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2022 Best Value Colleges for Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies in Massachusetts (With Aid)

14 Ranked Colleges
1,102 Degrees Awarded
$26,000 Avg Net Price*
Best Value Parks & Rec Schools 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. 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 Massachusetts For Those Getting Aid” ranking is part of that endeavor.

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 Massachusetts, there were 1,102 parks, recreation, leisure, and fitness studies graduates with average earnings and debt of $35,071 and $25,549 respectively.

For this year’s “Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in Massachusetts For Those Getting Aid” ranking, we looked at 14 colleges that offer a degree 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. See our ranking methodology to learn more.

One Size Does Not Fit All

Since picking the right college can be one of the most important decisions of your life, we’ve developed the “Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in Massachusetts For Those Getting Aid” ranking, along with many other major-related rankings, to help you make that decision.

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. 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 Massachusetts For Those Getting Aid

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

Top 14 Best Value Colleges for Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies in Massachusetts (With Aid)

#1

University of Massachusetts Amherst

Amherst, Massachusetts

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Massachusetts Amherst. It ranked #1 on our 2022 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in Massachusetts For Those Getting Aid list. UMass Amherst is a public institution located in Amherst, Massachusetts. The school has a large population, and it awarded 156 ’s degrees in 2019-2020.

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

The low student loan default rate of 2.8% 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%. 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 UMass Amherst

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 in Massachusetts For Those Getting Aid. Boston, Massachusetts is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s parks and rec degrees to 153 students in 2019-2020.

UMass Boston not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #8 on our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Schools in Massachusetts” list. It costs about $18,340 for massachusetts parks & rec students with aid per year to attend UMass Boston.

Read more about Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at University of Massachusetts - Boston

#3

Fitchburg State University

Fitchburg, Massachusetts

Out of the 14 schools in the Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in Massachusetts For Those Getting Aid that were part of this year’s ranking, Fitchburg State University landed the #3 spot on the list. Fitchburg State is located in Fitchburg, Massachusetts and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 2 ’s parks and rec degrees to qualified students.

Fitchburg State also made our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Schools in Massachusetts” list, coming in at #10. The yearly cost to attend Fitchburg State is $16,001 for Massachusetts Parks & Rec students with aid.

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

#4

Westfield State University

Westfield, Massachusetts

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 in Massachusetts For Those Getting Aid. Located in Westfield, Massachusetts, this medium-sized public school handed out 67 diplomas to qualified ’s parks and rec students in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our massachusetts parks & rec students with aid list, Westfield has also earned the #6 rank in our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Schools in Massachusetts” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Westfield is $19,167 for Massachusetts 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 Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Report

#5

Salem State University

Salem, Massachusetts

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 in Massachusetts For Those Getting Aid list. Salem State University is a medium-sized school located in Salem, Massachusetts that handed out 58 ’s parks and rec degrees in 2019-2020.

Salem State also took the #9 spot in our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Schools in Massachusetts” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Salem State is $18,399 for Massachusetts Parks & Rec students with aid.

Full Salem State Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Report

#6

Smith College

Northampton, Massachusetts

Smith College came in at #6 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in Massachusetts For Those Getting Aid ranking. Smith College is located in Northampton, Massachusetts and, has a small student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 13 ’s parks and rec degrees to qualified students.

Smith also made our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Schools in Massachusetts” list, coming in at #4. The estimated yearly cost for Smith College is $28,305 for Massachusetts Parks & Rec students with aid.

Since the school has a student-to-faculty ratio of 7 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors. The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 1.1%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

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

#7

Lasell University

Newton, Massachusetts

With a ranking of #7, Lasell University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in Massachusetts For Those Getting Aid list. Lasell is a private not-for-profit institution located in Newton, Massachusetts. The school has a small population, and it awarded 55 ’s degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our massachusetts parks & rec students with aid list, Lasell has also earned the #7 rank in our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Schools in Massachusetts” ranking. It costs about $27,428 for Massachusetts Parks & Rec students with aid per year to attend Lasell.

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

#8

Springfield College

Springfield, Massachusetts

Springfield College landed the #8 spot on the 2022 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in Massachusetts For Those Getting Aid ranking. Springfield College is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Springfield, Massachusetts. It awarded 118 ’s parks and rec degrees in 2019-2020.

Springfield College not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #5 on our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Schools in Massachusetts” list. The estimated yearly cost for Springfield College is $30,134 for Massachusetts Parks & Rec students with aid.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 85%.

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

#9

Gordon College

Wenham, Massachusetts

Gordon College came in at #9 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Parks & Rec Schools 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 ’s parks and rec degrees to qualified students.

In addition to being on our massachusetts parks & rec students with aid list, Gordon College has also earned the #11 rank in our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Schools in Massachusetts” ranking. It costs about $25,777 for massachusetts parks & rec students with aid per year to attend Gordon College.

The student loan default rate at the school is 2.4%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. Since the school has a student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors.

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

#10

Endicott College

Beverly, Massachusetts

Endicott College did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in Massachusetts For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #10. Endicott is a small school located in Beverly, Massachusetts that handed out 91 ’s parks and rec degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Endicott, the school also landed the #2 spot in our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Schools in Massachusetts” ranking. It costs about $35,642 for massachusetts 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 more about Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Endicott College

#11

Nichols College

Dudley, Massachusetts

Nichols College did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in Massachusetts For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #11. Nichols College is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Dudley, Massachusetts. It awarded 48 ’s parks and rec degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Nichols, the school also landed the #12 spot in our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Schools in Massachusetts” ranking. It costs about $27,721 for massachusetts parks & rec students with aid per year to attend Nichols College.

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

#12

Northeastern University

Boston, Massachusetts

Northeastern University ranked #12 on this year’s Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in Massachusetts For Those Getting Aid list. Boston, Massachusetts is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s parks and rec degrees to 6 students in 2019-2020.

Northeastern not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #3 on our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Schools in Massachusetts” list. The estimated yearly cost for Northeastern University is $31,093 for massachusetts parks & rec students with aid.

With a freshman retention rate of 97%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students. The student loan default rate at the school is 2.2%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

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

#13

Regis College

Weston, Massachusetts

Regis College did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in Massachusetts For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #13. Located in Weston, Massachusetts, this small private not-for-profit school handed out 11 diplomas to qualified ’s parks and rec students in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our massachusetts parks & rec students with aid list, Regis College has also earned the #13 rank in our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Schools in Massachusetts” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Regis College is $30,408 for massachusetts 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 full report on Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Regis College

#14

Becker College

Worcester, Massachusetts

Becker College came in at #14 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in Massachusetts For Those Getting Aid ranking. Becker College is a private not-for-profit institution located in Worcester, Massachusetts. The school has a small population, and it awarded 14 ’s degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our massachusetts parks & rec students with aid list, Becker College has also earned the #14 rank in our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Schools in Massachusetts” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Becker College is $32,920 for Massachusetts Parks & Rec students with aid.

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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