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2022 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Doctorate For Those Making $48-$75k

47 Ranked Colleges
349 Degrees Awarded
$28,000 Avg Grad Tuition & Fees*
Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Doctorate For Those Making $48-$75k

It’s not easy to decide which college to attend when there so many options available for students. One of our goals at College Factual is to give you as much information as we can - such as our “Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Doctorate For Those Making $48-$75k” ranking - to help you make that decision.

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 doctor’s degree level specifically, there were 349 parks, recreation, leisure, and fitness studies graduates with average earnings and debt of $72,680 and $116,043 respectively.

For this year’s “Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Doctorate For Those Making $48-$75k” ranking, we looked at 47 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 a Doctorate For Those Making $48-$75k” ranking, along with many other major-related rankings, to help you make that decision.

You can create your own custom comparison that focuses on the factors most important to you using our tool, College Combat. When you have some time, check it out - you may want to bookmark the link so you don’t forget it.

Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Doctorate For Those Making $48-$75k

The following schools top our list of the Best Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Doctorate For Those Making $48-$75k.

Top 25 Best Value Doctor’s Degree Colleges for Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies (Income $48-$75k)

#4 in overall quality

Out of the 47 schools in the Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Doctorate For Those Making $48-$75k that were part of this year’s ranking, Columbia University in the City of New York landed the #1 spot on the list. Located in New York, New York, this large private not-for-profit school handed out 1 diplomas to qualified doctorate’s parks and rec students in 2019-2020.

Columbia also made our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Doctor’s Degree Schools” list, coming in at #4. Average graduate tuition and fees at Columbia University in the City of New York are $51,194, but some majors have different tuition rates.

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

#2 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Michigan - Ann Arbor. It ranked #2 on our 2022 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Doctorate For Those Making $48-$75k list. Located in Ann Arbor, Michigan, this large public school handed out 7 diplomas to qualified doctorate’s parks and rec students in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our doctor’s degree parks & rec students whose families make $48-$75k list, U-M has also earned the #2 rank in our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Doctor’s Degree Schools” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at University of Michigan - Ann Arbor are $49,548, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Full U-M Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Report

#13 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Wisconsin - Madison. It ranked #3 on our 2022 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Doctorate For Those Making $48-$75k list. Madison, Wisconsin is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out doctorate’s parks and rec degrees to 2 students in 2019-2020.

UW - Madison did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #13 on our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Doctor’s Degree Schools” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at UW - Madison are $25,523, but some majors have different tuition rates.

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

#4

University of Northern Iowa

Cedar Falls, Iowa
#5 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Northern Iowa. It ranked #4 on our 2022 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Doctorate For Those Making $48-$75k list. University of Northern Iowa is a medium-sized public school situated in Cedar Falls, Iowa. It awarded 5 doctorate’s parks and rec degrees in 2019-2020.

UNI also took the #5 spot in our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Doctor’s Degree Schools” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at University of Northern Iowa are $22,648, but some majors have different tuition rates.

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

#5

Indiana University - Bloomington

Bloomington, Indiana
#11 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Indiana University - Bloomington. It ranked #5 on our 2022 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Doctorate For Those Making $48-$75k list. IU Bloomington is a large public school situated in Bloomington, Indiana. It awarded 12 doctorate’s parks and rec degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our doctor’s degree parks & rec students whose families make $48-$75k list, IU Bloomington has also earned the #11 rank in our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Doctor’s Degree Schools” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Indiana University - Bloomington are $33,338, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read full report on Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Indiana University - Bloomington

#6

North Carolina State University

Raleigh, North Carolina
#8 in overall quality

With a ranking of #6, North Carolina State University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Doctorate For Those Making $48-$75k list. Raleigh, North Carolina is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out doctorate’s parks and rec degrees to 4 students in 2019-2020.

NC State also made our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Doctor’s Degree Schools” list, coming in at #8. Average graduate tuition and fees at North Carolina State University are $28,999, but some majors have different tuition rates.

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

#7 in overall quality

Ohio State University - Main Campus came in at #7 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Doctorate For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. This large school is located in Columbus, Ohio, and it awarded 11 doctorate’s parks and rec degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Ohio State, the school also landed the #7 spot in our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Doctor’s Degree Schools” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Ohio State are $37,141, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read more about Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Ohio State University - Main Campus

#21 in overall quality

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign came in at #8 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Doctorate For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. UIUC is a large school located in Champaign, Illinois that handed out 12 doctorate’s parks and rec degrees in 2019-2020.

UIUC also made our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Doctor’s Degree Schools” list, coming in at #21. 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.

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

#10 in overall quality

The University of Texas at Austin did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Doctorate For Those Making $48-$75k ranking, coming in at #9. UT Austin is a public institution located in Austin, Texas. The school has a large population, and it awarded 4 doctorate’s degrees in 2019-2020.

UT Austin also took the #10 spot in our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Doctor’s Degree Schools” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at The University of Texas at Austin are $22,886, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read more about Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at UT Austin

#20 in overall quality

Iowa State University ranked #10 on this year’s Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Doctorate For Those Making $48-$75k list. Iowa State University is located in Ames, Iowa and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 6 doctorate’s parks and rec degrees to qualified students.

Iowa State did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #20 on our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Doctor’s Degree Schools” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at Iowa State are $25,948, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read more about Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Iowa State

#11

Texas Woman's University

Denton, Texas

Texas Woman’s University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Doctorate For Those Making $48-$75k ranking, coming in at #11. Located in Denton, Texas, this fairly large public school awarded 11 diplomas to qualified doctorate’s parks and rec students in 2019-2020.

Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Texas Woman’s University are $14,962.

Read more about Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Texas Woman’s University

#12

University of Houston

Houston, Texas

University of Houston ranked #12 on this year’s Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Doctorate For Those Making $48-$75k list. University of Houston is a large school located in Houston, Texas that handed out 8 doctorate’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 UH are $18,689.

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

#13

University of Utah

Salt Lake City, Utah
#19 in overall quality

University of Utah ranked #13 on this year’s Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Doctorate For Those Making $48-$75k list. Salt Lake City, Utah is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out doctorate’s parks and rec degrees to 7 students in 2019-2020.

U of U also made our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Doctor’s Degree Schools” list, coming in at #19. Average graduate tuition and fees at U of U are $24,695, but some majors have different tuition rates.

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

#14

Michigan State University

East Lansing, Michigan
#6 in overall quality

Michigan State University came in at #14 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Doctorate For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. Michigan State is a large public school situated in East Lansing, Michigan. It awarded 18 doctorate’s parks and rec degrees in 2019-2020.

Michigan State also made our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Doctor’s Degree Schools” list, coming in at #6. Average graduate tuition and fees at Michigan State are $37,056, but some majors have different tuition rates.

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

#15

University of Northern Colorado

Greeley, Colorado

University of Northern Colorado did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Doctorate For Those Making $48-$75k ranking, coming in at #15. University of Northern Colorado is a fairly large public school situated in Greeley, Colorado. It awarded 12 doctorate’s parks and rec degrees in 2019-2020.

Average graduate tuition and fees at University of Northern Colorado are $21,708, but some majors have different tuition rates.

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

#16

West Virginia University

Morgantown, West Virginia

With a ranking of #16, West Virginia University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Doctorate For Those Making $48-$75k list. WVU is a public institution located in Morgantown, West Virginia. The school has a large population, and it awarded 6 doctorate’s degrees in 2019-2020.

Average graduate tuition and fees at West Virginia University are $26,154, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read more about Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at West Virginia University

#22 in overall quality

Colorado State University - Fort Collins landed the #17 spot on the 2022 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Doctorate For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. This large school is located in Fort Collins, Colorado, and it awarded 3 doctorate’s parks and rec degrees in 2019-2020.

Colorado State also made our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Doctor’s Degree Schools” list, coming in at #22. Average graduate tuition and fees at Colorado State are $28,055, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

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

#18

University of Maryland - College Park

College Park, Maryland
#17 in overall quality

University of Maryland - College Park did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Doctorate For Those Making $48-$75k ranking, coming in at #18. University of Maryland - College Park is a large school located in College Park, Maryland that handed out 2 doctorate’s parks and rec degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our doctor’s degree parks & rec students whose families make $48-$75k list, UMCP has also earned the #17 rank in our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Doctor’s Degree Schools” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at University of Maryland - College Park are $30,885, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read full report on Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at University of Maryland - College Park

#19

University of North Carolina at Greensboro

Greensboro, North Carolina

University of North Carolina at Greensboro did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Doctorate For Those Making $48-$75k ranking, coming in at #19. This fairly large school is located in Greensboro, North Carolina, and it awarded 12 doctorate’s parks and rec degrees in 2019-2020.

Average graduate tuition and fees at University of North Carolina at Greensboro are $21,918, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read more about Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at University of North Carolina at Greensboro

#20

Clemson University

Clemson, South Carolina
#3 in overall quality

Clemson University ranked #20 on this year’s Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Doctorate For Those Making $48-$75k list. Clemson, South Carolina is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out doctorate’s parks and rec degrees to 14 students in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Clemson, the school also landed the #3 spot in our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Doctor’s Degree Schools” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Clemson are $23,246, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Full Clemson University Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Report

#21

University of Georgia

Athens, Georgia

University of Georgia came in at #21 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Doctorate For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. UGA is a large school located in Athens, Georgia that handed out 5 doctorate’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 UGA are $27,476.

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

With a ranking of #22, Oklahoma State University - Main Campus did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Doctorate For Those Making $48-$75k list. OSU is located in Stillwater, Oklahoma and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 4 doctorate’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 Oklahoma State University - Main Campus are $23,963.

Read full report on Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Oklahoma State University - Main Campus

With a ranking of #23, University of Nevada - Las Vegas did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Doctorate For Those Making $48-$75k list. This large school is located in Las Vegas, Nevada, and it awarded 2 doctorate’s parks and rec degrees in 2019-2020.

Average graduate tuition and fees at University of Nevada - Las Vegas are $21,962, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read full report on Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at University of Nevada - Las Vegas

University of Nebraska at Omaha ranked #24 on this year’s Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Doctorate For Those Making $48-$75k list. University of Nebraska at Omaha is a public institution located in Omaha, Nebraska. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 1 doctorate’s degrees in 2019-2020.

Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at UNOMAHA are $16,374.

Read more about Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at University of Nebraska at Omaha

#25

University of South Carolina - Columbia

Columbia, South Carolina
#15 in overall quality

University of South Carolina - Columbia landed the #25 spot on the 2022 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Doctorate For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. University of South Carolina - Columbia is a public institution located in Columbia, South Carolina. The school has a large population, and it awarded 5 doctorate’s degrees in 2019-2020.

UofSC also made our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Doctor’s Degree Schools” list, coming in at #15. Average graduate tuition and fees at UofSC are $30,160, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read more about Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at University of South Carolina - Columbia

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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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