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2023 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in the Southeast Region

15 Ranked Colleges
568 Degrees Awarded
$16,900 Avg Net Price*
Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in the Southeast Region

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 Southeast Region” 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 Southeast region, there were 568 parks, recreation and leisure studies graduates with average earnings and debt of $0 and $0 respectively.

For this year’s “Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in the Southeast Region” ranking, we looked at 15 colleges that offer a degree 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.

When determining these rankings, we looked at things such as overall quality of the parks, recreation and leisure studies program at the school and the cost to attend the school once aid has been awarded. See our ranking methodology to learn more.

More Ways to Rank Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies Schools

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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 Southeast Region”.

You can create your own custom comparison that focuses on the factors most important to you using our tool, College Combat. Test it out when you get a chance! You may also want to bookmark the link and share it with others who are trying to make the college decision.

Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in the Southeast Region

The colleges and universities below are the best for southeast region parks & rec students.

Top 15 Best Value Colleges for Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies in the Southeast Region

1
GaSou crest
Georgia Southern University
Statesboro, Georgia

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Georgia Southern University. It ranked #1 on our 2023 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in the Southeast Region list. This large school is located in Statesboro, Georgia, and it awarded 51 ’s parks and rec degrees in 2020-2021.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at GaSou, the school also landed the #3 spot in our “Best Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies Schools in the Southeast Region” ranking. It costs about $15,571 for southeast region parks & rec students per year to attend Georgia Southern University.

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

2
Southern Miss crest
University of Southern Mississippi
Hattiesburg, Mississippi

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of Southern Mississippi. The school came in at #2 for the Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in the Southeast Region. This fairly large school is located in Hattiesburg, Mississippi, and it awarded 14 ’s parks and rec degrees in 2020-2021.

Southern Miss not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #8 on our “Best Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies Schools in the Southeast Region” list. It costs about $14,032 for southeast region parks & rec students per year to attend University of Southern Mississippi.

Full University of Southern Mississippi Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies Report

3
ECU crest
East Carolina University
Greenville, North Carolina

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend East Carolina University. It ranked #3 on our 2023 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in the Southeast Region list. Greenville, North Carolina is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s parks and rec degrees to 37 students in 2020-2021.

ECU did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #2 on our “Best Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies Schools in the Southeast Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for East Carolina University is $16,550 for southeast region parks & rec students.

Read full report on Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies at ECU

4
UARK crest
University of Arkansas
Fayetteville, Arkansas

Out of the 15 schools in the Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in the Southeast Region that were part of this year’s ranking, University of Arkansas landed the #4 spot on the list. UARK is a public institution located in Fayetteville, Arkansas. The school has a large population, and it awarded 77 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

UARK also made our “Best Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies Schools in the Southeast Region” list, coming in at #1. The estimated yearly cost for University of Arkansas is $16,507 for southeast region parks & rec students.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 85%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 4.1% 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 UARK Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies Report

5
Shepherd University crest
Shepherd University
Shepherdstown, West Virginia

Out of the 15 schools in the Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in the Southeast Region that were part of this year’s ranking, Shepherd University landed the #5 spot on the list. Shepherd University is a public institution located in Shepherdstown, West Virginia. The school has a small population, and it awarded 27 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Shepherd University, the school also landed the #5 spot in our “Best Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies Schools in the Southeast Region” ranking. It costs about $10,983 for southeast region parks & rec students per year to attend Shepherd University.

Full Shepherd University Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies Report

6

University of North Carolina at Greensboro came in at #6 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in the Southeast Region ranking. University of North Carolina at Greensboro is a fairly large public school situated in Greensboro, North Carolina. It awarded 64 ’s parks and rec degrees in 2020-2021.

UNC Greensboro also took the #4 spot in our “Best Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies Schools in the Southeast Region” ranking. It costs about $11,629 for southeast region parks & rec students per year to attend UNC Greensboro.

