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2022 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Bachelor’s in Massachusetts For Those Getting Aid

12 Ranked Colleges
869 Degrees Awarded
$25,400 Avg Net Price*
Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Bachelor's in Massachusetts For Those Getting Aid

When it comes to choosing a college, students have a lot of options - but not all of them are good. At College Factual, we’re committed to helping you make that decision by providing information such as that found in our “Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Bachelor’s in Massachusetts For Those Getting Aid” ranking.

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 Massachusetts, there were 1,102 parks, recreation, leisure, and fitness studies graduates with average earnings and debt of $35,071 and $25,549 respectively. At the bachelor’s degree level specifically, there were 869 parks, recreation, leisure, and fitness studies graduates with average earnings and debt of $42,887 and $24,387 respectively.

This year’s “Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Bachelor’s in Massachusetts For Those Getting Aid” ranking looked at 12 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.

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.

One Size Does Not Fit All

When choosing the right school for you, it’s important to arm yourself with all the facts you can. To that end, we’ve created a number of major-specific rankings, including this “Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Bachelor’s in Massachusetts For Those Getting Aid” list to help you make the college decision.

In addition to our rankings, you can take two colleges and compare them based on the criteria that matters most to you in our unique 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 Bachelor’s in Massachusetts For Those Getting Aid

The colleges and universities below are the best for massachusetts bachelor’s degree parks & rec students with aid.

Top 12 Best Value Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies in Massachusetts (With Aid)

#1

University of Massachusetts Amherst

Amherst, Massachusetts
#1 in overall quality

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of Massachusetts Amherst. The school came in at #1 for the Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Bachelor’s in Massachusetts For Those Getting Aid. University of Massachusetts Amherst is a large school located in Amherst, Massachusetts that handed out 132 bachelors’s parks and rec degrees in 2019-2020.

UMass Amherst also made our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Massachusetts” list, coming in at #1. The yearly cost to attend UMass Amherst is $22,501 for Massachusetts Bachelor’s Degree Parks & Rec students with aid.

The student loan default rate at the school is 2.8%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 89%.

Full UMass Amherst Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Report

#6 in overall quality

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of Massachusetts - Boston. The school came in at #2 for the Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Bachelor’s in Massachusetts For Those Getting Aid. University of Massachusetts - Boston is a fairly large public school situated in Boston, Massachusetts. It awarded 145 bachelors’s parks and rec degrees in 2019-2020.

UMass Boston also took the #6 spot in our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Massachusetts” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for University of Massachusetts - Boston is $18,340 for Massachusetts Bachelor’s Degree Parks & Rec students with aid.

Read more about Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at UMass Boston

#3

Fitchburg State University

Fitchburg, Massachusetts
#8 in overall quality

Out of the 12 schools in the Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Bachelor’s in Massachusetts For Those Getting Aid that were part of this year’s ranking, Fitchburg State University landed the #3 spot on the list. This medium-sized school is located in Fitchburg, Massachusetts, and it awarded 2 bachelors’s parks and rec degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Fitchburg State, the school also landed the #8 spot in our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Massachusetts” ranking. It costs about $16,001 for Massachusetts Bachelor’s Degree Parks & Rec students with aid per year to attend Fitchburg State University.

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

#4

Westfield State University

Westfield, Massachusetts
#5 in overall quality

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Westfield State University. The school came in at #4 for the Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Bachelor’s in Massachusetts For Those Getting Aid. Westfield is a public institution located in Westfield, Massachusetts. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 67 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our massachusetts bachelor’s degree parks & rec students with aid list, Westfield has also earned the #5 rank in our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Massachusetts” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Westfield State University is $19,167 for massachusetts bachelor’s degree parks & rec students with aid.

The student loan default rate at the school is 4.3%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Full Westfield State University Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Report

#5

Salem State University

Salem, Massachusetts
#7 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Salem State University. It ranked #5 on our 2022 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Bachelor’s in Massachusetts For Those Getting Aid list. Salem State University is a medium-sized school located in Salem, Massachusetts that handed out 58 bachelors’s parks and rec degrees in 2019-2020.

