2022 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k
When pursuing a degree in today’s world, students have many different options to choose from. College Factual has developed its “Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking as one item you can use to help make this decision.
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.
At the master’s degree level specifically, there were 9,155 parks, recreation, leisure, and fitness studies graduates with average earnings and debt of $56,398 and $43,194 respectively.
For this year’s “Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking, we looked at 296 colleges that offer a degree in parks, recreation, leisure, and fitness studies. Not only do the schools that top this list have excellent parks, recreation, leisure, and fitness studies programs, but they also cost less that schools of similar quality.
To come up with these rankings, we looked at factors such as the cost to attend the school after aid is awarded and overall quality of the parks, recreation, leisure, and fitness studies program at the school. Check out our ranking methodology for more information.
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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 Master’s 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. Test it out when you get a chance! You may also want to bookmark the link and share it with others who are trying to make the college decision.
Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k
The colleges and universities below are the best for master’s degree parks & rec students whose families make $0-$30k.
Top 25 Best Value Master’s Degree Colleges for Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies (Income $0-$30k)
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Northwestern University. It ranked #1 on our 2022 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k list. This large school is located in Evanston, Illinois, and it awarded 38 masters’s parks and rec degrees in 2019-2020.
Northwestern also took the #5 spot in our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Master’s Degree Schools” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Northwestern University are $56,567, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.
Read full report on Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Northwestern University
Out of the 296 schools in the Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k that were part of this year’s ranking, Georgetown University landed the #2 spot on the list. Georgetown University is a fairly large school located in Washington, District of Columbia that handed out 123 masters’s parks and rec degrees in 2019-2020.
Georgetown not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #9 on our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Master’s Degree Schools” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at Georgetown are $53,591, but some majors have different tuition rates.
Read more about Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Georgetown
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of Florida. The school came in at #3 for the Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k. Gainesville, Florida is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s parks and rec degrees to 67 students in 2019-2020.
In addition to being on our master’s degree parks & rec students whose families make $0-$30k list, UF has also earned the #10 rank in our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Master’s Degree Schools” ranking. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at UF are $30,130.
Full UF Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Report
Out of the 296 schools in the Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k that were part of this year’s ranking, University of Michigan - Ann Arbor landed the #4 spot on the list. This large school is located in Ann Arbor, Michigan, and it awarded 47 masters’s parks and rec degrees in 2019-2020.
U-M also made our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Master’s Degree Schools” list, coming in at #2. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at U-M are $49,548.
Full U-M Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Report
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. The school came in at #5 for the Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k. University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign is a large public school situated in Champaign, Illinois. It awarded 44 masters’s parks and rec degrees in 2019-2020.
UIUC also took the #3 spot in our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Master’s Degree Schools” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign are $30,083, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.
Columbia University in the City of New York landed the #6 spot on the 2022 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Located in New York, New York, this large private not-for-profit school handed out 74 diplomas to qualified masters’s parks and rec students in 2019-2020.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at Columbia, the school also landed the #1 spot in our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Master’s Degree Schools” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Columbia are $51,194, but some majors have different tuition rates.
With a ranking of #7, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k list. Located in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, this large public school awarded 37 degrees to qualified masters’s parks and rec students in 2019-2020.
UNC Chapel Hill did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #23 on our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Master’s Degree Schools” list. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill are $30,248.
With a ranking of #8, Queens College did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k list. Queens, New York is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s parks and rec degrees to 8 students in 2019-2020.
Average graduate tuition and fees at Queens College are $21,042, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.
Full QC Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Report
University of Wisconsin - Madison came in at #9 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Madison, Wisconsin is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s parks and rec degrees to 6 students in 2019-2020.
UW - Madison also made our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Master’s Degree Schools” list, coming in at #25. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at UW - Madison are $25,523.
Read more about Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at UW - Madison
Brooklyn College ranked #10 on this year’s Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k list. Brooklyn College is located in Brooklyn, New York and, has a fairly large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 25 masters’s parks and rec degrees to qualified students.
Average graduate tuition and fees at Brooklyn College are $20,952, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.
Full Brooklyn College Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Report
North Carolina State University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #11. This large school is located in Raleigh, North Carolina, and it awarded 37 masters’s parks and rec degrees in 2019-2020.
NC State also took the #4 spot in our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Master’s Degree Schools” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at NC State are $28,999, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.
