2023 Best Value Colleges for Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies (Income $0-$30k) in the Rocky Mountains Region
18
Ranked Colleges
2,772
Degrees Awarded
$10,200
Avg Net Price*
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 in the Rocky Mountains Region For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking as one item you can use to help make this decision.
In 2020-2021, 73,813 people earned their degree in parks, recreation, leisure, and fitness studies, making the major the 15th most popular in the United States. In 2019-2020, parks, recreation, leisure, and fitness studies graduates who were awarded their degree in 2017-2019, earned an average of $31,423 and had an average of $24,388 in loans still to pay off.
Across the Rocky Mountains region, there were 2,772 parks, recreation, leisure, and fitness studies graduates with average earnings and debt of $29,911 and $19,677 respectively.
This year’s “Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking looked at 18 colleges that offer degrees in a bachelor’s 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.
Some of the factors we look at when determining these rankings are overall quality of the parks, recreation, leisure, and fitness studies program at the school and the cost of the school after aid is awarded among other things. For more information, check out our ranking methodology.
More Ways to Rank Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Schools
When choosing the right school for you, it’s important to arm yourself with all the facts you can. To that end, we’ve created a number of major-specific rankings, including this “Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region For Those Making $0-$30k” list to help you make the college decision.
In addition to College Factual’s rankings, you may want to take a look at College Combat, our unique tool that lets you pit your favorite schools head-to-head and compare how they rate on factors that most interest you. Go ahead and give it a try, or bookmark the link so you can check it out later.
Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region For Those Making $0-$30k
The following schools top our list of the Best Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region For Those Making $0-$30k.
Top 18 Best Value Colleges for Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies (Income $0-$30k) in the Rocky Mountains Region
Out of the 18 schools in the Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region For Those Making $0-$30k that were part of this year’s ranking, Brigham Young University - Provo landed the #1 spot on the list. BYU is located in Provo, Utah and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 267 ’s parks and rec degrees to qualified students.
BYU did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #2 on our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region” list. The yearly cost to attend BYU is $9,445 for rocky mountains region parks & rec students whose families make $0-$30k.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.3%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 92%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.
Read full report on Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at BYU
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Utah. It ranked #2 on our 2023 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. U of U is a large school located in Salt Lake City, Utah that handed out 382 ’s parks and rec degrees in 2020-2021.
In addition to being on our rocky mountains region parks & rec students whose families make $0-$30k list, U of U has also earned the #1 rank in our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend U of U is $10,431 for rocky mountains region parks & rec students whose families make $0-$30k.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.7% 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%. With a freshman retention rate of 89%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.
Full U of U Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Report
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Colorado State University - Fort Collins. It ranked #3 on our 2023 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Colorado State University - Fort Collins is a large public school situated in Fort Collins, Colorado. It awarded 326 ’s parks and rec degrees in 2020-2021.
Colorado State also made our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region” list, coming in at #3. The yearly cost to attend Colorado State University - Fort Collins is $11,924 for Rocky Mountains Region Parks & Rec students whose families make $0-$30k.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.6% 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%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 85%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.
Full Colorado State Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Report
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Brigham Young University - Idaho. It ranked #4 on our 2023 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. BYU - I is a private not-for-profit institution located in Rexburg, Idaho. The school has a large population, and it awarded 46 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
BYU - I also took the #16 spot in our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region” ranking. It costs about $2,073 for rocky mountains region parks & rec students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend BYU - I.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 3.1% 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%.
Full BYU - I Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Report
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Wyoming. It ranked #5 on our 2023 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Located in Laramie, Wyoming, this fairly large public school awarded 97 diplomas to qualified ’s parks and rec students in 2020-2021.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at UW, the school also landed the #5 spot in our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for University of Wyoming is $6,905 for rocky mountains region parks & rec students whose families make $0-$30k.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 3.5%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Read more about Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at University of Wyoming
University of Northern Colorado ranked #6 on this year’s Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. University of Northern Colorado is a fairly large school located in Greeley, Colorado that handed out 202 ’s parks and rec degrees in 2020-2021.
University of Northern Colorado also took the #4 spot in our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend University of Northern Colorado is $13,150 for Rocky Mountains Region Parks & Rec students whose families make $0-$30k.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 4.4% 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, & Fitness Studies at University of Northern Colorado
Utah State University landed the #7 spot on the 2023 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. USU is located in Logan, Utah and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 131 ’s parks and rec degrees to qualified students.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at USU, the school also landed the #6 spot in our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Utah State University is $9,148 for Rocky Mountains Region Parks & Rec students whose families make $0-$30k.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 3.6%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Read more about Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at USU
Utah Valley University ranked #8 on this year’s Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Utah Valley University is located in Orem, Utah and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 133 ’s parks and rec degrees to qualified students.
In addition to being on our rocky mountains region parks & rec students whose families make $0-$30k list, UVU has also earned the #15 rank in our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region” ranking. It costs about $7,707 for Rocky Mountains Region Parks & Rec students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Utah Valley University.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 4.4%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Full UVU Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Report
Boise State University did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #9. Boise State is a public institution located in Boise, Idaho. The school has a large population, and it awarded 97 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at Boise State, the school also landed the #7 spot in our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Boise State University is $12,561 for rocky mountains region parks & rec students whose families make $0-$30k.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 4.3% 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 more about Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Boise State
Metropolitan State University of Denver came in at #10 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Metropolitan State University of Denver is a fairly large public school situated in Denver, Colorado. It awarded 127 ’s parks and rec degrees in 2020-2021.
MSU Denver not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #8 on our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for MSU Denver is $11,867 for Rocky Mountains Region Parks & Rec students whose families make $0-$30k.
Read full report on Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Metropolitan State University of Denver
With a ranking of #11, University of Idaho did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. U of I is a fairly large school located in Moscow, Idaho that handed out 47 ’s parks and rec degrees in 2020-2021.
U of I did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #10 on our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region” list. It costs about $10,816 for Rocky Mountains Region Parks & Rec students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend University of Idaho.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 4.1%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Read more about Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at University of Idaho
Adams State University came in at #12 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. This small school is located in Alamosa, Colorado, and it awarded 70 ’s parks and rec degrees in 2020-2021.
Adams State also took the #11 spot in our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Adams State University is $9,864 for Rocky Mountains Region Parks & Rec students whose families make $0-$30k.
Read full report on Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Adams State University
Weber State University landed the #13 spot on the 2023 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Located in Ogden, Utah, this large public school awarded 46 degrees to qualified ’s parks and rec students in 2020-2021.
WSU did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #12 on our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region” list. The yearly cost to attend Weber State University is $9,748 for Rocky Mountains Region Parks & Rec students whose families make $0-$30k.
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, & Fitness Studies at WSU
Colorado Mesa University did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #14. Colorado Mesa is a medium-sized school located in Grand Junction, Colorado that handed out 151 ’s parks and rec degrees in 2020-2021.
In addition to being on our rocky mountains region parks & rec students whose families make $0-$30k list, Colorado Mesa has also earned the #9 rank in our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Colorado Mesa University is $12,685 for rocky mountains region parks & rec students whose families make $0-$30k.
Full Colorado Mesa Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Report
Southern Utah University came in at #15 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Southern Utah University is a fairly large public school situated in Cedar City, Utah. It awarded 117 ’s parks and rec degrees in 2020-2021.
Southern Utah University not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #13 on our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for Southern Utah University is $9,873 for Rocky Mountains Region Parks & Rec students whose families make $0-$30k.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 4.5%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Full Southern Utah University Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Report
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