2027 Best Value Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies Schools in Utah

[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. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
College Factual analyzed 4 schools to build this 2027 ranking of the best value parks, recreation & leisure studies schools.
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2027 Best Value Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies Schools in Utah
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the parks, recreation & leisure studies degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies Schools
Southern Utah University earned the #1 spot for value among parks, recreation & leisure studies schools in Utah. Set in the town of Cedar City, Southern Utah University is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $6,962, while out-of-state students pay about $21,192. Students borrow a median of $12,886 to complete the parks, recreation & leisure studies program here. Early-career parks, recreation & leisure studies graduates make about $44,998. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 82% of applicants are accepted.
Students looking for strong value in parks, recreation & leisure studies will find it at Utah State University, which ranked #2. Set in the city of Logan, Utah State University is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,560, compared with $24,993 for out-of-state students. Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies graduates carry a median of $16,191 in student loans. Early-career parks, recreation & leisure studies graduates make about $35,079. That is a strong return on a $16,191 median debt. Roughly 92% of applicants are accepted.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Brigham Young University Provo earned it the #3 place for parks, recreation & leisure studies. Located in the city of Provo, Brigham Young University Provo is a very large private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,688. Students borrow a median of $12,000 to complete the parks, recreation & leisure studies program here. Early-career parks, recreation & leisure studies graduates make about $47,596. That is a strong return on a $12,000 median debt. Roughly 68% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Utah came in at #4 on our 2027 list of the best value parks, recreation & leisure studies schools. University Of Utah is a very large public school located in the city of Salt Lake City. In-state tuition and fees average $9,620, while out-of-state students pay about $30,860. Students borrow a median of $22,982 to complete the parks, recreation & leisure studies program here. Early-career parks, recreation & leisure studies graduates make about $37,009. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 86%.
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Notes and References
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 edition. The methodology weighs the cost of a degree against the earnings graduates go on to achieve, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 4 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 4 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.