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2022 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k

16 Ranked Colleges
158 Degrees Awarded
$23,400 Avg Grad Tuition & Fees*
Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Master's For Those Making $0-$30k

With all of the options students have for higher education today, it can be tough to choose which direction to take. College Factual was founded, in part, to help students make the decision as to what would be the best school for them. Our “Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking is part of that endeavor.

In 2019-2020, 3,224 people earned their degree in parks, recreation and leisure studies, making the major the 152nd most popular in the United States. In 2017-2018, parks, recreation and leisure studies graduates who were awarded their degree in 2015-2017, earned an average of $29,957 and had an average of $22,487 in loans still to pay off.

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.

For this year’s “Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking, we looked at 16 colleges that offer a degree in parks, recreation and leisure studies. This ranking identifies schools with high-quality parks, recreation and leisure studies programs that also have a lower cost than schools of similar quality.

Some of the factors we look at when determining these rankings are overall quality of the parks, recreation and leisure studies program at the school and the cost of the school after aid is awarded among other things. Check out our ranking methodology for more information.

One Size Does Not Fit All

Since the program you select can have a significant impact on your future, we’ve developed a number of rankings, including this “Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k” list, to help you choose the best school for you.

One of our other unique offerings is College Combat. This tool lets you build your own customized comparisons utilizing the factors that are most important to you. Test it out by comparing your favorite schools against others you are considering, or bookmark the tool so you can experiment with it later.

Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k

The following schools top our list of the Best Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k.

Top 16 Best Value Master’s Degree Colleges for Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies (Income $0-$30k)

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 #1 for the Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k. 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 you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read full report on Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies at University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

#2

Indiana University - Bloomington

Bloomington, Indiana

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Indiana University - Bloomington. It ranked #2 on our 2022 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k list. IU Bloomington is located in Bloomington, Indiana and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 23 masters’s parks and rec degrees to qualified students.

IU Bloomington not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #2 on our “Best Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies Master’s Degree Schools” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at IU Bloomington are $33,338, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read full report on Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies at Indiana University - Bloomington

#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 For Those Making $0-$30k list. This large school is located in Long Beach, California, and it awarded 4 masters’s parks and rec degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our master’s degree parks & rec students whose families make $0-$30k list, CSULB has also earned the #6 rank in our “Best Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies Master’s Degree Schools” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at CSULB are $17,784, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read more about Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies at California State University - Long Beach

#4

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 #4 for the Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k. Located in Cedar Falls, Iowa, this medium-sized public school handed out 7 degrees to qualified masters’s parks and rec students in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our master’s degree parks & rec students whose families make $0-$30k list, UNI has also earned the #3 rank in our “Best Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies Master’s Degree Schools” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at University of Northern Iowa are $22,648, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Full University of Northern Iowa Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies Report

#5

SUNY Cortland

Cortland, New York

Out of the 16 schools in the Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k that were part of this year’s ranking, SUNY Cortland landed the #5 spot on the list. SUNY Cortland is a medium-sized school located in Cortland, New York that handed out 17 masters’s parks and rec degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our master’s degree parks & rec students whose families make $0-$30k list, SUNY Cortland has also earned the #4 rank 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 SUNY Cortland are $24,707.

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

#11 in overall quality

California State University - Sacramento ranked #6 on this year’s Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k list. California State University - Sacramento is a large school located in Sacramento, California that handed out 4 masters’s parks and rec degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Sac State, the school also landed the #11 spot 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.

Full California State University - Sacramento Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies Report

#9 in overall quality

Oklahoma State University - Main Campus landed the #7 spot on the 2022 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. OSU is located in Stillwater, Oklahoma and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 7 masters’s parks and rec degrees to qualified students.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at OSU, the school also landed 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 Oklahoma State University - Main Campus are $23,963.

Full OSU Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies Report

#8

University of Utah

Salt Lake City, Utah
#7 in overall quality

University of Utah landed the #8 spot on the 2022 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. University of Utah is a large school located in Salt Lake City, Utah that handed out 3 masters’s parks and rec degrees in 2019-2020.

U of U also made our “Best Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies Master’s Degree Schools” list, coming in at #7. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at University of Utah are $24,695.

Full U of U Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies Report

#9

Southern Oregon University

Ashland, Oregon
#14 in overall quality

Southern Oregon University landed the #9 spot on the 2022 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Southern Oregon University is located in Ashland, Oregon and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 8 masters’s parks and rec degrees to qualified students.

Southern Oregon University did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #14 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 Southern Oregon University are $23,445.

Full Southern Oregon University Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies Report

#10

East Carolina University

Greenville, North Carolina
#8 in overall quality

East Carolina University ranked #10 on this year’s Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k list. East Carolina University 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 you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Full ECU Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies Report

#11

San Francisco State University

San Francisco, California

With a ranking of #11, San Francisco State University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k list. SFSU is located in San Francisco, California and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 2 masters’s parks and rec degrees to qualified students.

SFSU did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #0 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 San Francisco State University are $17,944.

Read more about Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies at SFSU

#10 in overall quality

Southern Illinois University Carbondale landed the #12 spot on the 2022 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. SIUC is a public institution located in Carbondale, Illinois. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 8 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

SIUC also took the #10 spot in our “Best Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies Master’s Degree Schools” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at SIUC are $32,928, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Full SIUC Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies Report

California State University - Chico did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #13. This fairly large school is located in Chico, California, and it awarded 2 masters’s parks and rec degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Chico State, the school also landed the #0 spot in our “Best Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies Master’s Degree Schools” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Chico State are $18,802, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read more about Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies at California State University - Chico

#14

Northern Arizona University

Flagstaff, Arizona
#12 in overall quality

With a ranking of #14, Northern Arizona University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k list. NAU is a public institution located in Flagstaff, Arizona. The school has a large population, and it awarded 6 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

NAU did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #12 on our “Best Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies Master’s Degree Schools” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at Northern Arizona University are $19,489, but some majors have different tuition rates.

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

#5 in overall quality

With a ranking of #15, Ohio University - Athens Campus did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k list. This large school is located in Athens, Ohio, and it awarded 10 masters’s parks and rec degrees in 2019-2020.

OHIO Athens not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #5 on our “Best Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies Master’s Degree Schools” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at Ohio University - Athens Campus are $17,712, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read full report on Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies at OHIO Athens

#16

University of Toledo

Toledo, Ohio

University of Toledo came in at #16 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. University of Toledo is a fairly large school located in Toledo, Ohio that handed out 19 masters’s parks and rec degrees in 2019-2020.

University of Toledo also took the #13 spot in our “Best Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies Master’s Degree Schools” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at University of Toledo are $27,067, but some majors have different tuition rates.

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

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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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