2022 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $48-$75k
It’s not easy to decide which college to attend when there so many options available for students. College Factual was founded, in part, to help students make the decision as to what would be the best school for them. Our “Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $48-$75k” ranking is part of that endeavor.
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 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.
This year’s “Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $48-$75k” ranking looked at 295 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.
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More Ways to Rank Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Schools
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 $48-$75k” list, to help you choose the best school for you.
To further help you make the college decision, we’ve developed a unique tool called College Combat that allows you to compare schools based on the factors that matter the most to 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 a Master’s For Those Making $48-$75k
The colleges and universities below are the best for master’s degree parks & rec students whose families make $48-$75k.
Top 25 Best Value Master’s Degree Colleges for Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies (Income $48-$75k)
Out of the 295 schools in the Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Master’s 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. Columbia University in the City of New York is located in New York, New York and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 74 masters’s parks and rec degrees to qualified students.
Columbia not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #1 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 Columbia are $51,194.
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Northwestern University. It ranked #2 on our 2022 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $48-$75k list. Northwestern University is a private not-for-profit institution located in Evanston, Illinois. The school has a large population, and it awarded 38 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.
Northwestern also took the #5 spot 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 Northwestern University are $56,567.
Read more about Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Northwestern
Out of the 295 schools in the Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $48-$75k that were part of this year’s ranking, Georgetown University landed the #3 spot on the list. Washington, District of Columbia is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out masters’s parks and rec degrees to 123 students in 2019-2020.
Georgetown also took the #9 spot in our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Master’s Degree Schools” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Georgetown University are $53,591, but some majors have different tuition rates.
Read more about Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Georgetown
Out of the 295 schools in the Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $48-$75k that were part of this year’s ranking, University of Florida landed the #4 spot on the list. University of Florida is a public institution located in Gainesville, Florida. The school has a large population, and it awarded 67 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at UF, the school also landed the #10 spot in our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Master’s Degree Schools” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at University of Florida are $30,130, but some majors have different tuition rates.
Read full report on Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at University of Florida
Out of the 295 schools in the Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $48-$75k that were part of this year’s ranking, University of Michigan - Ann Arbor landed the #5 spot on the list. University of Michigan - Ann Arbor is a public institution located in Ann Arbor, Michigan. The school has a large population, and it awarded 47 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at U-M, the school also landed the #2 spot in our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Master’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.
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $48-$75k ranking, coming in at #6. Located in Champaign, Illinois, this large public school awarded 44 degrees to qualified masters’s parks and rec students in 2019-2020.
UIUC not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #3 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 Illinois at Urbana-Champaign are $30,083.
Full UIUC Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Report
Florida International University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $48-$75k ranking, coming in at #7. FIU is a large school located in Miami, Florida that handed out 24 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 Florida International University are $24,211.
Read full report on Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at FIU
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill came in at #8 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. Chapel Hill, North Carolina is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s parks and rec degrees to 37 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. Average graduate tuition and fees at University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill are $30,248, but some majors have different tuition rates.
Read more about Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at UNC Chapel Hill
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 $48-$75k ranking, coming in at #9. The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley is a large public school situated in Edinburg, Texas. It awarded 14 masters’s parks and rec degrees 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.
Queens College did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $48-$75k ranking, coming in at #10. Queens College is located in Queens, New York and, has a fairly large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 8 masters’s parks and rec degrees to qualified students.
Average graduate tuition and fees at Queens College are $21,042, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.
Read more about Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Queens College
Wake Forest University came in at #11 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. Winston-Salem, North Carolina is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out masters’s parks and rec degrees to 7 students in 2019-2020.
In addition to being on this list, Wake Forest University is in the top on our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Master’s Degree Schools” list. It’s in the top 20% of all schools in this category. Average graduate tuition and fees at Wake Forest University are $39,216, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.
Read full report on Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Wake Forest University
With a ranking of #12, University of South Florida - Main Campus did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $48-$75k list. Located in Tampa, Florida, this large public school handed out 56 degrees to qualified masters’s parks and rec students in 2019-2020.
