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2026 Best Value Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies Schools in Arizona

[Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies](/majors/parks-recreation-fitness/parks-recreation-leisure-studies/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.

For its 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 4 schools to find the best return on investment for parks, recreation & leisure studies students.

What’s on this page:

• Best Value Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies Schools in Arizona

2026 Best Value Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies Schools in Arizona

If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the parks, recreation & leisure studies degrees they offer, see the list below.

Best Value Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies Schools

1

Arizona State University
Tempe, AZ

$12,223 In-State Tuition & Fees

$22,396 Avg Student Debt

$62,668 Median Earnings (10yr)

Our analysis ranked Arizona State University the best value for a degree in parks, recreation & leisure studies in Arizona. Located in the city of Tempe, Arizona State University is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $12,223 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $33,139. Students borrow a median of $22,396 to complete the parks, recreation & leisure studies program here. Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies graduates of Arizona State University earn a median of $43,149 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $22,396 median debt. The acceptance rate is 90%.

2

Northern Arizona University
Flagstaff, AZ

$12,619 In-State Tuition & Fees

$21,500 Avg Student Debt

$54,384 Median Earnings (10yr)

Northern Arizona University is a great value for students pursuing a degree in parks, recreation & leisure studies, landing the #2 spot this year. Northern Arizona University is a very large public school located in the city of Flagstaff. In-state tuition and fees average $12,619, compared with $20,044 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for parks, recreation & leisure studies graduates is $21,500. Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies graduates of Northern Arizona University earn a median of $31,672 early in their careers. Set against $21,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 90%.

View All Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies Rankings >

Notes and References

The ranking above is published 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 · 4 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.