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2022 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for an Associate For Those Making $30-$48k

29 Ranked Colleges
5,688 Degrees Awarded
$8,500 Avg Net Price*
Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for an Associate For Those Making $30-$48k

When it comes to choosing a college, students have a lot of options - but not all of them are good. 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 an Associate For Those Making $30-$48k” ranking is one tool we have developed to help in this regard.

Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies is the 15th most popular major in the country with 72,122 degrees awarded in 2019-2020. 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 associate degree level specifically, there were 5,688 parks, recreation, leisure, and fitness studies graduates with average earnings and debt of $33,082 and $17,678 respectively.

For this year’s “Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for an Associate For Those Making $30-$48k” ranking, we looked at 29 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.

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. Check out our ranking methodology for more information.

More Ways to Rank Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Schools

Since picking the right college can be one of the most important decisions of your life, we’ve developed the “Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for an Associate For Those Making $30-$48k” ranking, along with many other major-related rankings, to help you make that 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. Test it out by comparing your favorite schools against others you are considering, or bookmark the tool so you can experiment with it later.

Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for an Associate For Those Making $30-$48k

The following schools top our list of the Best Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for an Associate For Those Making $30-$48k.

Top 25 Best Value Associate Degree Colleges for Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies (Income $30-$48k)

#1 in overall quality

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Cincinnati State Technical and Community College. The school came in at #1 for the Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for an Associate For Those Making $30-$48k. Cincinnati State Technical and Community College is a public institution located in Cincinnati, Ohio. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 5 associates’s degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our associate degree parks & rec students whose families make $30-$48k list, Cincinnati State has also earned the #1 rank in our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Associate Degree Schools” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Cincinnati State is $4,292 for associate degree parks & rec students whose families make $30-$48k.

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

#2

Mt. San Antonio College

Walnut, California
#5 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Mt. San Antonio College. It ranked #2 on our 2022 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for an Associate For Those Making $30-$48k list. Mt. San Antonio College is a large school located in Walnut, California that handed out 474 associates’s parks and rec degrees in 2019-2020.

Mt. SAC not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #5 on our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Associate Degree Schools” list. The yearly cost to attend Mt. San Antonio College is $1,599 for Associate Degree Parks & Rec students whose families make $30-$48k.

Read more about Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Mt. SAC

#3

South Texas College

McAllen, Texas
#8 in overall quality

Out of the 29 schools in the Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for an Associate For Those Making $30-$48k that were part of this year’s ranking, South Texas College landed the #3 spot on the list. South Texas College is a large public school situated in McAllen, Texas. It awarded 67 associates’s parks and rec degrees in 2019-2020.

South Texas College also made our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Associate Degree Schools” list, coming in at #8. The estimated yearly cost for South Texas College is $1,390 for Associate Degree Parks & Rec students whose families make $30-$48k.

Read more about Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at South Texas College

#4

Gogebic Community College

Ironwood, Michigan
#2 in overall quality

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Gogebic Community College. The school came in at #4 for the Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for an Associate For Those Making $30-$48k. Gogebic Community College is a small public school situated in Ironwood, Michigan. It awarded 5 associates’s parks and rec degrees in 2019-2020.

Gogebic Community College did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #2 on our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Associate Degree Schools” list. The estimated yearly cost for Gogebic Community College is $6,851 for associate degree parks & rec students whose families make $30-$48k.

Read full report on Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Gogebic Community College

#5

Riverside City College

Riverside, California
#4 in overall quality

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Riverside City College. The school came in at #5 for the Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for an Associate For Those Making $30-$48k. Riverside City College is a large school located in Riverside, California that handed out 178 associates’s parks and rec degrees in 2019-2020.

Riverside City College did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #4 on our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Associate Degree Schools” list.

Read full report on Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Riverside City College

#6

Onondaga Community College

Syracuse, New York
#9 in overall quality

With a ranking of #6, Onondaga Community College did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for an Associate For Those Making $30-$48k list. Onondaga Community College is a medium-sized school located in Syracuse, New York that handed out 13 associates’s parks and rec degrees in 2019-2020.

OCC not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #9 on our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Associate Degree Schools” list. It costs about $6,961 for Associate Degree Parks & Rec students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend OCC.

