2027 Best Value Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies Schools in the Middle Atlantic Region

[Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies](/majors/parks-recreation-fitness/parks-recreation-leisure-studies/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
College Factual analyzed 3 schools to build this 2027 ranking of the best value parks, recreation & leisure studies schools.
What’s on this page:
2027 Best Value Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies Schools in the Middle Atlantic Region
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in parks, recreation & leisure studies, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies Schools
For return on investment in parks, recreation & leisure studies, no school beat Cuny Kingsborough Community College this year. Located in the city of Brooklyn, Cuny Kingsborough Community College is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $5,252 in tuition and fees, compared with $8,132 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $7,858 to complete the parks, recreation & leisure studies program here. Early-career parks, recreation & leisure studies graduates make about $35,562. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Houghton College came in at #2 on our 2027 list of the best value parks, recreation & leisure studies schools. Located in the rural area of Houghton, Houghton College is a small private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $18,430. Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies graduates carry a median of $24,725 in student loans. Soon after graduation, parks, recreation & leisure studies degree recipients from Houghton College generally make around $26,934. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Houghton College admits about 89% of applicants.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Kutztown University Of Pennsylvania earned it the #3 place for parks, recreation & leisure studies. Located in the town of Kutztown, Kutztown University Of Pennsylvania is a moderately-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $11,206, with out-of-state students paying around $16,330. Typical student debt for parks, recreation & leisure studies graduates is $27,000. Early-career parks, recreation & leisure studies graduates make about $36,363. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Kutztown University Of Pennsylvania admits about 91% of applicants.
Narrow Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies Schools by State
More Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies Rankings
View All Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies Rankings >
Notes and References
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 edition. The methodology weighs the cost of a degree against the earnings graduates go on to achieve, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 3 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 3 ranked schools only.
- 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).
More about our data sources and methodologies.