2022 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Master’s For Those Getting Aid
It’s not easy to decide which college to attend when there so many options available for students. 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 Master’s 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.
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 Getting Aid” ranking looked at 296 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.
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 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 Getting Aid” list, to help you choose the best school for you.
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Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Master’s For Those Getting Aid
The following schools top our list of the Best Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Master’s For Those Getting Aid.
Top 25 Best Value Master’s Degree Colleges for Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies (With Aid)
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. The school came in at #1 for the Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Master’s For Those Getting Aid. UNC Chapel Hill is a large school located in Chapel Hill, North Carolina that handed out 37 masters’s parks and rec degrees in 2019-2020.
UNC Chapel Hill also took the #23 spot in our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Master’s Degree Schools” ranking. 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
Out of the 296 schools in the Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Master’s For Those Getting Aid that were part of this year’s ranking, Queens College landed the #2 spot on the list. Queens College is a fairly large public school situated in Queens, New York. It awarded 8 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 Queens College are $21,042.
Full Queens College Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Report
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Brooklyn College. The school came in at #3 for the Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Master’s For Those Getting Aid. Brooklyn College is located in Brooklyn, New York and, has a fairly large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 25 masters’s parks and rec degrees to qualified students.
Average graduate tuition and fees at Brooklyn College are $20,952, but some majors have different tuition rates.
Read full report on Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Brooklyn College
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Florida. It ranked #4 on our 2022 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Master’s For Those Getting Aid list. University of Florida is a large school located in Gainesville, Florida that handed out 67 masters’s parks and rec degrees in 2019-2020.
UF also took the #10 spot in our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Master’s Degree Schools” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at UF are $30,130, but some majors have different tuition rates.
Read full report on Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at University of Florida
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley. It ranked #5 on our 2022 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Master’s For Those Getting Aid list. 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.
Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley are $15,151.
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign ranked #6 on this year’s Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Master’s For Those Getting Aid list. University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign is a public institution located in Champaign, Illinois. The school has a large population, and it awarded 44 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.
In addition to being on our master’s degree parks & rec students with aid list, UIUC has also earned the #3 rank 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 UIUC are $30,083.
Full UIUC Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Report
American Public University System ranked #7 on this year’s Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Master’s For Those Getting Aid list. American Military University is a large school located in Charles Town, West Virginia that handed out 143 masters’s parks and rec degrees in 2019-2020.
American Military University not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #19 on our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Master’s Degree Schools” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at American Military University are $7,050, but some majors have different tuition rates.
Full American Public University System Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Report
California State University - Los Angeles came in at #8 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Master’s For Those Getting Aid ranking. California State University - Los Angeles is located in Los Angeles, California and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 9 masters’s parks and rec degrees to qualified students.
Average graduate tuition and fees at Cal State LA are $17,723, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.
Read full report on Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Cal State LA
With a ranking of #9, University of South Florida - Main Campus did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Master’s For Those Getting Aid list. USF Tampa is a large public school situated in Tampa, Florida. It awarded 56 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 University of South Florida - Main Campus are $21,126.
North Carolina State University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Master’s For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #10. Located in Raleigh, North Carolina, this large public school handed out 37 diplomas to qualified masters’s parks and rec students in 2019-2020.
In addition to being on our master’s degree parks & rec students with aid 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 some majors have different tuition rates.
Read full report on Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at NC State
Florida International University came in at #11 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Master’s For Those Getting Aid ranking. Miami, Florida is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s parks and rec degrees to 24 students in 2019-2020.
Average graduate tuition and fees at FIU are $24,211, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.
Full FIU Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Report
California State University - Long Beach did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Master’s For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #12. California State University - Long Beach is a large school located in Long Beach, California that handed out 120 masters’s parks and rec degrees in 2019-2020.
Average graduate tuition and fees at CSULB are $17,784, but some majors have different tuition rates.
Full CSULB Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Report
The University of Texas of the Permian Basin landed the #13 spot on the 2022 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Master’s For Those Getting Aid ranking. This medium-sized school is located in Odessa, Texas, and it awarded 2 masters’s parks and rec degrees in 2019-2020.
