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2023 Best Value Colleges for Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies (Income $0-$30k) in the Southeast Region

15 Ranked Colleges
568 Degrees Awarded
$13,800 Avg Net Price*
Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in the Southeast Region For Those Making $0-$30k

When pursuing a degree in today’s world, students have many different options to choose from. 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 in the Southeast Region For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking is part of that endeavor.

In 2020-2021, 3,106 people earned their degree in parks, recreation and leisure studies, making the major the 166th most popular in the United States. In 2019-2020, parks, recreation and leisure studies graduates who were awarded their degree in 2017-2019, earned an average of $31,801 and had an average of $23,333 in loans still to pay off.

Across the Southeast region, there were 568 parks, recreation and leisure studies graduates with average earnings and debt of $28,183 and $28,553 respectively.

This year’s “Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in the Southeast Region For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking analyzed 15 colleges that offered 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.

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.

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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 For Those Making $0-$30k”.

You can create your own custom comparison that focuses on the factors most important to you using our tool, College Combat. Go ahead and give it a try, or bookmark the link so you can check it out later.

Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in the Southeast Region For Those Making $0-$30k

The colleges and universities below are the best for southeast region parks & rec students whose families make $0-$30k.

Top 15 Best Value Colleges for Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies (Income $0-$30k) in the Southeast Region

1
UARK crest
University of Arkansas
Fayetteville, Arkansas

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of Arkansas. The school came in at #1 for the Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in the Southeast Region For Those Making $0-$30k. University of Arkansas is located in Fayetteville, Arkansas and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 77 ’s parks and rec degrees to qualified students.

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 $12,003 for southeast region parks & rec students whose families make $0-$30k.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 4.1%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 85%.

Read more about Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies at UARK

2
ECU crest
East Carolina University
Greenville, North Carolina

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend East Carolina University. The school came in at #2 for the Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in the Southeast Region For Those Making $0-$30k. ECU is a public institution located in Greenville, North Carolina. The school has a large population, and it awarded 37 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

ECU also made our “Best Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies Schools in the Southeast Region” list, coming in at #2. The yearly cost to attend East Carolina University is $11,260 for Southeast Region Parks & Rec students whose families make $0-$30k.

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

3

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of North Carolina at Greensboro. It ranked #3 on our 2023 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in the Southeast Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Located in Greensboro, North Carolina, this fairly large public school awarded 64 degrees to qualified ’s parks and rec students in 2020-2021.

UNC Greensboro did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #4 on our “Best Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies Schools in the Southeast Region” list. It costs about $7,645 for southeast region parks & rec students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend UNC Greensboro.

Read more about Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies at UNC Greensboro

4
Shepherd University crest
Shepherd University
Shepherdstown, West Virginia

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Shepherd University. The school came in at #4 for the Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in the Southeast Region For Those Making $0-$30k. This small school is located in Shepherdstown, West Virginia, and it awarded 27 ’s parks and rec degrees in 2020-2021.

Shepherd University not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #5 on our “Best Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies Schools in the Southeast Region” list. It costs about $7,787 for southeast region parks & rec students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Shepherd University.

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

5
GaSou crest
Georgia Southern University
Statesboro, Georgia

Out of the 15 schools in the Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in the Southeast Region For Those Making $0-$30k that were part of this year’s ranking, Georgia Southern University landed the #5 spot on the list. Located in Statesboro, Georgia, this large public school handed out 51 degrees to qualified ’s parks and rec students in 2020-2021.

GaSou also made our “Best Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies Schools in the Southeast Region” list, coming in at #3. The estimated yearly cost for GaSou is $12,637 for southeast region parks & rec students whose families make $0-$30k.

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

6
Radford crest
Radford University
Radford, Virginia

With a ranking of #6, Radford University did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in the Southeast Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Radford is located in Radford, Virginia and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 41 ’s parks and rec degrees to qualified students.

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 $11,420 for southeast region parks & rec students whose families make $0-$30k.

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

7

Georgia College & State University landed the #7 spot on the 2023 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in the Southeast Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Georgia College & State University is a public institution located in Milledgeville, Georgia. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 7 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

Georgia College not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #7 on our “Best Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies Schools in the Southeast Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for Georgia College & State University is $16,203 for southeast region parks & rec students whose families make $0-$30k.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 3.4% 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%.

Read full report on Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies at Georgia College

8

University of South Alabama did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in the Southeast Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #8. University of South Alabama is a fairly large public school situated in Mobile, Alabama. 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. It costs about $12,906 for southeast region parks & rec students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend USA.

Full USA Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies Report

9
Southern Miss crest
University of Southern Mississippi
Hattiesburg, Mississippi

University of Southern Mississippi ranked #9 on this year’s Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in the Southeast Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Located in Hattiesburg, Mississippi, this fairly large public school handed out 14 diplomas to qualified ’s parks and rec students 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. The estimated yearly cost for University of Southern Mississippi is $12,382 for southeast region parks & rec students whose families make $0-$30k.

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

10
Jacksonville State University crest
Jacksonville State University
Jacksonville, Alabama

Jacksonville State University came in at #10 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in the Southeast Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. 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.

Jacksonville State University also took the #12 spot in our “Best Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies Schools in the Southeast Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Jacksonville State University is $14,738 for southeast region parks & rec students whose families make $0-$30k.

Full Jacksonville State University Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies Report

11
UMO crest
University of Mount Olive
Mount Olive, North Carolina

University of Mount Olive did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in the Southeast Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #11. UMO is a private not-for-profit institution located in Mount Olive, North Carolina. The school has a small population, and it awarded 9 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at UMO, the school also landed the #13 spot in our “Best Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies Schools in the Southeast Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for University of Mount Olive is $14,460 for Southeast Region Parks & Rec students whose families make $0-$30k.

Read more about Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies at UMO

12
Newberry College crest
Newberry College
Newberry, South Carolina

Newberry College ranked #12 on this year’s Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in the Southeast Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Located in Newberry, South Carolina, this small private not-for-profit school handed out 6 diplomas to qualified ’s parks and rec students in 2020-2021.

Newberry College also took the #9 spot in our “Best Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies Schools in the Southeast Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Newberry College is $17,993 for southeast region parks & rec students whose families make $0-$30k.

Read more about Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies at Newberry College

13
GSU crest
Grambling State University
Grambling, Louisiana

Grambling State University landed the #13 spot on the 2023 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in the Southeast Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Grambling State University is a medium-sized public school situated in Grambling, Louisiana. It awarded 25 ’s parks and rec degrees in 2020-2021.

GSU also made our “Best Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies Schools in the Southeast Region” list, coming in at #14. The estimated yearly cost for GSU is $15,451 for southeast region parks & rec students whose families make $0-$30k.

Read more about Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies at Grambling State University

14
North Greenville crest
North Greenville University
Tigerville, South Carolina

With a ranking of #14, North Greenville University did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in the Southeast Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. North Greenville is a small school located in Tigerville, South Carolina that handed out 7 ’s parks and rec degrees in 2020-2021.

North Greenville did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #10 on our “Best Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies Schools in the Southeast Region” list. It costs about $17,739 for Southeast Region Parks & Rec students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend North Greenville University.

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%.

Read more about Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies at North Greenville

15
Shaw University crest
Shaw University
Raleigh, North Carolina

Shaw University came in at #15 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in the Southeast Region For Those Making $0-$30k 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 $22,471 for Southeast Region Parks & Rec students whose families make $0-$30k.

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

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Notes and References

References

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