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2022 Best Value Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies in Pennsylvania (With Aid)

27 Ranked Colleges
1,992 Degrees Awarded
$22,200 Avg Net Price*
Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Bachelor's in Pennsylvania For Those Getting Aid

When pursuing a degree in today’s world, students have many different options to choose from. 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 for a Bachelor’s in Pennsylvania For Those Getting Aid” 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 Pennsylvania, there were 2,611 parks, recreation, leisure, and fitness studies graduates with average earnings and debt of $30,610 and $27,012 respectively. At the bachelor’s degree level specifically, there were 1,992 parks, recreation, leisure, and fitness studies graduates with average earnings and debt of $0 and $0 respectively.

For this year’s “Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Bachelor’s in Pennsylvania For Those Getting Aid” ranking, we looked at 27 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.

When determining these rankings, we looked at things such as overall quality of the parks, recreation, leisure, and fitness studies program at the school and the cost to attend the school once aid has been awarded. See our ranking methodology to learn more.

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 Bachelor’s in Pennsylvania For Those Getting Aid” list, to help you choose the best school for you.

In addition to College Factual’s rankings, you may want to take a look at College Combat, our unique tool that lets you pit your favorite schools head-to-head and compare how they rate on factors that most interest you. If you’re torn between two schools, you can use it to help you see how they stack up against one another. Bookmark it so you can compare any new schools that might interest you.

Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Bachelor’s in Pennsylvania For Those Getting Aid

The following schools top our list of the Best Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Bachelor’s in Pennsylvania For Those Getting Aid.

Top 25 Best Value Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies in Pennsylvania (With Aid)

#1

Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania

Slippery Rock, Pennsylvania
#2 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania. It ranked #1 on our 2022 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Bachelor’s in Pennsylvania For Those Getting Aid list. Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania is located in Slippery Rock, Pennsylvania and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 161 bachelors’s parks and rec degrees to qualified students.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at SRU, the school also landed the #2 spot in our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Pennsylvania” ranking. The yearly cost to attend SRU is $19,926 for Pennsylvania Bachelor’s Degree Parks & Rec students with aid.

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

#2

Cheyney University of Pennsylvania

Cheyney, Pennsylvania

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Cheyney University of Pennsylvania. The school came in at #2 for the Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Bachelor’s in Pennsylvania For Those Getting Aid. Cheyney University of Pennsylvania is located in Cheyney, Pennsylvania and, has a small student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 4 bachelors’s parks and rec degrees to qualified students.

The yearly cost to attend Cheyney University of Pennsylvania is $7,656 for pennsylvania bachelor’s degree parks & rec students with aid.

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

#3

Edinboro University of Pennsylvania

Edinboro, Pennsylvania
#21 in overall quality

Out of the 27 schools in the Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Bachelor’s in Pennsylvania For Those Getting Aid that were part of this year’s ranking, Edinboro University of Pennsylvania landed the #3 spot on the list. Edinboro, Pennsylvania is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s parks and rec degrees to 57 students in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Edinboro, the school also landed the #21 spot in our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Pennsylvania” ranking. It costs about $16,833 for pennsylvania bachelor’s degree parks & rec students with aid per year to attend Edinboro.

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

#4

West Chester University of Pennsylvania

West Chester, Pennsylvania
#6 in overall quality

Out of the 27 schools in the Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Bachelor’s in Pennsylvania For Those Getting Aid that were part of this year’s ranking, West Chester University of Pennsylvania landed the #4 spot on the list. WCUPA is located in West Chester, Pennsylvania and, has a fairly large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 168 bachelors’s parks and rec degrees to qualified students.

WCUPA not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #6 on our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Pennsylvania” list. The yearly cost to attend WCUPA is $22,495 for pennsylvania bachelor’s degree parks & rec students with aid.

The student loan default rate at the school is 4.4%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. 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 West Chester University of Pennsylvania

#5

East Stroudsburg University of Pennsylvania

East Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania
#10 in overall quality

Out of the 27 schools in the Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Bachelor’s in Pennsylvania For Those Getting Aid that were part of this year’s ranking, East Stroudsburg University of Pennsylvania landed the #5 spot on the list. This medium-sized school is located in East Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania, and it awarded 138 bachelors’s parks and rec degrees in 2019-2020.

East Stroudsburg University did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #10 on our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Pennsylvania” list. The yearly cost to attend East Stroudsburg University of Pennsylvania is $19,855 for Pennsylvania Bachelor’s Degree Parks & Rec students with aid.

Read full report on Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at East Stroudsburg University of Pennsylvania

#6

University of Pittsburgh - Bradford

Bradford, Pennsylvania
#23 in overall quality

University of Pittsburgh - Bradford came in at #6 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Bachelor’s in Pennsylvania For Those Getting Aid ranking. Located in Bradford, Pennsylvania, this small public school awarded 24 diplomas to qualified bachelors’s parks and rec students in 2019-2020.

Pitt Bradford not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #23 on our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Pennsylvania” list. The estimated yearly cost for University of Pittsburgh - Bradford is $18,906 for pennsylvania bachelor’s degree parks & rec students with aid.

