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2022 Best Value Master’s Degree Colleges for Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies (With Aid)

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

Students have lots of options to chooose from today when trying to decide which college to attend. College Factual has developed its “Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Master’s For Those Getting Aid” ranking as one item you can use to help make this decision.

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.

This year’s “Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Master’s For Those Getting Aid” ranking analyzed 16 colleges that offered a degree in parks, recreation and leisure studies. Not only do the schools that top this list have excellent parks, recreation and leisure studies programs, but they also 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. For more information, check out our ranking methodology.

More Ways to Rank Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies Schools

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 for a Master’s For Those Getting Aid”.

In addition to College Factual’s rankings, you may want to take a look at College Combat, our unique tool that lets you pit your favorite schools head-to-head and compare how they rate on factors that most interest you. If you’re torn between two schools, you can use it to help you see how they stack up against one another. Bookmark it so you can compare any new schools that might interest you.

Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Master’s For Those Getting Aid

The colleges and universities below are the best for master’s degree parks & rec students with aid.

Top 16 Best Value Master’s Degree Colleges for Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies (With Aid)

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. It ranked #1 on our 2022 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Master’s For Those Getting Aid list. UIUC is a large public school situated in Champaign, Illinois. It awarded 29 masters’s parks and rec degrees in 2019-2020.

UIUC did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #1 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 UIUC are $30,083.

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

#2

Indiana University - Bloomington

Bloomington, Indiana

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Indiana University - Bloomington. The school came in at #2 for the Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Master’s For Those Getting Aid. Indiana University - Bloomington is a public institution located in Bloomington, Indiana. The school has a large population, and it awarded 23 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

IU Bloomington did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #2 on our “Best Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies Master’s Degree Schools” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at Indiana University - Bloomington are $33,338, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Full Indiana University - Bloomington Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies Report

#6 in overall quality

Out of the 16 schools in the Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Master’s For Those Getting Aid that were part of this year’s ranking, California State University - Long Beach landed the #3 spot on the list. CSULB is a public institution located in Long Beach, California. The school has a large population, and it awarded 4 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at CSULB, the school also landed the #6 spot 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 full report on Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies at CSULB

#11 in overall quality

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend California State University - Sacramento. The school came in at #4 for the Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Master’s For Those Getting Aid. 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.

Sac State also took the #11 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 California State University - Sacramento are $18,356.

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

#5

University of Northern Iowa

Cedar Falls, Iowa
#3 in overall quality

Out of the 16 schools in the Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Master’s For Those Getting Aid that were part of this year’s ranking, University of Northern Iowa landed the #5 spot on the list. University of Northern Iowa is a medium-sized school located in Cedar Falls, Iowa that handed out 7 masters’s parks and rec degrees in 2019-2020.

UNI also made our “Best Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies Master’s Degree Schools” list, coming in at #3. Average graduate tuition and fees at UNI are $22,648, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read more about Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies at University of Northern Iowa

#6

University of Utah

Salt Lake City, Utah
#7 in overall quality

University of Utah came in at #6 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Master’s For Those Getting Aid ranking. U of U is a large public school situated in Salt Lake City, Utah. It awarded 3 masters’s parks and rec degrees in 2019-2020.

U of U not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #7 on our “Best Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies Master’s Degree Schools” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at U of U are $24,695, but some majors have different tuition rates.

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

#7

SUNY Cortland

Cortland, New York

With a ranking of #7, SUNY Cortland did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Master’s For Those Getting Aid list. This medium-sized school is located in Cortland, New York, and it awarded 17 masters’s parks and rec degrees in 2019-2020.

SUNY Cortland did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #4 on our “Best Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies Master’s Degree Schools” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at SUNY Cortland are $24,707, but some majors have different tuition rates.

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

#9 in overall quality

Oklahoma State University - Main Campus did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Master’s For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #8. Stillwater, Oklahoma is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s parks and rec degrees to 7 students in 2019-2020.

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. Average graduate tuition and fees at OSU are $23,963, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

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

#9

East Carolina University

Greenville, North Carolina
#8 in overall quality

East Carolina University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Master’s For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #9. This large school is located in Greenville, North Carolina, and it awarded 9 masters’s parks and rec degrees in 2019-2020.

ECU did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #8 on our “Best Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies Master’s Degree Schools” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at East Carolina University are $20,685, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Full East Carolina University Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies Report

#10

Southern Oregon University

Ashland, Oregon
#14 in overall quality

With a ranking of #10, Southern Oregon University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Master’s For Those Getting Aid list. This medium-sized school is located in Ashland, Oregon, and it awarded 8 masters’s parks and rec degrees in 2019-2020.

Southern Oregon University not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #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.

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

#11

San Francisco State University

San Francisco, California

San Francisco State University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Master’s For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #11. This large school is located in San Francisco, California, and it awarded 2 masters’s parks and rec degrees in 2019-2020.

SFSU also made our “Best Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies Master’s Degree Schools” list, coming in at #0. Average graduate tuition and fees at SFSU are $17,944, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read more about Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies at SFSU

#10 in overall quality

Southern Illinois University Carbondale ranked #12 on this year’s Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Master’s For Those Getting Aid list. Located in Carbondale, Illinois, this fairly large public school awarded 8 diplomas to qualified masters’s parks and rec students in 2019-2020.

SIUC not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #10 on our “Best Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies Master’s Degree Schools” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at SIUC are $32,928, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Full SIUC Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies Report

California State University - Chico came in at #13 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Master’s For Those Getting Aid ranking. California State University - Chico is a fairly large public school situated in Chico, California. It awarded 2 masters’s parks and rec degrees in 2019-2020.

Chico State not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #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 Chico State are $18,802.

Full Chico State Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies Report

#14

Northern Arizona University

Flagstaff, Arizona
#12 in overall quality

Northern Arizona University landed the #14 spot on the 2022 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Master’s For Those Getting Aid ranking. Northern Arizona University is located in Flagstaff, Arizona and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 6 masters’s parks and rec degrees to qualified students.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at NAU, the school also landed the #12 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 Northern Arizona University are $19,489.

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 Getting Aid list. OHIO Athens is a public institution located in Athens, Ohio. The school has a large population, and it awarded 10 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at OHIO Athens, the school also landed the #5 spot in our “Best Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies Master’s Degree Schools” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at OHIO Athens are $17,712, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Full OHIO Athens Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies Report

#16

University of Toledo

Toledo, Ohio

With a ranking of #16, University of Toledo did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Master’s For Those Getting Aid list. Toledo, Ohio is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s parks and rec degrees to 19 students in 2019-2020.

University of Toledo did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #13 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 University of Toledo are $27,067.

Full University of Toledo Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies Report

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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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