2027 Best Value Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies Schools in the Southwest Region
[Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies](/majors/parks-recreation-fitness/parks-recreation-leisure-studies/parks-recreation-and-leisure-studies/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
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 the Southwest Region
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
For return on investment in parks, recreation & leisure studies, no school beat Northern Arizona University this year. Northern Arizona University is a very large public school located in the city of Flagstaff. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $12,619, with out-of-state students paying around $20,044. Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies graduates carry a median of $21,500 in student loans. Early-career parks, recreation & leisure studies graduates make about $31,672. Set against $21,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 90%.
Arizona State University is a great value for students pursuing a degree in parks, recreation & leisure studies, landing the #2 spot this year. Arizona State University is a very large public school located in the city of Tempe. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $12,223, compared with $33,139 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for parks, recreation & leisure studies graduates is $22,396. Early-career parks, recreation & leisure studies graduates make about $43,149. Set against $22,396 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 90%.
A rank of #3 makes Oklahoma State University Main Campus one of the best values for parks, recreation & leisure studies. Oklahoma State University Main Campus is a very large public school located in the town of Stillwater. In-state tuition and fees average $10,110, while out-of-state students pay about $25,630. Typical student debt for parks, recreation & leisure studies graduates is $21,313. Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies graduates of Oklahoma State University Main Campus earn a median of $37,393 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 75%.
Texas A And M University College Station came in at #4 on our 2027 list of the best value parks, recreation & leisure studies schools. Set in the city of College Station, Texas A And M University College Station is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $12,995 in tuition and fees, compared with $40,124 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for parks, recreation & leisure studies graduates is $20,031. Soon after graduation, parks, recreation & leisure studies degree recipients from Texas A And M University College Station generally make around $64,891. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 57% of applicants are accepted.
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Notes and References
This ranking is produced 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.