The student loan default rate at the school is 3.5%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at University of Pittsburgh - Bradford

#7

Lock Haven University

Lock Haven, Pennsylvania
#9 in overall quality

Lock Haven University landed the #7 spot on the 2022 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Bachelor’s in Pennsylvania For Those Getting Aid ranking. LHU is a small school located in Lock Haven, Pennsylvania that handed out 124 bachelors’s parks and rec degrees in 2019-2020.

LHU also made our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Pennsylvania” list, coming in at #9. The estimated yearly cost for Lock Haven University is $20,506 for pennsylvania bachelor’s degree parks & rec students with aid.

Full Lock Haven University Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Report

#8

Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania

Bloomsburg, Pennsylvania
#15 in overall quality

With a ranking of #8, Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Bachelor’s in Pennsylvania For Those Getting Aid list. Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania is a public institution located in Bloomsburg, Pennsylvania. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 47 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

Bloomsburg not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #15 on our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Pennsylvania” list. The estimated yearly cost for Bloomsburg is $20,230 for pennsylvania bachelor’s degree parks & rec students with aid.

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

#9

California University of Pennsylvania

California, Pennsylvania
#12 in overall quality

With a ranking of #9, California University of Pennsylvania did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Bachelor’s in Pennsylvania For Those Getting Aid list. Located in California, Pennsylvania, this medium-sized public school awarded 105 diplomas to qualified bachelors’s parks and rec students in 2019-2020.

Cal U also took the #12 spot in our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Pennsylvania” ranking. It costs about $18,154 for pennsylvania bachelor’s degree parks & rec students with aid per year to attend Cal U.

Read more about Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Cal U

#10

Temple University

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
#1 in overall quality

Temple University landed the #10 spot on the 2022 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Bachelor’s in Pennsylvania For Those Getting Aid ranking. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s parks and rec degrees to 346 students in 2019-2020.

Temple also made our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Pennsylvania” list, coming in at #1. It costs about $23,521 for Pennsylvania Bachelor’s Degree Parks & Rec students with aid per year to attend Temple University.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 87%.

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

#11

Kutztown University of Pennsylvania

Kutztown, Pennsylvania
#5 in overall quality

Kutztown University of Pennsylvania came in at #11 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Bachelor’s in Pennsylvania For Those Getting Aid ranking. Kutztown, Pennsylvania is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s parks and rec degrees to 67 students in 2019-2020.

Kutztown University not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #5 on our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Pennsylvania” list. The estimated yearly cost for Kutztown University of Pennsylvania is $22,422 for Pennsylvania Bachelor’s Degree Parks & Rec students with aid.

Full Kutztown University of Pennsylvania Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Report

#12

York College of Pennsylvania

York, Pennsylvania
#7 in overall quality

York College of Pennsylvania landed the #12 spot on the 2022 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Bachelor’s in Pennsylvania For Those Getting Aid ranking. York College of Pennsylvania is a private not-for-profit institution located in York, Pennsylvania. The school has a small population, and it awarded 52 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

YCP also took the #7 spot in our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Pennsylvania” ranking. The yearly cost to attend York College of Pennsylvania is $20,652 for pennsylvania bachelor’s degree parks & rec students with aid.

The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 4.8%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Full York College of Pennsylvania Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Report

#13

Clarion University of Pennsylvania

Clarion, Pennsylvania
#19 in overall quality

Clarion University of Pennsylvania ranked #13 on this year’s Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Bachelor’s in Pennsylvania For Those Getting Aid list. Clarion University is a public institution located in Clarion, Pennsylvania. The school has a small population, and it awarded 24 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

Clarion University not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #19 on our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Pennsylvania” list. The yearly cost to attend Clarion University is $20,011 for pennsylvania bachelor’s degree parks & rec students with aid.

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

#14

Cabrini University

Radnor, Pennsylvania
#14 in overall quality

Cabrini University ranked #14 on this year’s Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Bachelor’s in Pennsylvania For Those Getting Aid list. This small school is located in Radnor, Pennsylvania, and it awarded 14 bachelors’s parks and rec degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our pennsylvania bachelor’s degree parks & rec students with aid list, Cabrini University has also earned the #14 rank in our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Pennsylvania” ranking. It costs about $21,684 for Pennsylvania Bachelor’s Degree Parks & Rec students with aid per year to attend Cabrini University.

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

#17 in overall quality

Indiana University of Pennsylvania - Main Campus landed the #15 spot on the 2022 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Bachelor’s in Pennsylvania For Those Getting Aid ranking. Indiana University of Pennsylvania - Main Campus is a public institution located in Indiana, Pennsylvania. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 93 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

IUP not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #17 on our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Pennsylvania” list. It costs about $22,448 for Pennsylvania Bachelor’s Degree Parks & Rec students with aid per year to attend IUP.

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

#16

Gannon University

Erie, Pennsylvania
#11 in overall quality

Gannon University came in at #16 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Bachelor’s in Pennsylvania For Those Getting Aid ranking. Located in Erie, Pennsylvania, this small private not-for-profit school handed out 55 diplomas to qualified bachelors’s parks and rec students in 2019-2020.

