2027 Best Value Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies Schools in the Southeast Region
[Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies](/majors/parks-recreation-fitness/parks-recreation-leisure-studies/parks-recreation-and-leisure-studies/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
College Factual analyzed 11 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 the Southeast Region
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
South Georgia Technical College earned the #1 spot for value among parks, recreation & leisure studies schools in the Southeast Region. Set in the town of Americus, South Georgia Technical College is a mid-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $3,992, with out-of-state students paying around $7,202. Typical student debt for parks, recreation & leisure studies graduates is $10,423. Early-career parks, recreation & leisure studies graduates make about $40,497. Set against $10,423 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College came in at #2 on our 2027 list of the best value parks, recreation & leisure studies schools. Set in the rural area of Perkinston, Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,250, with out-of-state students paying around $7,850. Students borrow a median of $11,653 to complete the parks, recreation & leisure studies program here. Early-career parks, recreation & leisure studies graduates make about $34,214. Set against $11,653 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
A rank of #3 makes University Of North Carolina At Greensboro one of the best values for parks, recreation & leisure studies. Set in the city of Greensboro, University Of North Carolina At Greensboro is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $7,661, with out-of-state students paying around $24,012. Students borrow a median of $26,000 to complete the parks, recreation & leisure studies program here. Early-career parks, recreation & leisure studies graduates make about $31,561. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of North Carolina At Greensboro admits about 88% of applicants.
Shepherd University came in at #4 on our 2027 list of the best value parks, recreation & leisure studies schools. Set in the rural area of Shepherdstown, Shepherd University is a mid-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,056, with out-of-state students paying around $19,082. Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies graduates carry a median of $24,950 in student loans. Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies graduates of Shepherd University earn a median of $34,287 early in their careers. Set against $24,950 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 97%.
A rank of #5 makes Jacksonville State University one of the best values for parks, recreation & leisure studies. Located in the suburb of Jacksonville, Jacksonville State University is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $12,894, compared with $23,334 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $21,500 to complete the parks, recreation & leisure studies program here. Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies graduates of Jacksonville State University earn a median of $31,303 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Jacksonville State University admits about 78% of applicants.
Radford University earned the #6 position for value in parks, recreation & leisure studies this year. Set in the town of Radford, Radford University is a moderately-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $12,548, while out-of-state students pay about $25,633. Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies graduates carry a median of $26,000 in student loans. Soon after graduation, parks, recreation & leisure studies degree recipients from Radford University generally make around $30,145. That is a strong return on a $26,000 median debt. Radford University admits about 90% of applicants.
Georgia Southern University came in at #7 for value in parks, recreation & leisure studies this year. Georgia Southern University is a very large public school located in the town of Statesboro. In-state tuition and fees average $6,022, with out-of-state students paying around $17,734. Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies graduates carry a median of $24,936 in student loans. Early-career parks, recreation & leisure studies graduates make about $31,086. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 88%.
East Carolina University earned the #8 position for value in parks, recreation & leisure studies this year. East Carolina University is a very large public school located in the city of Greenville. In-state tuition and fees average $7,361, with out-of-state students paying around $23,638. Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies graduates carry a median of $19,587 in student loans. Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies graduates of East Carolina University earn a median of $34,751 early in their careers. Set against $19,587 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. East Carolina University admits about 89% of applicants.
University Of Arkansas ranked #9 on our 2027 list of the best value parks, recreation & leisure studies schools. Set in the city of Fayetteville, University Of Arkansas is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $10,104 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $29,966. Typical student debt for parks, recreation & leisure studies graduates is $23,310. Early-career parks, recreation & leisure studies graduates make about $31,567. That is a strong return on a $23,310 median debt. The acceptance rate is 74%.
University Of South Alabama earned the #10 position for value in parks, recreation & leisure studies this year. University Of South Alabama is a large public school located in the city of Mobile. In-state tuition and fees average $10,116, with out-of-state students paying around $19,092. Typical student debt for parks, recreation & leisure studies graduates is $26,750. Early-career parks, recreation & leisure studies graduates make about $33,557. That is a strong return on a $26,750 median debt. The acceptance rate is 71%.
Grambling State University earned the #11 position for value in parks, recreation & leisure studies this year. Grambling State University is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Grambling. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $7,683, while out-of-state students pay about $16,706. Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies graduates carry a median of $41,750 in student loans. Early-career parks, recreation & leisure studies graduates make about $19,830. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 45%.
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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 · 11 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 11 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.
