2022 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Master’s in the Far Western US Region

With all of the options students have for higher education today, it can be tough to choose which direction to take. 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 for a Master’s in the Far Western US Region” ranking is part of that endeavor.

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.

Across the Far Western US region, there were 733 parks, recreation and leisure studies graduates with average earnings and debt of $32,378 and $18,768 respectively. At the master’s degree level specifically, there were 20 parks, recreation and leisure studies graduates with average earnings and debt of $59,319 and $48,880 respectively.

This year’s “Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Master’s in the Far Western US Region” ranking looked at 5 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.

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. See our ranking methodology to learn more.

More Ways to Rank Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies Schools

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 for a Master’s in the Far Western US Region” list, to help you choose the best school for you.

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. Test it out when you get a chance! You may also want to bookmark the link and share it with others who are trying to make the college decision.

Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Master’s in the Far Western US Region

The following schools top our list of the Best Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Master’s in the Far Western US Region.

Top 5 Best Value Master’s Degree Colleges for Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies in the Far Western US Region

#1

California State University - Long Beach

Long Beach, California

#1 in overall quality

$17,784 Avg Grad Tuition & Fees

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend California State University - Long Beach. The school came in at #1 for the Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Master’s in the Far Western US Region. 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.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at CSULB, the school also landed the #1 spot in our “Best Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies Master’s Degree Schools in the Far Western US Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at California State University - Long Beach are $17,784, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

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

#2

California State University - Chico

Chico, California

#2 in overall quality

$18,802 Avg Grad Tuition & Fees

Out of the 5 schools in the Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Master’s in the Far Western US Region that were part of this year’s ranking, California State University - Chico landed the #2 spot on the list. 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 #2 on our “Best Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies Master’s Degree Schools in the Far Western US Region” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at Chico State are $18,802, but some majors have different tuition rates.

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

#3

California State University - Sacramento

Sacramento, California

#3 in overall quality

$18,356 Avg Grad Tuition & Fees

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend California State University - Sacramento. It ranked #3 on our 2022 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Master’s in the Far Western US Region list. California State University - Sacramento is a large public school situated in Sacramento, California. It awarded 4 masters’s parks and rec degrees in 2019-2020.

Sac State did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #3 on our “Best Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies Master’s Degree Schools in the Far Western US Region” list. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Sac State are $18,356.

Read full report on Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies at California State University - Sacramento

#4

San Francisco State University

San Francisco, California

#4 in overall quality

$17,944 Avg Grad Tuition & Fees

Out of the 5 schools in the Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Master’s in the Far Western US Region that were part of this year’s ranking, San Francisco State University landed the #4 spot on the list. This large school is located in San Francisco, California, and it awarded 2 masters’s parks and rec degrees in 2019-2020.

SFSU also took the #4 spot in our “Best Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies Master’s Degree Schools in the Far Western US Region” ranking. 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

#5

Southern Oregon University

Ashland, Oregon

#5 in overall quality

$23,445 Avg Grad Tuition & Fees

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Southern Oregon University. It ranked #5 on our 2022 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Master’s in the Far Western US Region 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 not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #5 on our “Best Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies Master’s Degree Schools in the Far Western US Region” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at Southern Oregon University are $23,445, but some majors have different tuition rates.

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

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

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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