Full University of North Carolina at Greensboro Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies Report

7

University of South Alabama ranked #7 on this year’s Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in the Southeast Region list. This fairly large school is located in Mobile, Alabama, and it awarded 31 ’s parks and rec degrees in 2020-2021.

USA also took the #11 spot in our “Best Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies Schools in the Southeast Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend USA is $16,826 for Southeast Region Parks & Rec students.

Full USA Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies Report

8
Radford crest
Radford University
Radford, Virginia

Radford University landed the #8 spot on the 2023 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in the Southeast Region ranking. Radford, Virginia is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s parks and rec degrees to 41 students in 2020-2021.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Radford, the school also landed the #6 spot in our “Best Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies Schools in the Southeast Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Radford is $16,505 for southeast region parks & rec students.

Read full report on Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies at Radford University

9
Jacksonville State University crest
Jacksonville State University
Jacksonville, Alabama

With a ranking of #9, Jacksonville State University did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in the Southeast Region list. Jacksonville, Alabama is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s parks and rec degrees to 34 students in 2020-2021.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Jacksonville State University, the school also landed the #12 spot in our “Best Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies Schools in the Southeast Region” ranking. It costs about $17,523 for Southeast Region Parks & Rec students per year to attend Jacksonville State University.

Read full report on Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies at Jacksonville State University

10
North Greenville crest
North Greenville University
Tigerville, South Carolina

North Greenville University did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in the Southeast Region ranking, coming in at #10. North Greenville University is a private not-for-profit institution located in Tigerville, South Carolina. The school has a small population, and it awarded 7 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at North Greenville, the school also landed the #10 spot in our “Best Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies Schools in the Southeast Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend North Greenville University is $20,058 for Southeast Region Parks & Rec students.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 5.0%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Full North Greenville University Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies Report

11
GSU crest
Grambling State University
Grambling, Louisiana

Grambling State University came in at #11 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in the Southeast Region ranking. GSU is located in Grambling, Louisiana and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 25 ’s parks and rec degrees to qualified students.

GSU also took the #14 spot in our “Best Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies Schools in the Southeast Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Grambling State University is $16,964 for southeast region parks & rec students.

Full Grambling State University Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies Report

12
UMO crest
University of Mount Olive
Mount Olive, North Carolina

University of Mount Olive ranked #12 on this year’s Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in the Southeast Region list. Located in Mount Olive, North Carolina, this small private not-for-profit school awarded 9 diplomas to qualified ’s parks and rec students in 2020-2021.

UMO also made our “Best Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies Schools in the Southeast Region” list, coming in at #13. The yearly cost to attend UMO is $15,883 for Southeast Region Parks & Rec students.

Read full report on Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies at University of Mount Olive

13

Georgia College & State University did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in the Southeast Region ranking, coming in at #13. Georgia College & State University is located in Milledgeville, Georgia and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 7 ’s parks and rec degrees to qualified students.

Georgia College also took the #7 spot in our “Best Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies Schools in the Southeast Region” ranking. It costs about $20,139 for southeast region parks & rec students per year to attend Georgia College & State University.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 3.4%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Full Georgia College Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies Report

14
Newberry College crest
Newberry College
Newberry, South Carolina

Newberry College did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in the Southeast Region ranking, coming in at #14. Newberry College is a small school located in Newberry, South Carolina that handed out 6 ’s parks and rec degrees in 2020-2021.

Newberry College also took the #9 spot in our “Best Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies Schools in the Southeast Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Newberry College is $20,220 for Southeast Region Parks & Rec students.

Full Newberry College Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies Report

15
Shaw University crest
Shaw University
Raleigh, North Carolina

Shaw University landed the #15 spot on the 2023 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in the Southeast Region ranking. Shaw University is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Raleigh, North Carolina. It awarded 6 ’s parks and rec degrees in 2020-2021.

Shaw University also took the #15 spot in our “Best Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies Schools in the Southeast Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Shaw University is $23,809 for Southeast Region Parks & Rec students.

Read full report on Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies at Shaw University

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Notes and References

References

Read more about our data sources and methodologies

Footnotes

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