Average graduate tuition and fees at USF Tampa are $21,126, but some majors have different tuition rates.
Brooklyn College ranked #13 on this year’s Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $48-$75k list. This fairly large school is located in Brooklyn, New York, and it awarded 25 masters’s parks and rec degrees in 2019-2020.
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
With a ranking of #14, University of Wisconsin - Madison did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $48-$75k list. UW - Madison is a public institution located in Madison, Wisconsin. The school has a large population, and it awarded 6 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.
UW - Madison also made our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Master’s Degree Schools” list, coming in at #25. 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 University of Wisconsin - Madison
With a ranking of #15, North Carolina State University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $48-$75k list. NC State is a large school located in Raleigh, North Carolina that handed out 37 masters’s parks and rec degrees in 2019-2020.
In addition to being on our master’s degree parks & rec students whose families make $48-$75k list, NC State has also earned the #4 rank in our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Master’s Degree Schools” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at North Carolina State University are $28,999, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.
Read more about Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at NC State
University of Minnesota - Twin Cities came in at #16 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. Minneapolis, Minnesota is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s parks and rec degrees to 33 students in 2019-2020.
UMN Twin Cities not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #7 on our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Master’s Degree Schools” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at University of Minnesota - Twin Cities are $28,845, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.
Read more about Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at UMN Twin Cities
University of Central Florida ranked #17 on this year’s Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $48-$75k list. University of Central Florida is a public institution located in Orlando, Florida. The school has a large population, and it awarded 27 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.
Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at University of Central Florida are $28,657.
Read more about Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at UCF
Indiana University - Bloomington came in at #18 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. Indiana University - Bloomington is a large school located in Bloomington, Indiana that handed out 53 masters’s parks and rec degrees in 2019-2020.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at IU Bloomington, the school also landed the #11 spot in our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Master’s Degree Schools” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at IU Bloomington are $33,338, but some majors have different tuition rates.
Read more about Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Indiana University - Bloomington
With a ranking of #19, California State University - Long Beach did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $48-$75k list. California State University - Long Beach is a large public school situated in Long Beach, California. It awarded 120 masters’s parks and rec degrees in 2019-2020.
Average graduate tuition and fees at California State University - Long Beach are $17,784, but some majors have different tuition rates.
Read more about Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at CSULB
California State University - Los Angeles did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $48-$75k ranking, coming in at #20. California State University - Los Angeles is a public institution located in Los Angeles, California. The school has a large population, and it awarded 9 masters’s 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.
American Public University System ranked #21 on this year’s Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $48-$75k list. This large school is located in Charles Town, West Virginia, and it awarded 143 masters’s parks and rec degrees in 2019-2020.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at American Military University, the school also landed the #19 spot 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 American Military University are $7,050.
Read more about Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at American Military University
The University of West Florida came in at #22 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. The University of West Florida is a fairly large public school situated in Pensacola, Florida. It awarded 17 masters’s parks and rec degrees in 2019-2020.
Average graduate tuition and fees at The University of West Florida are $24,894, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.
Read full report on Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at UWF
California State University - Fullerton landed the #23 spot on the 2022 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. 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.
Average graduate tuition and fees at California State University - Fullerton are $17,892, but some majors have different tuition rates.
Florida State University ranked #24 on this year’s Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $48-$75k list. 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.
On top of its placing in this ranking, Florida State also did well 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 Florida State are $26,707, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.
Read more about Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Florida State University
Michigan Technological University landed the #25 spot on the 2022 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. Located in Houghton, Michigan, this medium-sized public school handed out 5 degrees to qualified masters’s parks and rec students in 2019-2020.
Average graduate tuition and fees at Michigan Tech are $21,996, but some majors have different tuition rates.
Read full report on Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Michigan Tech
Rest of the Best 45 in Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $48-$75k
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.
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- Credit for the banner image above goes to NPS Photo/Zurbuch.
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