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2022 Best Value Master’s Degree Colleges for Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies (Income Over $110k) in the Southwest Region

39 Ranked Colleges
882 Degrees Awarded
$16,400 Avg Grad Tuition & Fees*
Best Vallue Parks & Rec Schools for a Master's in the Southwest Region For Those Making Over $110k

Students have lots of options to chooose from today when trying to decide which college to attend. Our mission at College Factual is to arm you with as much information as we can to help you make that decision. Our “Best Vallue Parks & Rec Schools for a Master’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making Over $110k” ranking is one tool we have developed to help in this regard.

In 2019-2020, 72,122 people earned their degree in parks, recreation, leisure, and fitness studies, making the major the 15th most popular in the United States. 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. At the master’s degree level specifically, there were 882 parks, recreation, leisure, and fitness studies graduates with average earnings and debt of $53,078 and $37,227 respectively.

This year’s “Best Vallue Parks & Rec Schools for a Master’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making Over $110k” ranking looked at 39 colleges that offer degrees in a bachelor’s in parks, recreation, leisure, and fitness studies. This ranking identifies schools with high-quality parks, recreation, leisure, and fitness studies programs that also have a lower cost than 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.

One Size Does Not Fit All

Since picking the right college can be one of the most important decisions of your life, we’ve developed the “Best Vallue Parks & Rec Schools for a Master’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making Over $110k” 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 by comparing your favorite schools against others you are considering, or bookmark the tool so you can experiment with it later.

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Best Vallue Parks & Rec Schools for a Master’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making Over $110k

The following schools top our list of the Best Best Vallue Parks & Rec Schools for a Master’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making Over $110k.

Top 25 Best Value Master’s Degree Colleges for Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies (Income Over $110k) in the Southwest Region

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley. The school came in at #1 for the Best Vallue Parks & Rec Schools for a Master’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making Over $110k. UT Rio Grande Valley is located in Edinburg, Texas and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 14 masters’s parks and rec degrees to qualified students.

Average graduate tuition and fees at UT Rio Grande Valley are $15,151, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Full UT Rio Grande Valley Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Report

#17 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Southeastern Oklahoma State University. It ranked #2 on our 2022 Best Vallue Parks & Rec Schools for a Master’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making Over $110k list. This medium-sized school is located in Durant, Oklahoma, and it awarded 52 masters’s parks and rec degrees in 2019-2020.

Southeastern Oklahoma State University not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #17 on our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Master’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at Southeastern Oklahoma State University are $11,178, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Full Southeastern Oklahoma State University Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Report

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend The University of Texas of the Permian Basin. It ranked #3 on our 2022 Best Vallue Parks & Rec Schools for a Master’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making Over $110k list. Located in Odessa, Texas, this medium-sized public school handed out 2 degrees to qualified masters’s parks and rec students in 2019-2020.

UT Permian Basin also made our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Master’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” list, coming in at #0. Average graduate tuition and fees at UT Permian Basin are $6,900, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

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

#9 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Texas Woman’s University. It ranked #4 on our 2022 Best Vallue Parks & Rec Schools for a Master’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making Over $110k list. Located in Denton, Texas, this fairly large public school awarded 31 diplomas to qualified masters’s parks and rec students in 2019-2020.

TWU also made our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Master’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” list, coming in at #9. 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 full report on Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Texas Woman’s University

#5

East Central University

Ada, Oklahoma
#23 in overall quality

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend East Central University. The school came in at #5 for the Best Vallue Parks & Rec Schools for a Master’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making Over $110k. ECU is a small public school situated in Ada, Oklahoma. It awarded 35 masters’s parks and rec degrees in 2019-2020.

ECU did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #23 on our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Master’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at ECU are $11,568, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read full report on Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at East Central University

#6

University of the Southwest

Hobbs, New Mexico
#15 in overall quality

University of the Southwest came in at #6 in this year’s edition of the Best Vallue Parks & Rec Schools for a Master’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making Over $110k ranking. Hobbs, New Mexico is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out masters’s parks and rec degrees to 27 students in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at USW, the school also landed the #15 spot in our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Master’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at University of the Southwest are $22,500.

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

#7

MSU Texas

Wichita Falls, Texas
#11 in overall quality

MSU Texas ranked #7 on this year’s Best Vallue Parks & Rec Schools for a Master’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making Over $110k list. This medium-sized school is located in Wichita Falls, Texas, and it awarded 29 masters’s parks and rec degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at MSU Texas, the school also landed the #11 spot in our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Master’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at MSU Texas are $7,935, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

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

#8

Northeastern State University

Tahlequah, Oklahoma

Northeastern State University did quite well in the 2022 Best Vallue Parks & Rec Schools for a Master’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making Over $110k ranking, coming in at #8. NSU is a public institution located in Tahlequah, Oklahoma. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 13 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 Northeastern State University are $10,600.

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

#9

Texas Tech University

Lubbock, Texas
#6 in overall quality

With a ranking of #9, Texas Tech University did quite well on the 2022 Best Vallue Parks & Rec Schools for a Master’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making Over $110k list. Texas Tech is a large public school situated in Lubbock, Texas. It awarded 39 masters’s parks and rec degrees in 2019-2020.

Texas Tech also made our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Master’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” list, coming in at #6. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Texas Tech University are $17,530.

Read more about Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Texas Tech University

The University of Texas at San Antonio ranked #10 on this year’s Best Vallue Parks & Rec Schools for a Master’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making Over $110k list. UTSA is a large school located in San Antonio, Texas that handed out 35 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 The University of Texas at San Antonio are $25,807.

