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2022 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Rocky Mountains Region For Those Making $0-$30k

22 Ranked Colleges
2,272 Degrees Awarded
$11,300 Avg Net Price*
Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Bachelor's in the Rocky Mountains Region For Those Making $0-$30k

Students have lots of options to chooose from today when trying to decide which college to attend. Our mission at College Factual is to arm you with as much information as we can to help you make that decision. Our “Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Rocky Mountains Region For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking is one tool we have developed to help in this regard.

In 2019-2020, 72,122 people earned their degree in parks, recreation, leisure, and fitness studies, making the major the 15th most popular in the United States. In 2017-2018, parks, recreation, leisure, and fitness studies graduates who were awarded their degree in 2015-2017, earned an average of $29,823 and had an average of $24,576 in loans still to pay off.

Across the Rocky Mountains region, there were 2,643 parks, recreation, leisure, and fitness studies graduates with average earnings and debt of $28,100 and $19,813 respectively. At the bachelor’s degree level specifically, there were 2,272 parks, recreation, leisure, and fitness studies graduates with average earnings and debt of $38,111 and $23,874 respectively.

For this year’s “Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Rocky Mountains Region For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking, we looked at 22 colleges that offer a degree in parks, recreation, leisure, and fitness studies. The schools that top this list are recognized because they have great parks, recreation, leisure, and fitness studies programs and cost less that schools of similar quality.

When determining these rankings, we looked at things such as overall quality of the parks, recreation, leisure, and fitness studies program at the school and the cost to attend the school once aid has been awarded. See our ranking methodology to learn more.

More Ways to Rank Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness 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 Bachelor’s in the Rocky Mountains Region For Those Making $0-$30k” list, to help you choose the best school for you.

One of our other unique offerings is College Combat. This tool lets you build your own customized comparisons utilizing the factors that are most important to you. If you’re torn between two schools, you can use it to help you see how they stack up against one another. Bookmark it so you can compare any new schools that might interest you.

Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Rocky Mountains Region For Those Making $0-$30k

The following schools top our list of the Best Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Rocky Mountains Region For Those Making $0-$30k.

Top 22 Best Value Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies (Income $0-$30k) in the Rocky Mountains Region

#18 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Brigham Young University - Idaho. It ranked #1 on our 2022 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Rocky Mountains Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. BYU - I is located in Rexburg, Idaho and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 91 bachelors’s parks and rec degrees to qualified students.

BYU - I also took the #18 spot in our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for BYU - I is $2,637 for Rocky Mountains Region Bachelor’s Degree Parks & Rec students whose families make $0-$30k.

The low student loan default rate of 3.2% 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%.

Full BYU - I Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Report

#2 in overall quality

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Brigham Young University - Provo. The school came in at #2 for the Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Rocky Mountains Region For Those Making $0-$30k. This large school is located in Provo, Utah, and it awarded 258 bachelors’s parks and rec degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our rocky mountains region bachelor’s degree parks & rec students whose families make $0-$30k list, BYU has also earned the #2 rank in our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for BYU is $8,834 for Rocky Mountains Region Bachelor’s Degree Parks & Rec students whose families make $0-$30k.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 92%. The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 1.7%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at BYU

#3

University of Wyoming

Laramie, Wyoming
#6 in overall quality

Out of the 22 schools in the Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Rocky Mountains Region For Those Making $0-$30k that were part of this year’s ranking, University of Wyoming landed the #3 spot on the list. University of Wyoming is a public institution located in Laramie, Wyoming. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 78 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

UW did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #6 on our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region” list. The yearly cost to attend University of Wyoming is $8,231 for rocky mountains region bachelor’s degree parks & rec students whose families make $0-$30k.

The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 4.5%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at UW

#8 in overall quality

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Utah Valley University. The school came in at #4 for the Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Rocky Mountains Region For Those Making $0-$30k. Orem, Utah is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s parks and rec degrees to 114 students in 2019-2020.

UVU also took the #8 spot in our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region” ranking. It costs about $7,334 for rocky mountains region bachelor’s degree parks & rec students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Utah Valley University.

Read more about Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at UVU

#5

University of Utah

Salt Lake City, Utah
#3 in overall quality

Out of the 22 schools in the Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Rocky Mountains Region For Those Making $0-$30k that were part of this year’s ranking, University of Utah landed the #5 spot on the list. U of U is a large public school situated in Salt Lake City, Utah. It awarded 279 bachelors’s parks and rec degrees in 2019-2020.

