Find Schools

Study Area & Zipcode

Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies

Find Schools Near

2022 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Master’s in the Far Western US Region For Those Getting Aid

32 Ranked Colleges
1,314 Degrees Awarded
$20,300 Avg Grad Tuition & Fees*
Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Master's in the Far Western US Region For Those Getting Aid

When pursuing a degree in today’s world, students have many different options to choose from. 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 for a Master’s in the Far Western US Region For Those Getting Aid” ranking - to help you make that decision.

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 Far Western US region, there were 13,292 parks, recreation, leisure, and fitness studies graduates with average earnings and debt of $30,601 and $24,679 respectively. At the master’s degree level specifically, there were 1,314 parks, recreation, leisure, and fitness studies graduates with average earnings and debt of $59,319 and $48,880 respectively.

This year’s “Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Master’s in the Far Western US Region For Those Getting Aid” ranking looked at 32 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. For more information, check out our ranking methodology.

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 Master’s in the Far Western US Region For Those Getting Aid” list, to help you choose the best school for you.

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.

Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Master’s in the Far Western US Region For Those Getting Aid

The following schools top our list of the Best Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Master’s in the Far Western US Region For Those Getting Aid.

Top 25 Best Value Master’s Degree Colleges for Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies in the Far Western US Region (With Aid)

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend California State University - Los Angeles. The school came in at #1 for the Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Master’s in the Far Western US Region For Those Getting Aid. Located in Los Angeles, California, this large public school awarded 9 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 California State University - Los Angeles are $17,723.

Read more about Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at California State University - Los Angeles

#9 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend California State University - Long Beach. It ranked #2 on our 2022 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Master’s in the Far Western US Region For Those Getting Aid list. Located in Long Beach, California, this large public school awarded 120 degrees to qualified masters’s parks and rec students in 2019-2020.

CSULB not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #9 on our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Master’s Degree Schools in the Far Western US Region” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at CSULB are $17,784, but some majors have different tuition rates.

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

#17 in overall quality

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend California State University - Fullerton. The school came in at #3 for the Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Master’s in the Far Western US Region For Those Getting Aid. This large school is located in Fullerton, California, and it awarded 36 masters’s parks and rec degrees in 2019-2020.

Cal State Fullerton did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #17 on our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Master’s Degree Schools in the Far Western US Region” list. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at California State University - Fullerton are $17,892.

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

#23 in overall quality

Out of the 32 schools in the Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Master’s in the Far Western US Region For Those Getting Aid that were part of this year’s ranking, California State University - Fresno landed the #4 spot on the list. Fresno State is a large school located in Fresno, California that handed out 23 masters’s parks and rec degrees in 2019-2020.

Fresno State not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #23 on our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Master’s Degree Schools in the Far Western US Region” list. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at California State University - Fresno are $17,581.

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

#25 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend California State University - Northridge. It ranked #5 on our 2022 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Master’s in the Far Western US Region For Those Getting Aid list. 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.

In addition to being on our far western us region master’s degree parks & rec students with aid list, CSUN has also earned the #25 rank in our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Master’s Degree Schools in the Far Western US Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at California State University - Northridge are $17,955, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Full California State University - Northridge Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Report

#21 in overall quality

California State University - Sacramento landed the #6 spot on the 2022 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Master’s in the Far Western US Region For Those Getting Aid ranking. California State University - Sacramento is located in Sacramento, California and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 7 masters’s parks and rec degrees to qualified students.

Sac State did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #21 on our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Master’s Degree Schools in the Far Western US Region” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at Sac State are $18,356, but some majors have different tuition rates.

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

#7

San Diego State University

San Diego, California
#11 in overall quality

San Diego State University ranked #7 on this year’s Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Master’s in the Far Western US Region For Those Getting Aid list. San Diego State University is a large school located in San Diego, California that handed out 8 masters’s parks and rec degrees in 2019-2020.

SDSU also made our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Master’s Degree Schools in the Far Western US Region” list, coming in at #11. Average graduate tuition and fees at SDSU are $18,658, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

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

#8

San Jose State University

San Jose, California
#14 in overall quality

San Jose State University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Master’s in the Far Western US Region For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #8. San Jose State University is located in San Jose, California and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 29 masters’s parks and rec degrees to qualified students.

San Jose State did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #14 on our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Master’s Degree Schools in the Far Western US Region” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at San Jose State are $18,790, but some majors have different tuition rates.

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

#9

Eastern Washington University

Cheney, Washington

Eastern Washington University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Master’s in the Far Western US Region For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #9. Located in Cheney, Washington, this fairly large public school handed out 4 diplomas to qualified masters’s parks and rec students in 2019-2020.

EWU did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #0 on our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Master’s Degree Schools in the Far Western US Region” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at EWU are $28,921, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Full Eastern Washington University Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Report

University of Nevada - Las Vegas landed the #10 spot on the 2022 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Master’s in the Far Western US Region For Those Getting Aid ranking. This large school is located in Las Vegas, Nevada, and it awarded 4 masters’s parks and rec degrees in 2019-2020.

UNLV not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #0 on our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Master’s Degree Schools in the Far Western US Region” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at UNLV are $21,962, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

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

#11

Central Washington University

Ellensburg, Washington
#7 in overall quality

With a ranking of #11, Central Washington University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Master’s in the Far Western US Region For Those Getting Aid list. CWU is a public institution located in Ellensburg, Washington. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 36 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our far western us region master’s degree parks & rec students with aid list, CWU has also earned the #7 rank in our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Master’s Degree Schools in the Far Western US Region” ranking. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Central Washington University are $24,976.