In addition to being on our master’s degree parks & rec students with aid list, UT Permian Basin has also earned the #0 rank in our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Master’s Degree Schools” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at The University of Texas of the Permian Basin are $6,900, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.
California State University - Fullerton ranked #14 on this year’s Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Master’s For Those Getting Aid list. Fullerton, California is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s parks and rec degrees to 36 students in 2019-2020.
Average graduate tuition and fees at Cal State Fullerton are $17,892, but some majors have different tuition rates.
Full Cal State Fullerton Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Report
With a ranking of #15, University of Wisconsin - La Crosse did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Master’s For Those Getting Aid list. Located in La Crosse, Wisconsin, this fairly large public school awarded 41 degrees to qualified masters’s parks and rec students in 2019-2020.
As a testament to the quality of education it offers, UW - La Crosse is also in the top of our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Master’s Degree Schools” ranking. It’s ranked in the top 20% of all schools 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 UW - La Crosse are $20,038.
Read more about Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at University of Wisconsin - La Crosse
Columbia University in the City of New York landed the #16 spot on the 2022 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Master’s For Those Getting Aid ranking. Columbia University in the City of New York is a large school located in New York, New York that handed out 74 masters’s parks and rec degrees in 2019-2020.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at Columbia, the school also landed the #1 spot in our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Master’s Degree Schools” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Columbia University in the City of New York are $51,194, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.
Read full report on Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Columbia
Indiana University - Bloomington ranked #17 on this year’s Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Master’s For Those Getting Aid list. This large school is located in Bloomington, Indiana, and it awarded 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 you may pay more or less depending on your major.
Full Indiana University - Bloomington Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Report
Southeastern Oklahoma State University ranked #18 on this year’s Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Master’s For Those Getting Aid list. Located in Durant, Oklahoma, this medium-sized public school awarded 52 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 Southeastern Oklahoma State University are $11,178.
Full Southeastern Oklahoma State University Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Report
California State University - Fresno ranked #19 on this year’s Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Master’s For Those Getting Aid list. Fresno State is a public institution located in Fresno, California. The school has a large population, and it awarded 23 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 Fresno State are $17,581.
University of Central Florida landed the #20 spot on the 2022 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Master’s For Those Getting Aid ranking. Located in Orlando, Florida, this large public school awarded 27 degrees 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 University of Central Florida are $28,657.
Read more about Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at University of Central Florida
University of Wisconsin - Parkside ranked #21 on this year’s Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Master’s For Those Getting Aid list. Kenosha, Wisconsin is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s parks and rec degrees to 20 students in 2019-2020.
Average graduate tuition and fees at University of Wisconsin - Parkside are $18,768, but some majors have different tuition rates.
The University of West Florida ranked #22 on this year’s Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Master’s For Those Getting Aid list. UWF is located in Pensacola, Florida and, has a fairly large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 17 masters’s parks and rec degrees to qualified students.
Average graduate tuition and fees at UWF are $24,894, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.
Full UWF Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Report
With a ranking of #23, University of Wisconsin - River Falls did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Master’s For Those Getting Aid list. This medium-sized school is located in River Falls, Wisconsin, and it awarded 17 masters’s parks and rec degrees in 2019-2020.
Average graduate tuition and fees at University of Wisconsin - River Falls are $18,233, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.
California State University - Northridge came in at #24 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Master’s For Those Getting Aid ranking. Northridge, California is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s parks and rec degrees to 18 students in 2019-2020.
Average graduate tuition and fees at California State University - Northridge are $17,955, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.
Read more about Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at CSUN
Texas Woman’s University landed the #25 spot on the 2022 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Master’s For Those Getting Aid ranking. This fairly large school is located in Denton, Texas, and it awarded 31 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 TWU are $14,962.
Read more about Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at TWU
Rest of the Best 45 in Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Master’s For Those Getting Aid
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.
Credits
- Credit for the banner image above goes to NPS Photo/Zurbuch.
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