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2022 Best Value Master’s Degree Colleges for Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies

14 Ranked Colleges
158 Degrees Awarded
$24,100 Avg Grad Tuition & Fees*
Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Master's

When pursuing a degree in today’s world, students have many different options to choose from. 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 for a Master’s” ranking.

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” ranking looked at 14 colleges that offer degrees in a bachelor’s 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.

To come up with these rankings, we looked at factors such as the cost to attend the school after aid is awarded and overall quality of the parks, recreation and leisure studies program at the school. Check out our ranking methodology for more information.

One Size Does Not Fit All

Since picking the right college can be one of the most important decisions of your life, we’ve developed the “Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Master’s” ranking, along with many other major-related rankings, to help you make that decision.

We’ve created a tool called College Combat that lets you create your own customized comparisons based on the factors that matter the most to you. We encourage you to try it out and pit your favorite colleges and universities head to head! If you don’t have time right now, you can bookmark it for later.

Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Master’s

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

Top 14 Best Value Master’s Degree Colleges for Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies

#1

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 #1 for the Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Master’s. Cedar Falls, Iowa is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s parks and rec degrees to 7 students in 2019-2020.

UNI did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #3 on our “Best Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies Master’s Degree Schools” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at University of Northern Iowa are $22,648, but some majors have different tuition rates.

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

#5 in overall quality

Out of the 14 schools in the Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Master’s that were part of this year’s ranking, Ohio University - Athens Campus landed the #2 spot on the list. Located in Athens, Ohio, this large public school handed out 10 diplomas to qualified masters’s parks and rec students in 2019-2020.

OHIO Athens did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #5 on our “Best Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies Master’s Degree Schools” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at OHIO Athens are $17,712, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read full report on Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies at Ohio University - Athens Campus

#6 in overall quality

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend California State University - Long Beach. The school came in at #3 for the Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Master’s. California State University - Long Beach is a large school located in Long Beach, California that handed out 4 masters’s parks and rec degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our master’s degree parks & rec students 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 full report on Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies at California State University - Long Beach

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 #4 for the Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Master’s. University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign is a public institution located in Champaign, Illinois. The school has a large population, and it awarded 29 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at UIUC, the school also landed 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 some majors have different tuition rates.

Full University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies Report

#5

East Carolina University

Greenville, North Carolina
#8 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend East Carolina University. It ranked #5 on our 2022 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Master’s list. ECU is located in Greenville, North Carolina and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 9 masters’s parks and rec degrees to qualified students.

ECU also took the #8 spot in our “Best Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies Master’s Degree Schools” ranking. 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

#6

SUNY Cortland

Cortland, New York

SUNY Cortland did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Master’s ranking, coming in at #6. SUNY Cortland is a public institution located in Cortland, New York. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 17 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

SUNY Cortland not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #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 more about Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies at SUNY Cortland

#7

University of Utah

Salt Lake City, Utah
#7 in overall quality

University of Utah did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Master’s ranking, coming in at #7. Located in Salt Lake City, Utah, this large public school handed out 3 diplomas to qualified masters’s parks and rec students in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at U of U, the school also landed the #7 spot in our “Best Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies Master’s Degree Schools” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at University of Utah are $24,695, but some majors have different tuition rates.

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

#9 in overall quality

With a ranking of #8, Oklahoma State University - Main Campus did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Master’s list. This large school is located in Stillwater, Oklahoma, and it awarded 7 masters’s parks and rec degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our master’s degree parks & rec students list, OSU has also earned the #9 rank in our “Best Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies Master’s Degree Schools” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Oklahoma State University - Main Campus are $23,963, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Full OSU Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies Report

#9

Indiana University - Bloomington

Bloomington, Indiana

Indiana University - Bloomington did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Master’s ranking, coming in at #9. Indiana University - 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 Indiana University - Bloomington are $33,338, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read full report on Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies at IU Bloomington

#10

Northern Arizona University

Flagstaff, Arizona
#12 in overall quality

Northern Arizona University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Master’s ranking, coming in at #10. Located in Flagstaff, Arizona, this large public school awarded 6 diplomas to qualified masters’s parks and rec students in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our master’s degree parks & rec students list, NAU has also earned the #12 rank in our “Best Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies Master’s Degree Schools” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at NAU are $19,489, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Full Northern Arizona University Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies Report

#11 in overall quality

With a ranking of #11, California State University - Sacramento did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Master’s list. Located in Sacramento, California, this large public school handed out 4 degrees to qualified masters’s parks and rec students in 2019-2020.

Sac State not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #11 on our “Best Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies Master’s Degree Schools” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at Sac State are $18,356, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read full report on Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies at Sac State

#12

University of Toledo

Toledo, Ohio

University of Toledo ranked #12 on this year’s Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Master’s list. University of Toledo is a fairly large public school situated in Toledo, Ohio. It awarded 19 masters’s parks and rec degrees in 2019-2020.

University of Toledo not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #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.

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

#10 in overall quality

With a ranking of #13, Southern Illinois University Carbondale did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Master’s list. Carbondale, Illinois is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s parks and rec degrees to 8 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 Southern Illinois University Carbondale are $32,928, but some majors have different tuition rates.

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

#14

Southern Oregon University

Ashland, Oregon
#14 in overall quality

Southern Oregon University ranked #14 on this year’s Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Master’s list. Southern Oregon University is a public institution located in Ashland, Oregon. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 8 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

Southern Oregon University also took the #14 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 Southern Oregon University are $23,445.

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

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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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