came in at #2 for the Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Master’s. Athens, Ohio is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s parks and rec degrees to 10 students in 2019-2020.

OHIO Athens did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #5 on our “Best Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies Master’s Degree Schools” list. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at OHIO Athens are $17,712.

Full Ohio University - Athens Campus Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies Report

#6 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend California State University - Long Beach. It ranked #3 on our 2022 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Master’s list. California State University - Long Beach is a large school located in Long Beach, California that handed out 4 masters’s parks and rec degrees in 2019-2020.

CSULB did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #6 on our “Best Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies Master’s Degree Schools” list. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at CSULB are $17,784.

Read more about Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies at CSULB

#1 in overall quality

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. The school came in at #4 for the Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Master’s. Champaign, Illinois is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s parks and rec degrees to 29 students in 2019-2020.

UIUC also took the #1 spot in our “Best Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies Master’s Degree Schools” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at UIUC are $30,083, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read more about Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies at University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

#5

East Carolina University

Greenville, North Carolina
#8 in overall quality

Out of the 14 schools in the Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Master’s that were part of this year’s ranking, East Carolina University landed the #5 spot on the list. ECU is a public institution located in Greenville, North Carolina. The school has a large population, and it awarded 9 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

ECU also made our “Best Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies Master’s Degree Schools” list, coming in at #8. Average graduate tuition and fees at ECU are $20,685, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read more about Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies at East Carolina University

#6

SUNY Cortland

Cortland, New York
#4 in overall quality

With a ranking of #6, SUNY Cortland did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Master’s list. SUNY Cortland is a medium-sized public school situated in Cortland, New York. It awarded 17 masters’s parks and rec degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at SUNY Cortland, the school also landed the #4 spot in our “Best Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies Master’s Degree Schools” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at SUNY Cortland are $24,707, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read full report on Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies at SUNY Cortland

#7

University of Utah

Salt Lake City, Utah
#7 in overall quality

University of Utah came in at #7 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Master’s ranking. This large school is located in Salt Lake City, Utah, and it awarded 3 masters’s parks and rec degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at U of U, the school also landed the #7 spot in our “Best Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies Master’s Degree Schools” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at U of U are $24,695, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

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

#9 in overall quality

Oklahoma State University - Main Campus ranked #8 on this year’s Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Master’s list. Oklahoma State University - Main Campus is a large public school situated in Stillwater, Oklahoma. It awarded 7 masters’s parks and rec degrees in 2019-2020.

OSU also took the #9 spot in our “Best Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies Master’s Degree Schools” ranking. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at OSU are $23,963.

Read more about Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies at Oklahoma State University - Main Campus

#9

Indiana University - Bloomington

Bloomington, Indiana
#2 in overall quality

Indiana University - Bloomington came in at #9 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Master’s ranking. IU Bloomington is a large public school situated in Bloomington, Indiana. It awarded 23 masters’s parks and rec degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at IU Bloomington, the school also landed the #2 spot in our “Best Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies Master’s Degree Schools” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Indiana University - Bloomington are $33,338, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read full report on Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies at IU Bloomington

#10

Northern Arizona University

Flagstaff, Arizona
#12 in overall quality

Northern Arizona University ranked #10 on this year’s Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Master’s list. This large school is located in Flagstaff, Arizona, and it awarded 6 masters’s parks and rec degrees in 2019-2020.

NAU not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #12 on our “Best Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies Master’s Degree Schools” list. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at NAU are $19,489.

Read more about Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies at Northern Arizona University

#11 in overall quality

California State University - Sacramento ranked #11 on this year’s Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Master’s list. Sac State is located in Sacramento, California and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 4 masters’s parks and rec degrees to qualified students.

In addition to being on our master’s degree parks & rec students list, Sac State has also earned the #11 rank in our “Best Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies Master’s Degree Schools” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Sac State are $18,356, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read more about Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies at Sac State

#12

University of Toledo

Toledo, Ohio
#13 in overall quality

University of Toledo did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Master’s ranking, coming in at #12. University of Toledo is located in Toledo, Ohio and, has a fairly large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 19 masters’s parks and rec degrees to qualified students.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at University of Toledo, the school also landed the #13 spot in our “Best Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies Master’s Degree Schools” ranking. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at University of Toledo are $27,067.

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

#10 in overall quality

Southern Illinois University Carbondale landed the #13 spot on the 2022 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Master’s ranking. Located in Carbondale, Illinois, this fairly large public school awarded 8 diplomas to qualified masters’s parks and rec students in 2019-2020.

SIUC did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #10 on our “Best Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies Master’s Degree Schools” list. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at SIUC are $32,928.

Full SIUC Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies Report

#14

Southern Oregon University

Ashland, Oregon
#14 in overall quality

Southern Oregon University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Master’s ranking, coming in at #14. Southern Oregon University is a medium-sized school located in Ashland, Oregon that handed out 8 masters’s parks and rec degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Southern Oregon University, the school also landed the #14 spot in our “Best Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies Master’s Degree Schools” ranking. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Southern Oregon University are $23,445.

Read more about Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies at Southern Oregon University

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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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