2023 Best Value Colleges for Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies in the Southeast Region
15
Ranked Colleges
568
Degrees Awarded
$16,900
Avg Net Price*
It’s not easy to decide which college to attend when there so many options available for students. 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 in the Southeast Region” ranking is part of that endeavor.
Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies is the 166th most popular major in the country with 3,106 degrees awarded in 2020-2021. In 2019-2020, parks, recreation and leisure studies graduates who were awarded their degree in 2017-2019, earned an average of $31,801 and had an average of $23,333 in loans still to pay off.
Across the Southeast region, there were 568 parks, recreation and leisure studies graduates with average earnings and debt of $28,183 and $28,553 respectively.
This year’s “Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in the Southeast Region” ranking analyzed 15 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. 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 in the Southeast Region”.
You can create your own custom comparison that focuses on the factors most important to you using our tool, College Combat. When you have some time, check it out - you may want to bookmark the link so you don’t forget it.
Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in the Southeast Region
The following schools top our list of the Best Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in the Southeast Region.
Top 15 Best Value Colleges for Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies in the Southeast Region
Out of the 15 schools in the Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in the Southeast Region that were part of this year’s ranking, Georgia Southern University landed the #1 spot on the list. Georgia Southern University is a large public school situated in Statesboro, Georgia. It awarded 51 ’s parks and rec degrees in 2020-2021.
GaSou also took the #3 spot in our “Best Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies Schools in the Southeast Region” ranking. It costs about $15,571 for southeast region parks & rec students per year to attend Georgia Southern University.
Read more about Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies at Georgia Southern University
Out of the 15 schools in the Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in the Southeast Region that were part of this year’s ranking, University of Southern Mississippi landed the #2 spot on the list. Hattiesburg, Mississippi is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s parks and rec degrees to 14 students in 2020-2021.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at Southern Miss, the school also landed the #8 spot in our “Best Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies Schools in the Southeast Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for University of Southern Mississippi is $14,032 for southeast region parks & rec students.
Read full report on Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies at University of Southern Mississippi
Out of the 15 schools in the Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in the Southeast Region that were part of this year’s ranking, East Carolina University landed the #3 spot on the list. East Carolina University is a public institution located in Greenville, North Carolina. The school has a large population, and it awarded 37 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
ECU also made our “Best Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies Schools in the Southeast Region” list, coming in at #2. It costs about $16,550 for Southeast Region Parks & Rec students per year to attend East Carolina University.
Read more about Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies at ECU
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of Arkansas. The school came in at #4 for the Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in the Southeast Region. Located in Fayetteville, Arkansas, this large public school awarded 77 diplomas to qualified ’s parks and rec students in 2020-2021.
UARK also took the #1 spot in our “Best Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies Schools in the Southeast Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend University of Arkansas is $16,507 for Southeast Region Parks & Rec students.
With a freshman retention rate of 85%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 4.1% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.
Read full report on Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies at UARK
Out of the 15 schools in the Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in the Southeast Region that were part of this year’s ranking, Shepherd University landed the #5 spot on the list. This small school is located in Shepherdstown, West Virginia, and it awarded 27 ’s parks and rec degrees in 2020-2021.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at Shepherd University, the school also landed the #5 spot in our “Best Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies Schools in the Southeast Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Shepherd University is $10,983 for southeast region parks & rec students.
Read full report on Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies at Shepherd University
University of North Carolina at Greensboro did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in the Southeast Region ranking, coming in at #6. Greensboro, North Carolina is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s parks and rec degrees to 64 students in 2020-2021.
UNC Greensboro also took the #4 spot in our “Best Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies Schools in the Southeast Region” ranking. It costs about $11,629 for Southeast Region Parks & Rec students per year to attend University of North Carolina at Greensboro.
Full University of North Carolina at Greensboro Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies Report
University of South Alabama ranked #7 on this year’s Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in the Southeast Region list. University of South Alabama is a fairly large public school situated in Mobile, Alabama. It awarded 31 ’s parks and rec degrees in 2020-2021.
In addition to being on our southeast region parks & rec students list, USA has also earned the #11 rank in our “Best Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies Schools in the Southeast Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for USA is $16,826 for southeast region parks & rec students.
Read more about Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies at USA
Radford University did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in the Southeast Region ranking, coming in at #8. Radford, Virginia is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s parks and rec degrees to 41 students in 2020-2021.
Radford did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #6 on our “Best Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies Schools in the Southeast Region” list. The yearly cost to attend Radford is $16,505 for Southeast Region Parks & Rec students.
Read full report on Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies at Radford University
Jacksonville State University came in at #9 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in the Southeast Region ranking. Jacksonville State University is a public institution located in Jacksonville, Alabama. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 34 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Jacksonville State University not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #12 on our “Best Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies Schools in the Southeast Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for Jacksonville State University is $17,523 for southeast region parks & rec students.
Read more about Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies at Jacksonville State University
North Greenville University landed the #10 spot on the 2023 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in the Southeast Region ranking. North Greenville is a private not-for-profit institution located in Tigerville, South Carolina. The school has a small population, and it awarded 7 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
North Greenville also took the #10 spot in our “Best Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies Schools in the Southeast Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend North Greenville University is $20,058 for southeast region parks & rec students.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 5.0% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.
Read full report on Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies at North Greenville
With a ranking of #11, Grambling State University did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in the Southeast Region list. Grambling, Louisiana is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s parks and rec degrees to 25 students in 2020-2021.
In addition to being on our southeast region parks & rec students list, GSU has also earned the #14 rank in our “Best Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies Schools in the Southeast Region” ranking. It costs about $16,964 for Southeast Region Parks & Rec students per year to attend GSU.
Read more about Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies at GSU
University of Mount Olive landed the #12 spot on the 2023 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in the Southeast Region ranking. Mount Olive, North Carolina is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s parks and rec degrees to 9 students in 2020-2021.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at UMO, the school also landed the #13 spot in our “Best Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies Schools in the Southeast Region” ranking. It costs about $15,883 for Southeast Region Parks & Rec students per year to attend University of Mount Olive.
Full UMO Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies Report
With a ranking of #13, Georgia College & State University did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in the Southeast Region list. Georgia College & State University is a medium-sized school located in Milledgeville, Georgia that handed out 7 ’s parks and rec degrees in 2020-2021.
Georgia College also took the #7 spot in our “Best Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies Schools in the Southeast Region” ranking. It costs about $20,139 for southeast region parks & rec students per year to attend Georgia College.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 3.4% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.
Read full report on Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies at Georgia College & State University
Newberry College came in at #14 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in the Southeast Region ranking. Newberry, South Carolina is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s parks and rec degrees to 6 students in 2020-2021.
Newberry College not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #9 on our “Best Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies Schools in the Southeast Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for Newberry College is $20,220 for Southeast Region Parks & Rec students.
Full Newberry College Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies Report
Shaw University ranked #15 on this year’s Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in the Southeast Region list. Shaw University is a private not-for-profit institution located in Raleigh, North Carolina. The school has a small population, and it awarded 6 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Shaw University did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #15 on our “Best Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies Schools in the Southeast Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for Shaw University is $23,809 for Southeast Region Parks & Rec students.
Read full report on Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies at Shaw University
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