2022 Best Value Colleges for Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies (Income $48-$75k) in the Southwest Region
Students have lots of options to chooose from today when trying to decide which college to attend. 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 in the Southwest Region 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.
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.
For this year’s “Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Making $48-$75k” ranking, we looked at 69 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.
To come up with these rankings, we looked at factors such as the cost to attend the school after aid is awarded and overall quality of the parks, recreation, leisure, and fitness studies program at the school. For more information, check out our ranking methodology.
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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 $48-$75k” ranking, along with many other major-related rankings, to help you make that decision.
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Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Making $48-$75k
The following schools top our list of the Best Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Making $48-$75k.
Top 25 Best Value Colleges for Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies (Income $48-$75k) in the Southwest Region
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Rice University. The school came in at #1 for the Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Making $48-$75k. This medium-sized school is located in Houston, Texas, and it awarded 102 ’s parks and rec degrees in 2019-2020.
In addition to being on our southwest region parks & rec students whose families make $48-$75k list, Rice has also earned the #2 rank in our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Rice University is $7,318 for Southwest Region Parks & Rec students whose families make $48-$75k.
The student loan default rate at the school is 1.0%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. Since the school has a student-to-faculty ratio of 6 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors. With a freshman retention rate of 97%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students.
Full Rice University Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Report
Out of the 69 schools in the Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Making $48-$75k that were part of this year’s ranking, The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley landed the #2 spot on the list. This large school is located in Edinburg, Texas, and it awarded 319 ’s parks and rec degrees in 2019-2020.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at UT Rio Grande Valley, the school also landed the #20 spot in our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. It costs about $6,405 for southwest region parks & rec students whose families make $48-$75k per year to attend The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley.
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%.
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend South Texas College. It ranked #3 on our 2022 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Making $48-$75k list. Located in McAllen, Texas, this large public school handed out 67 degrees to qualified ’s parks and rec students in 2019-2020.
It costs about $2,962 for Southwest Region Parks & Rec students whose families make $48-$75k per year to attend South Texas College.
Read full report on Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at South Texas College
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Texas A&M International University. The school came in at #4 for the Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Making $48-$75k. Texas A&M International University is a public institution located in Laredo, Texas. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 62 ’s degrees in 2019-2020.
The estimated yearly cost for Texas A&M International University is $3,809 for southwest region parks & rec students whose families make $48-$75k.
Read more about Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Texas A&M International University
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend The University of Texas at Austin. It ranked #5 on our 2022 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Making $48-$75k list. Austin, Texas is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s parks and rec degrees to 263 students in 2019-2020.
UT Austin also made our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Schools in the Southwest Region” list, coming in at #1. It costs about $15,757 for southwest region parks & rec students whose families make $48-$75k per year to attend UT Austin.
With a freshman retention rate of 97%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students. The student loan default rate at the school is 2.7%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Read more about Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at UT Austin
The University of Texas at San Antonio ranked #6 on this year’s Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Making $48-$75k list. The University of Texas at San Antonio is a public institution located in San Antonio, Texas. The school has a large population, and it awarded 390 ’s degrees in 2019-2020.
UTSA did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #15 on our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Schools in the Southwest Region” list. The yearly cost to attend UTSA is $13,827 for southwest region parks & rec students whose families make $48-$75k.
Full The University of Texas at San Antonio Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Report
Northwestern Oklahoma State University ranked #7 on this year’s Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Making $48-$75k list. Located in Alva, Oklahoma, this small public school handed out 33 degrees to qualified ’s parks and rec students in 2019-2020.
In addition to being on our southwest region parks & rec students whose families make $48-$75k list, NWOSU has also earned the #6 rank in our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. It costs about $9,945 for Southwest Region Parks & Rec students whose families make $48-$75k per year to attend Northwestern Oklahoma State University.
Read full report on Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at NWOSU
With a ranking of #8, The University of Texas of the Permian Basin did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Making $48-$75k list. UT 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. The yearly cost to attend The University of Texas of the Permian Basin is $10,417 for Southwest Region Parks & Rec students whose families make $48-$75k.
Full UT Permian Basin Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Report
Texas State University ranked #9 on this year’s Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Making $48-$75k list. Located in San Marcos, Texas, this large public school awarded 590 diplomas to qualified ’s parks and rec students in 2019-2020.
Texas State also made our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Schools in the Southwest Region” list, coming in at #7. The estimated yearly cost for Texas State University is $14,250 for Southwest Region Parks & Rec students whose families make $48-$75k.
Read more about Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Texas State
Texas Woman’s University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Making $48-$75k ranking, coming in at #10. Texas Woman’s University is a fairly large school located in Denton, Texas that handed out 168 ’s parks and rec degrees in 2019-2020.
TWU not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #21 on our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Schools in the Southwest Region” list. The yearly cost to attend Texas Woman’s University is $9,629 for Southwest Region Parks & Rec students whose families make $48-$75k.
Read full report on Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Texas Woman’s University
University of Houston did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Making $48-$75k ranking, coming in at #11. UH is a large school located in Houston, Texas that handed out 458 ’s parks and rec degrees in 2019-2020.