Full Central Washington University Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Report

#12

Southern Oregon University

Ashland, Oregon

Southern Oregon University came in at #12 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Master’s in the Far Western US Region For Those Getting Aid ranking. Southern Oregon University is a medium-sized school located in Ashland, Oregon that handed out 8 masters’s parks and rec degrees in 2019-2020.

Average graduate tuition and fees at Southern Oregon University are $23,445, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

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

California State University - East Bay did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Master’s in the Far Western US Region For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #13. California State University - East Bay is a fairly large school located in Hayward, California that handed out 10 masters’s parks and rec degrees in 2019-2020.

Average graduate tuition and fees at Cal State East Bay are $17,828, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read more about Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at California State University - East Bay

#14

University of Hawaii at Manoa

Honolulu, Hawaii
#16 in overall quality

University of Hawaii at Manoa came in at #14 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Master’s in the Far Western US Region For Those Getting Aid ranking. This fairly large school is located in Honolulu, Hawaii, and it awarded 16 masters’s parks and rec degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at UH Manoa, the school also landed the #16 spot in our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Master’s Degree Schools in the Far Western US Region” ranking. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at UH Manoa are $34,550.

Read full report on Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at University of Hawaii at Manoa

#15

San Francisco State University

San Francisco, California
#20 in overall quality

San Francisco State University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Master’s in the Far Western US Region For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #15. Located in San Francisco, California, this large public school awarded 8 degrees to qualified masters’s parks and rec students in 2019-2020.

SFSU also made our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Master’s Degree Schools in the Far Western US Region” list, coming in at #20. Average graduate tuition and fees at San Francisco State University are $17,944, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

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

With a ranking of #16, California State University - San Marcos did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Master’s in the Far Western US Region For Those Getting Aid list. CSUSM is located in San Marcos, California and, has a fairly large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 8 masters’s parks and rec degrees to qualified students.

Average graduate tuition and fees at CSUSM are $18,661, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Full California State University - San Marcos Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Report

California State Polytechnic University - Pomona landed the #17 spot on the 2022 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Master’s in the Far Western US Region For Those Getting Aid ranking. Located in Pomona, California, this large public school handed out 4 degrees to qualified masters’s parks and rec students in 2019-2020.

Cal Poly Pomona did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #0 on our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Master’s Degree Schools in the Far Western US Region” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at Cal Poly Pomona are $18,377, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Full California State Polytechnic University - Pomona Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Report

#18

Washington State University

Pullman, Washington
#8 in overall quality

Washington State University came in at #18 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Master’s in the Far Western US Region For Those Getting Aid ranking. Washington State University is a large public school situated in Pullman, Washington. It awarded 13 masters’s parks and rec degrees in 2019-2020.

Wazzu also took the #8 spot in our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Master’s Degree Schools in the Far Western US Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Washington State University are $27,561, but some majors have different tuition rates.

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

#19

Western Washington University

Bellingham, Washington
#19 in overall quality

Western Washington University ranked #19 on this year’s Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Master’s in the Far Western US Region For Those Getting Aid list. Bellingham, Washington is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s parks and rec degrees to 6 students in 2019-2020.

WWU also took the #19 spot in our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Master’s Degree Schools in the Far Western US Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at WWU are $24,105, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

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

#15 in overall quality

California State University - Chico ranked #20 on this year’s Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Master’s in the Far Western US Region For Those Getting Aid list. This fairly large school is located in Chico, California, and it awarded 19 masters’s parks and rec degrees in 2019-2020.

Chico State also took the #15 spot in our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Master’s Degree Schools in the Far Western US Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at California State University - Chico are $18,802, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

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

#21

Oregon State University

Corvallis, Oregon
#10 in overall quality

Oregon State University landed the #21 spot on the 2022 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Master’s in the Far Western US Region For Those Getting Aid ranking. Oregon State University is a large public school situated in Corvallis, Oregon. It awarded 5 masters’s parks and rec degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Oregon State, the school also landed the #10 spot in our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Master’s Degree Schools in the Far Western US Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Oregon State are $28,121, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

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

#22

National University

La Jolla, California
#24 in overall quality

National University came in at #22 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Master’s in the Far Western US Region For Those Getting Aid ranking. National University is a fairly large school located in La Jolla, California that handed out 38 masters’s parks and rec degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at National University, the school also landed the #24 spot in our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Master’s Degree Schools in the Far Western US Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at National University are $15,480, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

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

#23

Alaska Pacific University

Anchorage, Alaska

Alaska Pacific University came in at #23 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Master’s in the Far Western US Region For Those Getting Aid ranking. Alaska Pacific is a small school located in Anchorage, Alaska that handed out 5 masters’s parks and rec degrees in 2019-2020.

Average graduate tuition and fees at Alaska Pacific are $12,110, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read more about Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Alaska Pacific

#24

Humboldt State University

Arcata, California

Humboldt State University came in at #24 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Master’s in the Far Western US Region For Those Getting Aid ranking. This medium-sized school is located in Arcata, California, and it awarded 7 masters’s parks and rec degrees in 2019-2020.

Average graduate tuition and fees at Humboldt State University are $18,802, but some majors have different tuition rates.

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

#25

Concordia University, Irvine

Irvine, California
#5 in overall quality

Concordia University, Irvine did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Master’s in the Far Western US Region For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #25. Concordia University, Irvine is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Irvine, California. It awarded 452 masters’s parks and rec degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our far western us region master’s degree parks & rec students with aid list, Concordia University, Irvine has also earned the #5 rank in our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Master’s Degree Schools in the Far Western US Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Concordia University, Irvine are $8,121, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

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

Switch to a Different Ranking Method

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

Featured Athletic Training Schools

Find Schools Near You