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2023 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in California For Those Making $48-$75k

10 Ranked Colleges
678 Degrees Awarded
Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in California For Those Making $48-$75k

When it comes to choosing a college, students have a lot of options - but not all of them are good. 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 California For Those Making $48-$75k” 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 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 California, there were 678 parks, recreation and leisure studies graduates with average earnings and debt of $37,222 and $17,096 respectively.

This year’s “Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in California For Those Making $48-$75k” ranking looked at 10 colleges that offer degrees in a bachelor’s 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. For more information, check out our ranking methodology.

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When choosing the right school for you, it’s important to arm yourself with all the facts you can. To that end, we’ve created a number of major-specific rankings, including this “Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in California For Those Making $48-$75k” list to help you make the college decision.

To further help you make the college decision, we’ve developed a unique tool called College Combat that allows you to compare schools based on the factors that matter the most to you. When you have some time, check it out - you may want to bookmark the link so you don’t forget it.

Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in California For Those Making $48-$75k

The following schools top our list of the Best Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in California For Those Making $48-$75k.

Top 10 Best Value Colleges for Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies (Income $48-$75k) in California

1

Out of the 10 schools in the Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in California For Those Making $48-$75k that were part of this year’s ranking, California State University - Long Beach landed the #1 spot on the list. CSULB is a public institution located in Long Beach, California. The school has a large population, and it awarded 91 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

CSULB also made our “Best Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies Schools in California” list, coming in at #3. The estimated yearly cost for California State University - Long Beach is $11,189 for california parks & rec students whose families make $48-$75k.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 89%. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.4%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

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

2

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend California State University - Sacramento. The school came in at #2 for the Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in California For Those Making $48-$75k. Sacramento, California is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s parks and rec degrees to 100 students in 2020-2021.

Sac State also took the #5 spot in our “Best Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies Schools in California” ranking. It costs about $12,602 for California Parks & Rec students whose families make $48-$75k per year to attend Sac State.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 3.9% 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 Sac State Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies Report

3

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend California State University - Fresno. The school came in at #3 for the Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in California For Those Making $48-$75k. This large school is located in Fresno, California, and it awarded 37 ’s parks and rec degrees in 2020-2021.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Fresno State, the school also landed the #8 spot in our “Best Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies Schools in California” ranking. It costs about $8,030 for California Parks & Rec students whose families make $48-$75k per year to attend California State University - Fresno.

With a freshman retention rate of 87%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 3.2%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies at Fresno State

4

Out of the 10 schools in the Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in California For Those Making $48-$75k that were part of this year’s ranking, California State University - Chico landed the #4 spot on the list. Chico State is a fairly large public school situated in Chico, California. It awarded 99 ’s parks and rec degrees in 2020-2021.

In addition to being on our california parks & rec students whose families make $48-$75k list, Chico State has also earned the #2 rank in our “Best Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies Schools in California” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Chico State is $16,738 for california parks & rec students whose families make $48-$75k.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 4.0%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Full Chico State Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies Report

5
San Jose State crest
San Jose State University
San Jose, California

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend San Jose State University. The school came in at #5 for the Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in California For Those Making $48-$75k. This large school is located in San Jose, California, and it awarded 40 ’s parks and rec degrees in 2020-2021.

San Jose State also took the #4 spot in our “Best Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies Schools in California” ranking. It costs about $17,338 for california parks & rec students whose families make $48-$75k per year to attend San Jose State.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 86%. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.9%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

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

6

California Polytechnic State University - San Luis Obispo ranked #6 on this year’s Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in California For Those Making $48-$75k list. Located in San Luis Obispo, California, this large public school awarded 119 diplomas to qualified ’s parks and rec students in 2020-2021.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, the school also landed the #1 spot in our “Best Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies Schools in California” ranking. It costs about $17,340 for California Parks & Rec students whose families make $48-$75k per year to attend Cal Poly San Luis Obispo.

With a freshman retention rate of 94%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 0.7%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Full California Polytechnic State University - San Luis Obispo Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies Report

7
SDSU crest
San Diego State University
San Diego, California

San Diego State University did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in California For Those Making $48-$75k ranking, coming in at #7. San Diego State University is a large public school situated in San Diego, California. It awarded 32 ’s parks and rec degrees in 2020-2021.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at SDSU, the school also landed the #7 spot in our “Best Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies Schools in California” ranking. It costs about $14,698 for california parks & rec students whose families make $48-$75k per year to attend San Diego State University.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.2% 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%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 89%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

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

8

California State University - East Bay ranked #8 on this year’s Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in California For Those Making $48-$75k list. Cal State East Bay is a fairly large public school situated in Hayward, California. It awarded 31 ’s parks and rec degrees in 2020-2021.

Cal State East Bay not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #9 on our “Best Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies Schools in California” list. It costs about $15,615 for california parks & rec students whose families make $48-$75k per year to attend Cal State East Bay.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 4.4% 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 more about Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies at Cal State East Bay

9
SFSU crest
San Francisco State University
San Francisco, California

With a ranking of #9, San Francisco State University did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in California For Those Making $48-$75k list. Located in San Francisco, California, this large public school awarded 46 diplomas to qualified ’s parks and rec students in 2020-2021.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at SFSU, the school also landed the #6 spot in our “Best Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies Schools in California” ranking. It costs about $16,065 for california parks & rec students whose families make $48-$75k per year to attend San Francisco State University.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 4.3%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Full San Francisco State University Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies Report

10
Humboldt State University crest
Humboldt State University
Arcata, California

Humboldt State University did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in California For Those Making $48-$75k ranking, coming in at #10. Arcata, California is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s parks and rec degrees to 31 students in 2020-2021.

Humboldt State University also took the #10 spot in our “Best Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies Schools in California” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Humboldt State University is $16,716 for california parks & rec students whose families make $48-$75k.

Full Humboldt State University Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies Report

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