2023 Best Value Colleges for Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies in New York (With Aid)
21
Ranked Colleges
2,622
Degrees Awarded
$19,400
Avg Net Price*
It’s not easy to decide which college to attend when there so many options available for students. College Factual was founded, in part, to help students make the decision as to what would be the best school for them. Our “Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in New York For Those Getting Aid” ranking is part of that endeavor.
Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies is the 15th most popular major in the country with 73,813 degrees awarded in 2020-2021. In 2019-2020, parks, recreation, leisure, and fitness studies graduates who were awarded their degree in 2017-2019, earned an average of $31,423 and had an average of $24,388 in loans still to pay off.
Across New York, there were 2,622 parks, recreation, leisure, and fitness studies graduates with average earnings and debt of $33,338 and $21,820 respectively.
For this year’s “Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in New York For Those Getting Aid” ranking, we looked at 21 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.
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 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 in New York For Those Getting Aid” list, to help you choose the best school for you.
You can create your own custom comparison that focuses on the factors most important to you using our tool, College Combat. We encourage you to try it out and pit your favorite colleges and universities head to head! If you don’t have time right now, you can bookmark it for later.
Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in New York For Those Getting Aid
The colleges and universities below are the best for new york parks & rec students with aid.
Top 21 Best Value Colleges for Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies in New York (With Aid)
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Brooklyn College. It ranked #1 on our 2023 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in New York For Those Getting Aid list. This fairly large school is located in Brooklyn, New York, and it awarded 83 ’s parks and rec degrees in 2020-2021.
Brooklyn College did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #8 on our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Schools in New York” list. The estimated yearly cost for Brooklyn College is $3,067 for new york parks & rec students with aid.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 4.5%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Read more about Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Brooklyn College
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Queens College. The school came in at #2 for the Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in New York For Those Getting Aid. Queens, New York is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s parks and rec degrees to 86 students in 2020-2021.
QC also took the #11 spot in our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Schools in New York” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for QC is $3,469 for New York Parks & Rec students with aid.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 4.1%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Full QC Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Report
Out of the 21 schools in the Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in New York For Those Getting Aid that were part of this year’s ranking, Lehman College landed the #3 spot on the list. Lehman College is a fairly large school located in Bronx, New York that handed out 92 ’s parks and rec degrees in 2020-2021.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at Lehman, the school also landed the #18 spot in our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Schools in New York” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Lehman College is $2,614 for New York Parks & Rec students with aid.
Full Lehman College Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Report
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Columbia University in the City of New York. It ranked #4 on our 2023 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in New York For Those Getting Aid list. Columbia is a private not-for-profit institution located in New York, New York. The school has a large population, and it awarded 71 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Columbia not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #1 on our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Schools in New York” list. It costs about $22,823 for new york parks & rec students with aid per year to attend Columbia University in the City of New York.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.7%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 95%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The impressive undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 6 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools.
Read full report on Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Columbia University in the City of New York
Out of the 21 schools in the Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in New York For Those Getting Aid that were part of this year’s ranking, SUNY Cortland landed the #5 spot on the list. SUNY Cortland is a medium-sized public school situated in Cortland, New York. It awarded 349 ’s parks and rec degrees in 2020-2021.
SUNY Cortland also made our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Schools in New York” list, coming in at #3. The estimated yearly cost for SUNY Cortland is $19,273 for New York Parks & Rec students with aid.
The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 85%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 3.5%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Full SUNY Cortland Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Report
Farmingdale State College landed the #6 spot on the 2023 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in New York For Those Getting Aid ranking. Farmingdale, New York is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s parks and rec degrees to 57 students in 2020-2021.
SUNY College of Technology at Farmingdale not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #15 on our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Schools in New York” list. The yearly cost to attend SUNY College of Technology at Farmingdale is $9,002 for new york parks & rec students with aid.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 3.4%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Read full report on Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at SUNY College of Technology at Farmingdale
With a ranking of #7, The College at Brockport did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in New York For Those Getting Aid list. The College at Brockport is a medium-sized school located in Brockport, New York that handed out 185 ’s parks and rec degrees in 2020-2021.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at SUNY Brockport, the school also landed the #5 spot in our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Schools in New York” ranking. It costs about $16,532 for new york parks & rec students with aid per year to attend The College at Brockport.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 3.8%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Read full report on Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at SUNY Brockport
With a ranking of #8, Canisius College did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in New York For Those Getting Aid list. Canisius is located in Buffalo, New York and, has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 115 ’s parks and rec degrees to qualified students.
Canisius not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #4 on our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Schools in New York” list. It costs about $18,602 for new york parks & rec students with aid per year to attend Canisius.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 3.8%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Read full report on Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Canisius College
SUNY Fredonia landed the #9 spot on the 2023 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in New York For Those Getting Aid ranking. Located in Fredonia, New York, this small public school awarded 22 diplomas to qualified ’s parks and rec students in 2020-2021.