Full Onondaga Community College Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Report

#7

Union County College

Cranford, New Jersey
#13 in overall quality

Union County College ranked #7 on this year’s Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for an Associate For Those Making $30-$48k list. Union County College is a medium-sized public school situated in Cranford, New Jersey. It awarded 21 associates’s parks and rec degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Union County College, the school also landed the #13 spot in our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Associate Degree Schools” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Union County College is $6,129 for Associate Degree Parks & Rec students whose families make $30-$48k.

Read more about Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Union County College

#8

Cabrillo College

Aptos, California
#3 in overall quality

With a ranking of #8, Cabrillo College did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for an Associate For Those Making $30-$48k list. Cabrillo College is a medium-sized public school situated in Aptos, California. It awarded 120 associates’s parks and rec degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our associate degree parks & rec students whose families make $30-$48k list, Cabrillo College has also earned the #3 rank in our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Associate Degree Schools” ranking. It costs about $8,552 for associate degree parks & rec students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend Cabrillo College.

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

#19 in overall quality

Cuyahoga Community College District landed the #9 spot on the 2022 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for an Associate For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Cuyahoga Community College District is located in Cleveland, Ohio and, has a fairly large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 20 associates’s parks and rec degrees to qualified students.

Cuyahoga Community College District also made our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Associate Degree Schools” list, coming in at #19. The estimated yearly cost for Cuyahoga Community College District is $4,996 for associate degree parks & rec students whose families make $30-$48k.

Read more about Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Cuyahoga Community College District

#10

Norco College

Norco, California
#16 in overall quality

Norco College ranked #10 on this year’s Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for an Associate For Those Making $30-$48k list. Norco College is a fairly large public school situated in Norco, California. It awarded 39 associates’s parks and rec degrees in 2019-2020.

Norco College did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #16 on our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Associate Degree Schools” list.

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

#22 in overall quality

Sinclair Community College did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for an Associate For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #11. Sinclair Community College is a fairly large public school situated in Dayton, Ohio. It awarded 10 associates’s parks and rec degrees in 2019-2020.

Sinclair Community College did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #22 on our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Associate Degree Schools” list. The estimated yearly cost for Sinclair Community College is $3,113 for associate degree parks & rec students whose families make $30-$48k.

Full Sinclair Community College Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Report

#11 in overall quality

Northampton County Area Community College did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for an Associate For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #12. Northampton Community College is a medium-sized school located in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania that handed out 7 associates’s parks and rec degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Northampton Community College, the school also landed the #11 spot in our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Associate Degree Schools” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Northampton Community College is $8,080 for associate degree parks & rec students whose families make $30-$48k.

Full Northampton Community College Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Report

#13

County College of Morris

Randolph, New Jersey
#15 in overall quality

County College of Morris ranked #13 on this year’s Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for an Associate For Those Making $30-$48k list. Randolph, New Jersey is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out associates’s parks and rec degrees to 28 students in 2019-2020.

County College of Morris not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #15 on our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Associate Degree Schools” list. The yearly cost to attend County College of Morris is $7,173 for associate degree parks & rec students whose families make $30-$48k.

Read more about Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at County College of Morris

#14

Lake Superior State University

Sault Ste Marie, Michigan
#10 in overall quality

Lake Superior State University ranked #14 on this year’s Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for an Associate For Those Making $30-$48k list. This small school is located in Sault Ste Marie, Michigan, and it awarded 8 associates’s parks and rec degrees in 2019-2020.

Lake Superior State University also made our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Associate Degree Schools” list, coming in at #10. The yearly cost to attend Lake Superior State University is $9,640 for associate degree parks & rec students whose families make $30-$48k.

Full Lake Superior State University Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Report

#18 in overall quality

With a ranking of #15, Hudson Valley Community College did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for an Associate For Those Making $30-$48k list. HVCC is a medium-sized school located in Troy, New York that handed out 35 associates’s parks and rec degrees in 2019-2020.

HVCC not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #18 on our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Associate Degree Schools” list. The yearly cost to attend Hudson Valley Community College is $7,690 for Associate Degree Parks & Rec students whose families make $30-$48k.

Read more about Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Hudson Valley Community College

#16

Wake Technical Community College

Raleigh, North Carolina
#24 in overall quality

With a ranking of #16, Wake Technical Community College did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for an Associate For Those Making $30-$48k list. Wake Technical Community College is a large school located in Raleigh, North Carolina that handed out 4 associates’s parks and rec degrees in 2019-2020.

