2022 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Making $30-$48k
It’s not easy to decide which college to attend when there so many options available for students. 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 in the Southwest Region 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.
Across the Southwest region, there were 9,967 parks, recreation, leisure, and fitness studies graduates with average earnings and debt of $30,090 and $22,308 respectively.
This year’s “Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Making $30-$48k” ranking analyzed 69 colleges that offered 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. See our ranking methodology to learn more.
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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 in the Southwest Region For Those Making $30-$48k” ranking, along with many other major-related rankings, to help you make that decision.
We’ve created a tool called College Combat that lets you create your own customized comparisons based on the factors that matter the most 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 in the Southwest Region For Those Making $30-$48k
The colleges and universities below are the best for southwest region parks & rec students whose families make $30-$48k.
Top 25 Best Value Colleges for Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies (Income $30-$48k) in the Southwest Region
Out of the 69 schools in the Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Making $30-$48k that were part of this year’s ranking, Rice University landed the #1 spot on the list. Rice University is a medium-sized school located in Houston, Texas that handed out 102 ’s parks and rec degrees in 2019-2020.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at Rice, the school also landed the #2 spot in our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. It costs about $7,534 for Southwest Region Parks & Rec students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend Rice.
The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 1.0%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. With a student-to-faculty ratio of 6 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 97%.
Read more about Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Rice
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley. It ranked #2 on our 2022 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley is a large public school situated in Edinburg, Texas. It awarded 319 ’s parks and rec degrees in 2019-2020.
UT Rio Grande Valley did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #20 on our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Schools in the Southwest Region” list. The yearly cost to attend The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley is $3,473 for Southwest Region Parks & Rec students whose families make $30-$48k.
The low student loan default rate of 4.8% 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 UT Rio Grande Valley
Out of the 69 schools in the Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in the Southwest Region 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 located in McAllen, Texas and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 67 ’s parks and rec degrees to qualified students.
The estimated yearly cost for South Texas College is $1,390 for southwest region parks & rec students whose families make $30-$48k.
Read more about Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at South Texas College
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of North Texas. The school came in at #4 for the Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Making $30-$48k. This large school is located in Denton, Texas, and it awarded 352 ’s parks and rec degrees in 2019-2020.
In addition to being on our southwest region parks & rec students whose families make $30-$48k list, UNT has also earned the #11 rank in our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend University of North Texas is $9,082 for Southwest Region Parks & Rec students whose families make $30-$48k.
The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 85%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.
Read more about Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at UNT
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Northwestern Oklahoma State University. It ranked #5 on our 2022 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. Northwestern Oklahoma State University is a small school located in Alva, Oklahoma that handed out 33 ’s parks and rec degrees in 2019-2020.
NWOSU also took the #6 spot in our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. It costs about $7,767 for Southwest Region Parks & Rec students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend Northwestern Oklahoma State University.
Texas A&M International University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #6. Texas A&M International University is a medium-sized school located in Laredo, Texas that handed out 62 ’s parks and rec degrees in 2019-2020.
The estimated yearly cost for Texas A&M International University is $2,298 for southwest region parks & rec students whose families make $30-$48k.
Read more about Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Texas A&M International University
The University of Texas at San Antonio landed the #7 spot on the 2022 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Located in San Antonio, Texas, this large public school awarded 390 degrees to qualified ’s parks and rec students in 2019-2020.
UTSA also took the #15 spot in our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for UTSA is $11,109 for Southwest Region Parks & Rec students whose families make $30-$48k.
Read more about Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at UTSA
Texas Tech University ranked #8 on this year’s Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. This large school is located in Lubbock, Texas, and it awarded 388 ’s parks and rec degrees in 2019-2020.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at Texas Tech, the school also landed the #5 spot in our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Texas Tech is $13,326 for southwest region parks & rec students whose families make $30-$48k.
The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 87%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.
Read full report on Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Texas Tech
Texas Woman’s University came in at #9 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. TWU is a fairly large public school situated in Denton, Texas. It awarded 168 ’s parks and rec degrees in 2019-2020.
TWU also took the #21 spot in our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Texas Woman’s University is $7,050 for Southwest Region Parks & Rec students whose families make $30-$48k.
Full TWU Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Report
With a ranking of #10, Texas A&M University - College Station did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. Texas A&M College Station is a large school located in College Station, Texas that handed out 683 ’s parks and rec degrees in 2019-2020.
In addition to being on our southwest region parks & rec students whose families make $30-$48k list, Texas A&M College Station has also earned the #4 rank in our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Texas A&M College Station is $13,270 for southwest region parks & rec students whose families make $30-$48k.
With a freshman retention rate of 94%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students. The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 2.9%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Full Texas A&M University - College Station Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Report
The University of Texas at Austin ranked #11 on this year’s Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. The University of Texas at Austin is a public institution located in Austin, Texas. The school has a large population, and it awarded 263 ’s degrees in 2019-2020.