SUNY Fredonia not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #13 on our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Schools in New York” list. It costs about $14,378 for New York Parks & Rec students with aid per year to attend SUNY Fredonia.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 4.5% 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 SUNY Fredonia
Niagara University did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in New York For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #10. Located in Niagara University, New York, this small private not-for-profit school awarded 37 degrees to qualified ’s parks and rec students in 2020-2021.
In addition to being on our new york parks & rec students with aid list, Niagara has also earned the #12 rank in our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Schools in New York” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Niagara is $19,635 for new york parks & rec students with aid.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 4.1%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Full Niagara Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Report
With a ranking of #11, Medaille College did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in New York For Those Getting Aid list. Located in Buffalo, New York, this small private not-for-profit school handed out 11 diplomas to qualified ’s parks and rec students in 2020-2021.
In addition to being on our new york parks & rec students with aid list, Medaille has also earned the #20 rank in our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Schools in New York” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Medaille is $13,244 for New York Parks & Rec students with aid.
Read full report on Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Medaille
Manhattanville College came in at #12 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in New York For Those Getting Aid ranking. Purchase, New York is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s parks and rec degrees to 57 students in 2020-2021.
Manhattanville not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #6 on our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Schools in New York” list. It costs about $20,634 for New York Parks & Rec students with aid per year to attend Manhattanville College.
Since the school has a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 3.5%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Read full report on Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Manhattanville College
St. Thomas Aquinas College landed the #13 spot on the 2023 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in New York For Those Getting Aid ranking. Sparkill, New York is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s parks and rec degrees to 29 students in 2020-2021.
In addition to being on our new york parks & rec students with aid list, STAC has also earned the #19 rank in our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Schools in New York” ranking. It costs about $20,826 for new york parks & rec students with aid per year to attend STAC.
Full St. Thomas Aquinas College Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Report
With a ranking of #14, Adelphi University did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in New York For Those Getting Aid list. Garden City, New York is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s parks and rec degrees to 93 students in 2020-2021.
In addition to being on our new york parks & rec students with aid list, Adelphi has also earned the #7 rank in our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Schools in New York” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Adelphi University is $30,140 for new york parks & rec students with aid.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.4% 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 Adelphi University
St John’s University - New York ranked #15 on this year’s Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in New York For Those Getting Aid list. This fairly large school is located in Queens, New York, and it awarded 132 ’s parks and rec degrees in 2020-2021.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at STJ, the school also landed the #9 spot in our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Schools in New York” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for STJ is $27,210 for new york parks & rec students with aid.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 4.3% 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 more about Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at St John’s University - New York
St. Bonaventure University came in at #16 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in New York For Those Getting Aid ranking. Located in Saint Bonaventure, New York, this small private not-for-profit school handed out 9 degrees to qualified ’s parks and rec students in 2020-2021.
St. Bonaventure not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #16 on our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Schools in New York” list. The estimated yearly cost for St. Bonaventure is $23,606 for New York Parks & Rec students with aid.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 3.5%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 86%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.
Read more about Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at St. Bonaventure
LIU Post came in at #17 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in New York For Those Getting Aid ranking. Brookville, New York is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s parks and rec degrees to 32 students in 2020-2021.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at LIU Post, the school also landed the #14 spot in our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Schools in New York” ranking. The yearly cost to attend LIU Post is $26,069 for new york parks & rec students with aid.
Since the school has a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors.
Read full report on Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at LIU Post
St. John Fisher College landed the #18 spot on the 2023 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in New York For Those Getting Aid ranking. St. John Fisher College is a small school located in Rochester, New York that handed out 41 ’s parks and rec degrees in 2020-2021.
Fisher also took the #10 spot in our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Schools in New York” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Fisher is $29,240 for new york parks & rec students with aid.
With a freshman retention rate of 90%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.6%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Read more about Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at St. John Fisher College
Syracuse University came in at #19 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in New York For Those Getting Aid ranking. This large school is located in Syracuse, New York, and it awarded 150 ’s parks and rec degrees in 2020-2021.
Syracuse also took the #2 spot in our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Schools in New York” ranking. It costs about $34,683 for new york parks & rec students with aid per year to attend Syracuse.
The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 89%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.7%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Read more about Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Syracuse
Paul Smiths College of Arts and Science came in at #20 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in New York For Those Getting Aid ranking. Paul Smiths College of Arts and Science is a small school located in Paul Smiths, New York that handed out 9 ’s parks and rec degrees in 2020-2021.
Paul Smith’s College did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #21 on our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Schools in New York” list. It costs about $22,515 for New York Parks & Rec students with aid per year to attend Paul Smith’s College.
Full Paul Smiths College of Arts and Science Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Report
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