Wake Technical Community College not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #24 on our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Associate Degree Schools” list. The estimated yearly cost for Wake Technical Community College is $5,307 for Associate Degree Parks & Rec students whose families make $30-$48k.

Read more about Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Wake Technical Community College

#17

Luzerne County Community College

Nanticoke, Pennsylvania
#23 in overall quality

Luzerne County Community College did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for an Associate For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #17. Nanticoke, Pennsylvania is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The public school handed out associates’s parks and rec degrees to 3 students in 2019-2020.

Luzerne County Community College also took the #23 spot in our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Associate Degree Schools” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Luzerne County Community College is $6,978 for Associate Degree Parks & Rec students whose families make $30-$48k.

Read full report on Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Luzerne County Community College

#18

Bob Jones University

Greenville, South Carolina
#12 in overall quality

Bob Jones University came in at #18 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for an Associate For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Bob Jones University is a small school located in Greenville, South Carolina that handed out 5 associates’s parks and rec degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Bob Jones University, the school also landed the #12 spot in our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Associate Degree Schools” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Bob Jones University is $10,902 for Associate Degree Parks & Rec students whose families make $30-$48k.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 86%. The student loan default rate at the school is 2.0%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Bob Jones University

#17 in overall quality

With a ranking of #19, Utah Valley University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for an Associate For Those Making $30-$48k list. This large school is located in Orem, Utah, and it awarded 6 associates’s parks and rec degrees in 2019-2020.

UVU not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #17 on our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Associate Degree Schools” list. The estimated yearly cost for UVU is $8,047 for Associate Degree Parks & Rec students whose families make $30-$48k.

Read more about Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Utah Valley University

#20

Portland Community College

Portland, Oregon
#21 in overall quality

Portland Community College landed the #20 spot on the 2022 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for an Associate For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Portland Community College is a large school located in Portland, Oregon that handed out 9 associates’s parks and rec degrees in 2019-2020.

Portland Community College not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #21 on our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Associate Degree Schools” list. The estimated yearly cost for Portland Community College is $8,219 for Associate Degree Parks & Rec students whose families make $30-$48k.

Read more about Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Portland Community College

#14 in overall quality

With a ranking of #21, International Sports Sciences Association did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for an Associate For Those Making $30-$48k list. International Sports Sciences Association is a private for-profit institution located in Carpinteria, California. The school has a small population, and it awarded 121 associates’s degrees in 2019-2020.

ISSA also made our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Associate Degree Schools” list, coming in at #14.

With a freshman retention rate of 100%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students.

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

#22

Lane Community College

Eugene, Oregon
#25 in overall quality

Lane Community College landed the #22 spot on the 2022 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for an Associate For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Eugene, Oregon is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out associates’s parks and rec degrees to 1 students in 2019-2020.

Lane Community College not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #25 on our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Associate Degree Schools” list. It costs about $9,368 for Associate Degree Parks & Rec students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend Lane Community College.

Read more about Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Lane Community College

#23

The University of Findlay

Findlay, Ohio
#6 in overall quality

The University of Findlay did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for an Associate For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #23. Findlay is a small school located in Findlay, Ohio that handed out 6 associates’s parks and rec degrees in 2019-2020.

Findlay not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #6 on our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Associate Degree Schools” list. The yearly cost to attend Findlay is $21,661 for Associate Degree Parks & Rec students whose families make $30-$48k.

The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 4.7%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at The University of Findlay

#24

Webber International University

Babson Park, Florida
#20 in overall quality

With a ranking of #24, Webber International University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for an Associate For Those Making $30-$48k list. Webber International University is a private not-for-profit institution located in Babson Park, Florida. The school has a small population, and it awarded 2 associates’s degrees in 2019-2020.

Webber International University also made our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Associate Degree Schools” list, coming in at #20. The yearly cost to attend Webber International University is $21,681 for Associate Degree Parks & Rec students whose families make $30-$48k.

Read more about Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Webber International University

#25

Intellitec College - Colorado Springs

Colorado Springs, Colorado

Intellitec College - Colorado Springs did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for an Associate For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #25. Intellitec College - Colorado Springs is located in Colorado Springs, Colorado and, has a small student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 4 associates’s parks and rec degrees to qualified students.

It costs about $18,035 for associate degree parks & rec students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend Intellitec College - Colorado Springs.

Full Intellitec College - Colorado Springs Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Report

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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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