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

#2 in overall quality

The University of Texas at Austin did quite well in the 2022 Best Vallue Parks & Rec Schools for a Master’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making Over $110k ranking, coming in at #11. The University of Texas at Austin is a large public school situated in Austin, Texas. It awarded 12 masters’s parks and rec degrees in 2019-2020.

UT Austin also took the #2 spot in our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Master’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at The University of Texas at Austin are $22,886.

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

#12

University of Houston

Houston, Texas
#8 in overall quality

University of Houston came in at #12 in this year’s edition of the Best Vallue Parks & Rec Schools for a Master’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making Over $110k ranking. University of Houston is located in Houston, Texas and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 11 masters’s parks and rec degrees to qualified students.

UH did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #8 on our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Master’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at University of Houston are $18,689, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read more about Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at UH

The University of Texas at El Paso landed the #13 spot on the 2022 Best Vallue Parks & Rec Schools for a Master’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making Over $110k ranking. UTEP is located in El Paso, Texas and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 8 masters’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 The University of Texas at El Paso are $16,180.

Read more about Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at UTEP

#14

Texas A&M University - College Station

College Station, Texas
#1 in overall quality

Texas A&M University - College Station landed the #14 spot on the 2022 Best Vallue Parks & Rec Schools for a Master’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making Over $110k ranking. Texas A&M College Station is a large school located in College Station, Texas that handed out 73 masters’s parks and rec degrees in 2019-2020.

Texas A&M College Station also made our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Master’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” list, coming in at #1. Average graduate tuition and fees at Texas A&M College Station are $22,743, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read more about Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Texas A&M University - College Station

#14 in overall quality

The University of Texas at Arlington did quite well in the 2022 Best Vallue Parks & Rec Schools for a Master’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making Over $110k ranking, coming in at #15. UT Arlington is located in Arlington, Texas and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 20 masters’s parks and rec degrees to qualified students.

UT Arlington not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #14 on our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Master’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at UT Arlington are $23,376, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

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

#16

Lamar University

Beaumont, Texas

Lamar University landed the #16 spot on the 2022 Best Vallue Parks & Rec Schools for a Master’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making Over $110k ranking. Lamar University is a fairly large public school situated in Beaumont, Texas. It awarded 6 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 Lamar University are $15,699.

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

#25 in overall quality

Stephen F Austin State University ranked #17 on this year’s Best Vallue Parks & Rec Schools for a Master’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making Over $110k list. Located in Nacogdoches, Texas, this fairly large public school handed out 20 degrees to qualified masters’s parks and rec students in 2019-2020.

SFASU also took the #25 spot in our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Master’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Stephen F Austin State University are $15,695.

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

#7 in overall quality

With a ranking of #18, Oklahoma State University - Main Campus did quite well on the 2022 Best Vallue Parks & Rec Schools for a Master’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making Over $110k list. Oklahoma State University - Main Campus is a public institution located in Stillwater, Oklahoma. The school has a large population, and it awarded 15 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

OSU did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #7 on our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Master’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at OSU are $23,963, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read more about Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at OSU

#19

University of North Texas

Denton, Texas
#12 in overall quality

University of North Texas landed the #19 spot on the 2022 Best Vallue Parks & Rec Schools for a Master’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making Over $110k ranking. Located in Denton, Texas, this large public school handed out 44 degrees to qualified masters’s parks and rec students in 2019-2020.

UNT not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #12 on our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Master’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at University of North Texas are $15,618, but some majors have different tuition rates.

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

#20

West Texas A&M University

Canyon, Texas

West Texas A&M University ranked #20 on this year’s Best Vallue Parks & Rec Schools for a Master’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making Over $110k list. Located in Canyon, Texas, this fairly large public school awarded 8 diplomas to qualified masters’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 West Texas A&M University are $8,013.

Read full report on Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at West Texas A&M University

The University of Texas at Tyler did quite well in the 2022 Best Vallue Parks & Rec Schools for a Master’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making Over $110k ranking, coming in at #21. The University of Texas at Tyler is a medium-sized public school situated in Tyler, Texas. It awarded 12 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 The University of Texas at Tyler are $16,308.

Full UT Tyler Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Report

#16 in overall quality

Texas A&M University - Commerce landed the #22 spot on the 2022 Best Vallue Parks & Rec Schools for a Master’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making Over $110k ranking. This fairly large school is located in Commerce, Texas, and it awarded 35 masters’s parks and rec degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our southwest region master’s degree parks & rec students whose families make more than $110k list, Texas A&M Commerce has also earned the #16 rank in our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Master’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Texas A&M Commerce are $14,549, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Full Texas A&M University - Commerce Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Report

#23

Texas State University

San Marcos, Texas
#13 in overall quality

Texas State University landed the #23 spot on the 2022 Best Vallue Parks & Rec Schools for a Master’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making Over $110k ranking. Texas State is a large school located in San Marcos, Texas that handed out 39 masters’s parks and rec degrees in 2019-2020.

Texas State not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #13 on our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Master’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at Texas State are $17,040, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

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

#24

Angelo State University

San Angelo, Texas

Angelo State University did quite well in the 2022 Best Vallue Parks & Rec Schools for a Master’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making Over $110k ranking, coming in at #24. This fairly large school is located in San Angelo, Texas, and it awarded 27 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 Angelo State University are $14,396.

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

#25

Sam Houston State University

Huntsville, Texas
#18 in overall quality

Sam Houston State University came in at #25 in this year’s edition of the Best Vallue Parks & Rec Schools for a Master’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making Over $110k ranking. SHSU is a public institution located in Huntsville, Texas. The school has a large population, and it awarded 22 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

SHSU not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #18 on our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Master’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at Sam Houston State University are $15,704, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

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