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2026 Best Value Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies Schools in North Carolina

[Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies](/majors/parks-recreation-fitness/parks-recreation-leisure-studies/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong parks, recreation & leisure studies education at a price that pays off.

College Factual analyzed 7 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best value parks, recreation & leisure studies schools.

What’s on this page:

• Best Value Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies Schools in North Carolina

2026 Best Value Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies Schools in North Carolina

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

1

University Of North Carolina At Greensboro
Greensboro, NC

$7,661 In-State Tuition & Fees

$26,000 Avg Student Debt

$48,160 Median Earnings (10yr)

University Of North Carolina At Greensboro earned the #1 spot for value among parks, recreation & leisure studies schools in North Carolina. Located in the city of Greensboro, University Of North Carolina At Greensboro is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $7,661, while out-of-state students pay about $24,012. Typical student debt for parks, recreation & leisure studies graduates is $26,000. Soon after graduation, parks, recreation & leisure studies degree recipients from University Of North Carolina At Greensboro generally make around $31,561. Set against $26,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 88%.

2

East Carolina University
Greenville, NC

$7,361 In-State Tuition & Fees

$19,587 Avg Student Debt

$55,146 Median Earnings (10yr)

A rank of #2 makes East Carolina University one of the best values for parks, recreation & leisure studies. East Carolina University is a very large public school located in the city of Greenville. In-state tuition and fees average $7,361, while out-of-state students pay about $23,638. Students borrow a median of $19,587 to complete the parks, recreation & leisure studies program here. Early-career parks, recreation & leisure studies graduates make about $34,751. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. East Carolina University admits about 89% of applicants.

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Notes and References

This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. Schools are scored on the balance of cost (tuition and student debt) against student outcomes (post-graduation earnings) — a measure of return on investment, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).

Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 7 schools evaluated.

*Averages shown above reflect the top 4 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.