U of U also made our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region” list, coming in at #3. The yearly cost to attend University of Utah is $11,511 for Rocky Mountains Region Bachelor’s Degree Parks & Rec students whose families make $0-$30k.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 89%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 2.6%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at University of Utah

#1 in overall quality

Colorado State University - Fort Collins did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Rocky Mountains Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #6. Located in Fort Collins, Colorado, this large public school awarded 335 degrees to qualified bachelors’s parks and rec students in 2019-2020.

Colorado State also took the #1 spot in our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Colorado State is $11,831 for rocky mountains region bachelor’s degree parks & rec students whose families make $0-$30k.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 85%. The low student loan default rate of 3.0% 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%.

Full Colorado State Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Report

#16 in overall quality

The University of Montana - Western did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Rocky Mountains Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #7. The University of Montana - Western is a small school located in Dillon, Montana that handed out 14 bachelors’s parks and rec degrees in 2019-2020.

Montana Western not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #16 on our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region” list. The yearly cost to attend The University of Montana - Western is $11,142 for Rocky Mountains Region Bachelor’s Degree Parks & Rec students whose families make $0-$30k.

Read full report on Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at The University of Montana - Western

#14 in overall quality

Utah State University landed the #8 spot on the 2022 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Rocky Mountains Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. USU is a public institution located in Logan, Utah. The school has a large population, and it awarded 27 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our rocky mountains region bachelor’s degree parks & rec students whose families make $0-$30k list, USU has also earned the #14 rank in our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region” ranking. It costs about $10,643 for rocky mountains region bachelor’s degree parks & rec students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Utah State University.

Read full report on Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Utah State University

#12 in overall quality

Weber State University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Rocky Mountains Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #9. Ogden, Utah is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s parks and rec degrees to 42 students in 2019-2020.

WSU not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #12 on our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region” list. It costs about $9,790 for Rocky Mountains Region Bachelor’s Degree Parks & Rec students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend WSU.

Read more about Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at WSU

#10

University of Idaho

Moscow, Idaho
#10 in overall quality

University of Idaho landed the #10 spot on the 2022 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Rocky Mountains Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. U of I is a public institution located in Moscow, Idaho. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 46 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

U of I not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #10 on our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region” list. The yearly cost to attend U of I is $10,877 for rocky mountains region bachelor’s degree parks & rec students whose families make $0-$30k.

Full University of Idaho Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Report

#11

University of Northern Colorado

Greeley, Colorado
#5 in overall quality

With a ranking of #11, University of Northern Colorado did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Rocky Mountains Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. University of Northern Colorado is a public institution located in Greeley, Colorado. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 162 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our rocky mountains region bachelor’s degree parks & rec students whose families make $0-$30k list, University of Northern Colorado has also earned the #5 rank in our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for University of Northern Colorado is $11,571 for Rocky Mountains Region Bachelor’s Degree Parks & Rec students whose families make $0-$30k.

Full University of Northern Colorado Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Report

#12

Lewis - Clark State College

Lewiston, Idaho
#21 in overall quality

Lewis - Clark State College came in at #12 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Rocky Mountains Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Lewis - Clark State College is a public institution located in Lewiston, Idaho. The school has a small population, and it awarded 14 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our rocky mountains region bachelor’s degree parks & rec students whose families make $0-$30k list, Lewis - Clark State College has also earned the #21 rank in our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region” ranking. It costs about $8,809 for rocky mountains region bachelor’s degree parks & rec students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Lewis - Clark State College.

Read more about Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Lewis - Clark State College

#13

Adams State University

Alamosa, Colorado
#19 in overall quality

Adams State University landed the #13 spot on the 2022 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Rocky Mountains Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Adams State is located in Alamosa, Colorado and, has a small student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 50 bachelors’s parks and rec degrees to qualified students.

In addition to being on our rocky mountains region bachelor’s degree parks & rec students whose families make $0-$30k list, Adams State has also earned the #19 rank in our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Adams State is $10,108 for rocky mountains region bachelor’s degree parks & rec students whose families make $0-$30k.

Read full report on Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Adams State

#9 in overall quality

Metropolitan State University of Denver landed the #14 spot on the 2022 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Rocky Mountains Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Located in Denver, Colorado, this fairly large public school awarded 122 diplomas to qualified bachelors’s parks and rec students in 2019-2020.

