2022 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Getting Aid

Students have lots of options to chooose from today when trying to decide which college to attend. At College Factual, we’re committed to helping you make that decision by providing information such as that found in our “Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Getting Aid” ranking.

Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies is the 152nd most popular major in the country with 3,224 degrees awarded in 2019-2020. 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.

Across the Southwest region, there were 323 parks, recreation and leisure studies graduates with average earnings and debt of $33,825 and $18,443 respectively.

This year’s “Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Getting Aid” ranking analyzed 5 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.

When determining these rankings, we looked at things such as overall quality of the parks, recreation and leisure studies program at the school and the cost to attend the school once aid has been awarded. See our ranking methodology to learn more.

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 in the Southwest Region For Those Getting Aid” list, to help you choose the best school for you.

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 in the Southwest Region For Those Getting Aid

The following schools top our list of the Best Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Getting Aid.

Top 5 Best Value Colleges for Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies in the Southwest Region (With Aid)

#1

Southeastern Oklahoma State University

Durant, Oklahoma

#2 in overall quality

$8,237 Average Net Price

$41,033 Average Early-Career Earnings

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Southeastern Oklahoma State University. The school came in at #1 for the Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Getting Aid. Durant, Oklahoma is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s parks and rec degrees to 11 students in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Southeastern Oklahoma State University, the school also landed the #2 spot in our “Best Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. It costs about $8,237 for Southwest Region Parks & Rec students with aid per year to attend Southeastern Oklahoma State University.

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

#2

MSU Texas

Wichita Falls, Texas

#5 in overall quality

$10,045 Average Net Price

$40,663 Average Early-Career Earnings

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend MSU Texas. It ranked #2 on our 2022 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Getting Aid list. MSU Texas is a medium-sized public school situated in Wichita Falls, Texas. It awarded 16 ’s parks and rec degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at MSU Texas, the school also landed the #5 spot in our “Best Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. It costs about $10,045 for Southwest Region Parks & Rec students with aid per year to attend MSU Texas.

Read full report on Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies at MSU Texas

#3

Oklahoma State University - Main Campus

Stillwater, Oklahoma

#1 in overall quality

$14,648 Average Net Price

$44,004 Average Early-Career Earnings

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Oklahoma State University - Main Campus. The school came in at #3 for the Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Getting Aid. This large school is located in Stillwater, Oklahoma, and it awarded 47 ’s parks and rec degrees in 2019-2020.

OSU also made our “Best Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies Schools in the Southwest Region” list, coming in at #1. It costs about $14,648 for Southwest Region Parks & Rec students with aid per year to attend Oklahoma State University - Main Campus.

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 Oklahoma State University - Main Campus

#4

University of Central Oklahoma

Edmond, Oklahoma

#3 in overall quality

$16,562 Average Net Price

$37,034 Average Early-Career Earnings

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of Central Oklahoma. The school came in at #4 for the Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Getting Aid. UCO is located in Edmond, Oklahoma and, has a fairly large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 13 ’s parks and rec degrees to qualified students.

UCO did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #3 on our “Best Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies Schools in the Southwest Region” list. The yearly cost to attend University of Central Oklahoma is $16,562 for southwest region parks & rec students with aid.

Full UCO Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies Report

#5

Northern Arizona University

Flagstaff, Arizona

#4 in overall quality

$12,915 Average Net Price

$40,689 Average Early-Career Earnings

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Northern Arizona University. It ranked #5 on our 2022 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Getting Aid list. This large school is located in Flagstaff, Arizona, and it awarded 87 ’s parks and rec degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at NAU, the school also landed the #4 spot in our “Best Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. It costs about $12,915 for southwest region parks & rec students with aid per year to attend NAU.

Read more about Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies at NAU

• Best Value Colleges for Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies (With Aid)

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.

Featured Athletic Training Schools

Request Info

Southern New Hampshire University You have goals. Southern New Hampshire University can help you get there. Whether you need a bachelor's degree to get into a career or want a master's degree to move up in your current career, SNHU has an online program for you. Find your degree from over 200 online programs ... Learn More >