Salem State did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #7 on our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Massachusetts” list. The estimated yearly cost for Salem State is $18,399 for Massachusetts Bachelor’s Degree Parks & Rec students with aid.

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

#6

Lasell University

Newton, Massachusetts
#4 in overall quality

Lasell University ranked #6 on this year’s Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Bachelor’s in Massachusetts For Those Getting Aid list. This small school is located in Newton, Massachusetts, and it awarded 42 bachelors’s parks and rec degrees in 2019-2020.

Lasell also made our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Massachusetts” list, coming in at #4. The yearly cost to attend Lasell University is $27,428 for massachusetts bachelor’s degree parks & rec students with aid.

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

#7

Springfield College

Springfield, Massachusetts
#3 in overall quality

With a ranking of #7, Springfield College did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Bachelor’s in Massachusetts For Those Getting Aid list. Springfield College is located in Springfield, Massachusetts and, has a small student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 82 bachelors’s parks and rec degrees to qualified students.

Springfield College did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #3 on our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Massachusetts” list. The estimated yearly cost for Springfield College is $30,134 for massachusetts bachelor’s degree parks & rec students with aid.

With a freshman retention rate of 85%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students.

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

#8

Gordon College

Wenham, Massachusetts
#9 in overall quality

Gordon College came in at #8 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Bachelor’s in Massachusetts For Those Getting Aid ranking. Gordon College is located in Wenham, Massachusetts and, has a small student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 15 bachelors’s parks and rec degrees to qualified students.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Gordon College, the school also landed the #9 spot in our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Massachusetts” ranking. It costs about $25,777 for massachusetts bachelor’s degree parks & rec students with aid per year to attend Gordon College.

The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 2.4%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. 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.

Read more about Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Gordon College

#9

Endicott College

Beverly, Massachusetts
#2 in overall quality

With a ranking of #9, Endicott College did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Bachelor’s in Massachusetts For Those Getting Aid list. Endicott College is a small school located in Beverly, Massachusetts that handed out 87 bachelors’s parks and rec degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our massachusetts bachelor’s degree parks & rec students with aid list, Endicott has also earned the #2 rank in our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Massachusetts” ranking. It costs about $35,642 for Massachusetts Bachelor’s Degree Parks & Rec students with aid per year to attend Endicott College.

The low student loan default rate of 3.2% 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 Endicott College

#10

Nichols College

Dudley, Massachusetts
#10 in overall quality

Nichols College came in at #10 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Bachelor’s in Massachusetts For Those Getting Aid ranking. Nichols is located in Dudley, Massachusetts and, has a small student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 48 bachelors’s parks and rec degrees to qualified students.

In addition to being on our massachusetts bachelor’s degree parks & rec students with aid list, Nichols has also earned the #10 rank in our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Massachusetts” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Nichols College is $27,721 for Massachusetts Bachelor’s Degree Parks & Rec students with aid.

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

#11

Regis College

Weston, Massachusetts
#11 in overall quality

Regis College ranked #11 on this year’s Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Bachelor’s in Massachusetts For Those Getting Aid list. Regis College is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Weston, Massachusetts. It awarded 11 bachelors’s parks and rec degrees in 2019-2020.

Regis College not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #11 on our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Massachusetts” list. The estimated yearly cost for Regis College is $30,408 for Massachusetts Bachelor’s Degree Parks & Rec students with aid.

With a student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed.

Read more about Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Regis College

#12

Becker College

Worcester, Massachusetts
#12 in overall quality

Becker College ranked #12 on this year’s Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Bachelor’s in Massachusetts For Those Getting Aid list. Located in Worcester, Massachusetts, this small private not-for-profit school handed out 14 diplomas to qualified bachelors’s parks and rec students in 2019-2020.

Becker College also took the #12 spot in our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Massachusetts” ranking. It costs about $32,920 for massachusetts bachelor’s degree parks & rec students with aid per year to attend Becker College.

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

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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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