MSU Denver also took the #9 spot in our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region” ranking. It costs about $11,531 for Rocky Mountains Region Bachelor’s Degree Parks & Rec students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Metropolitan State University of Denver.

Read more about Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Metropolitan State University of Denver

#13 in overall quality

Colorado State University - Pueblo came in at #15 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Rocky Mountains Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Colorado State University - Pueblo is a medium-sized public school situated in Pueblo, Colorado. It awarded 40 bachelors’s parks and rec degrees in 2019-2020.

Colorado State University - Pueblo also made our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region” list, coming in at #13. The yearly cost to attend Colorado State University - Pueblo is $11,363 for rocky mountains region bachelor’s degree parks & rec students whose families make $0-$30k.

Read more about Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Colorado State University - Pueblo

#16

Western Colorado University

Gunnison, Colorado
#7 in overall quality

Western Colorado University landed the #16 spot on the 2022 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Rocky Mountains Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Gunnison, Colorado is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s parks and rec degrees to 54 students in 2019-2020.

Western also took the #7 spot in our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region” ranking. It costs about $13,018 for Rocky Mountains Region Bachelor’s Degree Parks & Rec students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Western.

Read full report on Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Western Colorado University

#17

Boise State University

Boise, Idaho
#11 in overall quality

Boise State University landed the #17 spot on the 2022 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Rocky Mountains Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Boise State is a large public school situated in Boise, Idaho. It awarded 89 bachelors’s parks and rec degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our rocky mountains region bachelor’s degree parks & rec students whose families make $0-$30k list, Boise State has also earned the #11 rank in our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Boise State is $12,000 for rocky mountains region bachelor’s degree parks & rec students whose families make $0-$30k.

Read full report on Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Boise State University

#18

Southern Utah University

Cedar City, Utah
#22 in overall quality

With a ranking of #18, Southern Utah University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Rocky Mountains Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. This fairly large school is located in Cedar City, Utah, and it awarded 78 bachelors’s parks and rec degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Southern Utah University, the school also landed the #22 spot in our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Southern Utah University is $11,779 for rocky mountains region bachelor’s degree parks & rec students whose families make $0-$30k.

Full Southern Utah University Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Report

#19

Fort Lewis College

Durango, Colorado
#20 in overall quality

With a ranking of #19, Fort Lewis College did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Rocky Mountains Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. FLC is a small public school situated in Durango, Colorado. It awarded 72 bachelors’s parks and rec degrees in 2019-2020.

FLC did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #20 on our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region” list. It costs about $13,108 for Rocky Mountains Region Bachelor’s Degree Parks & Rec students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend FLC.

Full FLC Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Report

#20

Colorado Mesa University

Grand Junction, Colorado
#17 in overall quality

Colorado Mesa University ranked #20 on this year’s Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Rocky Mountains Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Located in Grand Junction, Colorado, this medium-sized public school awarded 131 diplomas to qualified bachelors’s parks and rec students in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our rocky mountains region bachelor’s degree parks & rec students whose families make $0-$30k list, Colorado Mesa has also earned the #17 rank in our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Colorado Mesa University is $12,708 for Rocky Mountains Region Bachelor’s Degree Parks & Rec students whose families make $0-$30k.

Read full report on Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Colorado Mesa University

#21

Rocky Mountain College

Billings, Montana
#15 in overall quality

Rocky Mountain College landed the #21 spot on the 2022 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Rocky Mountains Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. This small school is located in Billings, Montana, and it awarded 17 bachelors’s parks and rec degrees in 2019-2020.

Rocky not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #15 on our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region” list. The yearly cost to attend Rocky is $16,334 for rocky mountains region bachelor’s degree parks & rec students whose families make $0-$30k.

Read full report on Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Rocky Mountain College

#4 in overall quality

Johnson & Wales University - Denver landed the #22 spot on the 2022 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Rocky Mountains Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. This small school is located in Denver, Colorado, and it awarded 16 bachelors’s parks and rec degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our rocky mountains region bachelor’s degree parks & rec students whose families make $0-$30k list, JWU Denver has also earned the #4 rank in our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region” ranking. It costs about $23,662 for rocky mountains region bachelor’s degree parks & rec students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Johnson & Wales University - Denver.

Since the school has a student-to-faculty ratio of 6 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors.

Read full report on Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at JWU Denver

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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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