Gannon not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #11 on our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Pennsylvania” list. The yearly cost to attend Gannon University is $21,431 for Pennsylvania Bachelor’s Degree Parks & Rec students with aid.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 85%. The low student loan default rate of 3.7% 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%.

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

#17

Lancaster Bible College

Lancaster, Pennsylvania
#20 in overall quality

Lancaster Bible College came in at #17 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Bachelor’s in Pennsylvania For Those Getting Aid ranking. Lancaster, Pennsylvania is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out bachelors’s parks and rec degrees to 6 students in 2019-2020.

Lancaster Bible College also took the #20 spot in our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Pennsylvania” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Lancaster Bible College is $22,349 for Pennsylvania Bachelor’s Degree Parks & Rec students with aid.

Full Lancaster Bible College Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Report

#18

Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania

Shippensburg, Pennsylvania
#22 in overall quality

With a ranking of #18, Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Bachelor’s in Pennsylvania For Those Getting Aid list. Located in Shippensburg, Pennsylvania, this medium-sized public school awarded 36 degrees to qualified bachelors’s parks and rec students in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Ship, the school also landed the #22 spot in our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Pennsylvania” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania is $22,054 for Pennsylvania Bachelor’s Degree Parks & Rec students with aid.

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

#19

Robert Morris University

Moon Township, Pennsylvania
#8 in overall quality

With a ranking of #19, Robert Morris University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Bachelor’s in Pennsylvania For Those Getting Aid list. Moon Township, Pennsylvania is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out bachelors’s parks and rec degrees to 24 students in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at RMU, the school also landed the #8 spot in our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Pennsylvania” ranking. It costs about $26,839 for Pennsylvania Bachelor’s Degree Parks & Rec students with aid per year to attend RMU.

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

#20

Seton Hill University

Greensburg, Pennsylvania
#24 in overall quality

Seton Hill University ranked #20 on this year’s Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Bachelor’s in Pennsylvania For Those Getting Aid list. Seton Hill is located in Greensburg, Pennsylvania and, has a small student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 35 bachelors’s parks and rec degrees to qualified students.

Seton Hill also made our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Pennsylvania” list, coming in at #24. The yearly cost to attend Seton Hill University is $23,620 for pennsylvania bachelor’s degree parks & rec students with aid.

The student loan default rate at the school is 4.9%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Seton Hill University

#21

Alvernia University

Reading, Pennsylvania
#16 in overall quality

With a ranking of #21, Alvernia University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Bachelor’s in Pennsylvania For Those Getting Aid list. Alvernia University is a private not-for-profit institution located in Reading, Pennsylvania. The school has a small population, and it awarded 15 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

Alvernia did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #16 on our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Pennsylvania” list. The yearly cost to attend Alvernia University is $27,851 for Pennsylvania Bachelor’s Degree Parks & Rec students with aid.

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

#22

Keystone College

La Plume, Pennsylvania

Keystone College landed the #22 spot on the 2022 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Bachelor’s in Pennsylvania For Those Getting Aid ranking. Keystone College is a small private not-for-profit school situated in La Plume, Pennsylvania. It awarded 20 bachelors’s parks and rec degrees in 2019-2020.

The estimated yearly cost for Keystone College is $25,895 for pennsylvania bachelor’s degree parks & rec students with aid.

Full Keystone College Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Report

#23

DeSales University

Center Valley, Pennsylvania
#13 in overall quality

DeSales University ranked #23 on this year’s Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Bachelor’s in Pennsylvania For Those Getting Aid list. DeSales University is located in Center Valley, Pennsylvania and, has a small student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 27 bachelors’s parks and rec degrees to qualified students.

DeSales not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #13 on our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Pennsylvania” list. The estimated yearly cost for DeSales is $28,309 for Pennsylvania Bachelor’s Degree Parks & Rec students with aid.

The student loan default rate at the school is 4.6%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

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

#24

Immaculata University

Immaculata, Pennsylvania
#18 in overall quality

Immaculata University landed the #24 spot on the 2022 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Bachelor’s in Pennsylvania For Those Getting Aid ranking. Immaculata, Pennsylvania is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out bachelors’s parks and rec degrees to 32 students in 2019-2020.

Immaculata did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #18 on our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Pennsylvania” list. It costs about $28,110 for Pennsylvania Bachelor’s Degree Parks & Rec students with aid per year to attend Immaculata University.

The student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one.

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

#25

University of Scranton

Scranton, Pennsylvania
#4 in overall quality

University of Scranton came in at #25 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Bachelor’s in Pennsylvania For Those Getting Aid ranking. This small school is located in Scranton, Pennsylvania, and it awarded 71 bachelors’s parks and rec degrees in 2019-2020.

University of Scranton did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #4 on our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Pennsylvania” list. The yearly cost to attend University of Scranton is $34,374 for Pennsylvania Bachelor’s Degree Parks & Rec students with aid.

The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 1.9%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 89%.

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

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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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