Read full report on Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at North Carolina State University
University of South Florida - Main Campus ranked #12 on this year’s Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k list. University of South Florida - Main Campus is located in Tampa, Florida and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 56 masters’s parks and rec degrees to qualified students.
Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at University of South Florida - Main Campus are $21,126.
Florida International University landed the #13 spot on the 2022 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. FIU is a large school located in Miami, Florida that handed out 24 masters’s parks and rec degrees in 2019-2020.
Average graduate tuition and fees at Florida International University are $24,211, but some majors have different tuition rates.
Indiana University - Bloomington came in at #14 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Bloomington, Indiana is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s parks and rec degrees to 53 students in 2019-2020.
IU Bloomington also made our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Master’s Degree Schools” list, coming in at #11. Average graduate tuition and fees at Indiana University - Bloomington are $33,338, but some majors have different tuition rates.
Read more about Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at IU Bloomington
The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #15. Located in Edinburg, Texas, this large public school awarded 14 diplomas to qualified masters’s parks and rec students in 2019-2020.
Average graduate tuition and fees at The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley are $15,151, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.
Florida State University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #16. Florida State University is located in Tallahassee, Florida and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 61 masters’s parks and rec degrees to qualified students.
Florida State excels when it comes to parks and rec quality. It’s in the top 20% of all schools in this category. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Florida State University are $26,707.
Read more about Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Florida State University
University of Maryland - College Park came in at #17 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. This large school is located in College Park, Maryland, and it awarded 4 masters’s parks and rec degrees in 2019-2020.
UMCP also took the #0 spot in our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Master’s Degree Schools” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at University of Maryland - College Park are $30,885, but some majors have different tuition rates.
Full UMCP Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Report
University of Central Florida ranked #18 on this year’s Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k list. Located in Orlando, Florida, this large public school handed out 27 degrees to qualified masters’s parks and rec students in 2019-2020.
Average graduate tuition and fees at University of Central Florida are $28,657, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.
Read more about Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at UCF
University of Minnesota - Twin Cities came in at #19 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Located in Minneapolis, Minnesota, this large public school handed out 33 degrees to qualified masters’s parks and rec students in 2019-2020.
UMN Twin Cities also made our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Master’s Degree Schools” list, coming in at #7. Average graduate tuition and fees at UMN Twin Cities are $28,845, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.
Read full report on Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at UMN Twin Cities
With a ranking of #20, Michigan Technological University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k list. Michigan Technological University is a medium-sized public school situated in Houghton, Michigan. It awarded 5 masters’s parks and rec degrees in 2019-2020.
Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Michigan Technological University are $21,996.
Read more about Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Michigan Technological University
Ohio State University - Main Campus came in at #21 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. This large school is located in Columbus, Ohio, and it awarded 42 masters’s parks and rec degrees in 2019-2020.
Ohio State did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #15 on our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Master’s Degree Schools” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at Ohio State University - Main Campus are $37,141, but some majors have different tuition rates.
Read more about Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Ohio State University - Main Campus
California State University - Los Angeles did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #22. Cal State LA is a large school located in Los Angeles, California that handed out 9 masters’s parks and rec degrees in 2019-2020.
Average graduate tuition and fees at Cal State LA are $17,723, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.
Read full report on Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Cal State LA
University of Wisconsin - La Crosse did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #23. La Crosse, Wisconsin is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s parks and rec degrees to 41 students in 2019-2020.
UW - La Crosse also claimed a top spot on our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Master’s Degree Schools” list. It’s in the top 20% of all schools reviewed in that analysis. Average graduate tuition and fees at UW - La Crosse are $20,038, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.
Full University of Wisconsin - La Crosse Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Report
California State University - Long Beach did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #24. California State University - Long Beach is a large school located in Long Beach, California that handed out 120 masters’s parks and rec degrees in 2019-2020.
Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at CSULB are $17,784.
Full CSULB Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Report
With a ranking of #25, California State University - Fullerton did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k list. Cal State Fullerton is located in Fullerton, California and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 36 masters’s parks and rec degrees to qualified students.
Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at California State University - Fullerton are $17,892.
Read more about Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Cal State Fullerton
Rest of the Best 45 in Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k
Not only did these schools make the top 45 list, but they also landed in the top 15% of this year’s ranking:
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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.
Credits
- Credit for the banner image above goes to NPS Photo/Zurbuch.
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