In addition to being on our southwest region parks & rec students whose families make $30-$48k list, UT Austin has also earned the #1 rank in our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend UT Austin is $13,575 for Southwest Region Parks & Rec students whose families make $30-$48k.
The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 97%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The low student loan default rate of 2.7% 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%.
Full UT Austin Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Report
Southeastern Oklahoma State University came in at #12 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Southeastern Oklahoma State University is a medium-sized public school situated in Durant, Oklahoma. It awarded 78 ’s parks and rec degrees in 2019-2020.
The yearly cost to attend Southeastern Oklahoma State University is $6,704 for southwest region parks & rec students whose families make $30-$48k.
The University of Texas of the Permian Basin came in at #13 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. The University of Texas of the Permian Basin is a medium-sized public school situated in Odessa, Texas. It awarded 48 ’s parks and rec degrees in 2019-2020.
UT Permian Basin also took the #16 spot in our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. It costs about $10,221 for Southwest Region Parks & Rec students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend The University of Texas of the Permian Basin.
University of Houston ranked #14 on this year’s Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. Houston, Texas is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s parks and rec degrees to 458 students in 2019-2020.
In addition to being on our southwest region parks & rec students whose families make $30-$48k list, UH has also earned the #9 rank in our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for UH is $9,925 for Southwest Region Parks & Rec students whose families make $30-$48k.
With a freshman retention rate of 86%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students.
Read more about Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at UH
Cameron University came in at #15 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Lawton, Oklahoma is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s parks and rec degrees to 45 students in 2019-2020.
The estimated yearly cost for Cameron University is $6,296 for Southwest Region Parks & Rec students whose families make $30-$48k.
Read more about Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Cameron University
With a ranking of #16, The University of Texas at Tyler did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. UT Tyler is a public institution located in Tyler, Texas. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 103 ’s degrees in 2019-2020.
It costs about $7,058 for Southwest Region Parks & Rec students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend UT Tyler.
Full The University of Texas at Tyler Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Report
With a ranking of #17, Texas State University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. Texas State is a large public school situated in San Marcos, Texas. It awarded 590 ’s parks and rec degrees in 2019-2020.
Texas State also took the #7 spot in our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Texas State is $12,292 for Southwest Region Parks & Rec students whose families make $30-$48k.
Read more about Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Texas State University
East Central University came in at #18 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Ada, Oklahoma is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s parks and rec degrees to 83 students in 2019-2020.
The yearly cost to attend ECU is $8,259 for southwest region parks & rec students whose families make $30-$48k.
Read full report on Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at East Central University
With a ranking of #19, Oklahoma State University - Main Campus did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. This large school is located in Stillwater, Oklahoma, and it awarded 120 ’s parks and rec degrees in 2019-2020.
OSU also took the #25 spot in our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Oklahoma State University - Main Campus is $9,962 for Southwest Region 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 85%.
MSU Texas did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #20. MSU Texas is a medium-sized school located in Wichita Falls, Texas that handed out 57 ’s parks and rec degrees in 2019-2020.
The yearly cost to attend MSU Texas is $8,554 for southwest region parks & rec students whose families make $30-$48k.
Read full report on Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at MSU Texas
Stephen F Austin State University landed the #21 spot on the 2022 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Nacogdoches, Texas is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s parks and rec degrees to 166 students in 2019-2020.
SFASU also made our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Schools in the Southwest Region” list, coming in at #18. It costs about $10,816 for southwest region parks & rec students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend Stephen F Austin State University.
University of Houston - Clear Lake came in at #22 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Houston, Texas is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s parks and rec degrees to 63 students in 2019-2020.
UH Clear Lake did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #8 on our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Schools in the Southwest Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for University of Houston - Clear Lake is $7,941 for southwest region parks & rec students whose families make $30-$48k.
Full UH Clear Lake Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Report
Northeastern State University landed the #23 spot on the 2022 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Northeastern State University is a public institution located in Tahlequah, Oklahoma. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 82 ’s degrees in 2019-2020.
The yearly cost to attend Northeastern State University is $7,543 for Southwest Region Parks & Rec students whose families make $30-$48k.
Full Northeastern State University Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Report
The University of Texas at El Paso landed the #24 spot on the 2022 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. UTEP is a large public school situated in El Paso, Texas. It awarded 177 ’s parks and rec degrees in 2019-2020.
It costs about $7,427 for Southwest Region Parks & Rec students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend UTEP.
Read full report on Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at UTEP
With a ranking of #25, Southwestern Oklahoma State University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. This small school is located in Weatherford, Oklahoma, and it awarded 67 ’s parks and rec degrees in 2019-2020.
It costs about $9,904 for southwest region parks & rec students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend SWOSU.
Read more about Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at SWOSU
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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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- Credit for the banner image above goes to NPS Photo/Zurbuch.
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