UH also took the #9 spot in our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. It costs about $12,505 for southwest region parks & rec students whose families make $48-$75k per year to attend UH.
The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 86%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.
Read full report on Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at UH
Texas A&M University - College Station ranked #12 on this year’s Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Making $48-$75k list. Texas A&M College Station is located in College Station, Texas and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 683 ’s parks and rec degrees to qualified students.
In addition to being on our southwest region parks & rec students whose families make $48-$75k 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 $18,810 for southwest region parks & rec students whose families make $48-$75k.
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
Texas Tech University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Making $48-$75k ranking, coming in at #13. Located in Lubbock, Texas, this large public school awarded 388 degrees to qualified ’s parks and rec students 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 yearly cost to attend Texas Tech is $17,421 for Southwest Region Parks & Rec students whose families make $48-$75k.
The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 87%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.
Full Texas Tech Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Report
Southeastern Oklahoma State University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Making $48-$75k ranking, coming in at #14. Southeastern Oklahoma State University is a public institution located in Durant, Oklahoma. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 78 ’s degrees in 2019-2020.
The yearly cost to attend Southeastern Oklahoma State University is $9,796 for southwest region parks & rec students whose families make $48-$75k.
MSU Texas ranked #15 on this year’s Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Making $48-$75k list. MSU Texas is a public institution located in Wichita Falls, Texas. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 57 ’s degrees in 2019-2020.
The yearly cost to attend MSU Texas is $10,068 for Southwest Region Parks & Rec students whose families make $48-$75k.
Read full report on Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at MSU Texas
University of Houston - Clear Lake landed the #16 spot on the 2022 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. This medium-sized school is located in Houston, Texas, and it awarded 63 ’s parks and rec degrees in 2019-2020.
UH Clear Lake also made our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Schools in the Southwest Region” list, coming in at #8. The estimated yearly cost for University of Houston - Clear Lake is $9,886 for southwest region parks & rec students whose families make $48-$75k.
Read full report on Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at UH Clear Lake
University of North Texas landed the #17 spot on the 2022 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. UNT is located in Denton, Texas and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 352 ’s parks and rec degrees to qualified students.
UNT not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #11 on our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Schools in the Southwest Region” list. It costs about $15,377 for southwest region parks & rec students whose families make $48-$75k per year to attend UNT.
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 full report on Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at UNT
Stephen F Austin State University came in at #18 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. Stephen F Austin State University is located in Nacogdoches, Texas and, has a fairly large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 166 ’s parks and rec degrees to qualified students.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at SFASU, the school also landed the #18 spot in our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. It costs about $13,644 for southwest region parks & rec students whose families make $48-$75k per year to attend Stephen F Austin State University.
Read more about Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Stephen F Austin State University
The University of Texas at Tyler did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Making $48-$75k ranking, coming in at #19. Located in Tyler, Texas, this medium-sized public school awarded 103 diplomas to qualified ’s parks and rec students in 2019-2020.
It costs about $10,037 for southwest region parks & rec students whose families make $48-$75k per year to attend UT Tyler.
Read full report on Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at UT Tyler
The University of Texas at El Paso ranked #20 on this year’s Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Making $48-$75k list. This large school is located in El Paso, Texas, and it awarded 177 ’s parks and rec degrees in 2019-2020.
The estimated yearly cost for The University of Texas at El Paso is $10,786 for southwest region parks & rec students whose families make $48-$75k.
Full The University of Texas at El Paso Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Report
With a ranking of #21, The University of Texas at Arlington did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Making $48-$75k list. UT Arlington is a large school located in Arlington, Texas that handed out 261 ’s parks and rec degrees in 2019-2020.
UT Arlington not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #13 on our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Schools in the Southwest Region” list. It costs about $14,622 for southwest region parks & rec students whose families make $48-$75k per year to attend The University of Texas at Arlington.
Full UT Arlington Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Report
East Central University came in at #22 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. Located in Ada, Oklahoma, this small public school awarded 83 diplomas to qualified ’s parks and rec students in 2019-2020.
The yearly cost to attend ECU is $13,316 for southwest region parks & rec students whose families make $48-$75k.
Full East Central University Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Report
Sam Houston State University landed the #23 spot on the 2022 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. Sam Houston State University is a large school located in Huntsville, Texas that handed out 163 ’s parks and rec degrees in 2019-2020.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at SHSU, the school also landed the #17 spot in our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend SHSU is $14,832 for Southwest Region Parks & Rec students whose families make $48-$75k.
Read more about Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Sam Houston State University
Southwestern Oklahoma State University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Making $48-$75k ranking, coming in at #24. Southwestern Oklahoma State University is a small public school situated in Weatherford, Oklahoma. It awarded 67 ’s parks and rec degrees in 2019-2020.
The estimated yearly cost for Southwestern Oklahoma State University is $15,091 for Southwest Region Parks & Rec students whose families make $48-$75k.
With a ranking of #25, Cameron University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Making $48-$75k list. 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 yearly cost to attend Cameron University is $10,325 for southwest region parks & rec students whose families make $48-$75k.
Read more about Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Cameron University
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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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