2022 Best Value Associate Degree Colleges for Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies
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 an Associate” ranking - to help you make that decision.
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.
At the associate degree level specifically, there were 5,688 parks, recreation, leisure, and fitness studies graduates with average earnings and debt of $33,082 and $17,678 respectively.
This year’s “Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for an Associate” ranking looked at 28 colleges that offer degrees in a bachelor’s in parks, recreation, leisure, and fitness studies. The schools that top this list are recognized because they have great parks, recreation, leisure, and fitness studies programs and 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. For more information, check out our ranking methodology.
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More Ways to Rank Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Schools
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 for an Associate” ranking, along with many other major-related rankings, to help you make that decision.
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. 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 an Associate
The colleges and universities below are the best for associate degree parks & rec students.
Top 25 Best Value Associate Degree Colleges for Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies
Out of the 28 schools in the Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for an Associate that were part of this year’s ranking, Cincinnati State Technical and Community College landed the #1 spot on the list. Located in Cincinnati, Ohio, this medium-sized public school handed out 5 degrees to qualified associates’s parks and rec students in 2019-2020.
Cincinnati State also took the #1 spot in our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Associate Degree Schools” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Cincinnati State is $5,469 for Associate Degree Parks & Rec students.
Read more about Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Cincinnati State
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Gogebic Community College. It ranked #2 on our 2022 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for an Associate list. This small school is located in Ironwood, Michigan, and it awarded 5 associates’s parks and rec degrees in 2019-2020.
Gogebic Community College also made our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Associate Degree Schools” list, coming in at #2. It costs about $7,942 for associate degree parks & rec students per year to attend Gogebic Community College.
Read more about Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Gogebic Community College
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend South Texas College. It ranked #3 on our 2022 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for an Associate list. South Texas College is located in McAllen, Texas and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 67 associates’s parks and rec degrees to qualified students.
South Texas College did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #8 on our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Associate Degree Schools” list. The estimated yearly cost for South Texas College is $1,174 for associate degree parks & rec students.
Full South Texas College Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Report
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Cabrillo College. The school came in at #4 for the Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for an Associate. Cabrillo College is a medium-sized school located in Aptos, California that handed out 120 associates’s parks and rec degrees in 2019-2020.
Cabrillo College also took the #3 spot in our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Associate Degree Schools” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Cabrillo College is $8,487 for associate degree parks & rec students.
Full Cabrillo College Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Report
Out of the 28 schools in the Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for an Associate that were part of this year’s ranking, Onondaga Community College landed the #5 spot on the list. Syracuse, New York is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out associates’s parks and rec degrees to 13 students in 2019-2020.
OCC not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #9 on our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Associate Degree Schools” list. It costs about $7,390 for associate degree parks & rec students per year to attend OCC.
Full Onondaga Community College Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Report
Union County College ranked #6 on this year’s Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for an Associate list. This medium-sized school is located in Cranford, New Jersey, and it awarded 21 associates’s parks and rec degrees in 2019-2020.
Union County College did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #13 on our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Associate Degree Schools” list. The estimated yearly cost for Union County College is $8,245 for Associate Degree Parks & Rec students.
Full Union County College Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Report
Riverside City College did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for an Associate ranking, coming in at #7. Located in Riverside, California, this large public school awarded 178 diplomas to qualified associates’s parks and rec students in 2019-2020.
Riverside City College did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #4 on our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Associate Degree Schools” list. It costs about $4,620 for associate degree parks & rec students per year to attend Riverside City College.
Full Riverside City College Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Report
Mt. San Antonio College ranked #8 on this year’s Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for an Associate list. Mt. San Antonio College is a public institution located in Walnut, California. The school has a large population, and it awarded 474 associates’s degrees in 2019-2020.
Mt. SAC not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #5 on our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Associate Degree Schools” list. It costs about $1,729 for Associate Degree Parks & Rec students per year to attend Mt. SAC.
Read more about Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Mt. San Antonio College
Lake Superior State University came in at #9 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for an Associate ranking. Lake Superior State University is a small public school situated in Sault Ste Marie, Michigan. It awarded 8 associates’s parks and rec degrees in 2019-2020.
Lake Superior State University also made our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Associate Degree Schools” list, coming in at #10. The estimated yearly cost for Lake Superior State University is $12,398 for associate degree parks & rec students.
Read full report on Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Lake Superior State University
International Sports Sciences Association came in at #10 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for an Associate ranking. International Sports Sciences Association is a small school located in Carpinteria, California that handed out 121 associates’s parks and rec degrees in 2019-2020.
In addition to being on our associate degree parks & rec students list, ISSA has also earned the #14 rank in our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Associate Degree Schools” ranking.
Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 100%.
Full ISSA Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Report
Northampton County Area Community College ranked #11 on this year’s Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for an Associate list. Located in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, this medium-sized public school handed out 7 degrees to qualified associates’s parks and rec students in 2019-2020.
In addition to being on our associate degree parks & rec students list, Northampton Community College has also earned the #11 rank in our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Associate Degree Schools” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Northampton Community College is $9,053 for Associate Degree Parks & Rec students.
Read more about Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Northampton Community College
Cuyahoga Community College District came in at #12 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for an Associate ranking. Located in Cleveland, Ohio, this fairly large public school handed out 20 degrees to qualified associates’s parks and rec students in 2019-2020.
Cuyahoga Community College District also made our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Associate Degree Schools” list, coming in at #19. It costs about $5,415 for associate degree parks & rec students per year to attend Cuyahoga Community College District.
Sinclair Community College came in at #13 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for an Associate ranking. Sinclair Community College is a fairly large public school situated in Dayton, Ohio. It awarded 10 associates’s parks and rec degrees in 2019-2020.
Sinclair Community College did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #22 on our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Associate Degree Schools” list. The estimated yearly cost for Sinclair Community College is $4,208 for associate degree parks & rec students.
Full Sinclair Community College Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Report
County College of Morris came in at #14 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for an Associate ranking. County College of Morris is a medium-sized school located in Randolph, New Jersey that handed out 28 associates’s parks and rec degrees in 2019-2020.
In addition to being on our associate degree parks & rec students list, County College of Morris has also earned the #15 rank in our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Associate Degree Schools” ranking. It costs about $9,173 for associate degree parks & rec students per year to attend County College of Morris.
Read full report on Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at County College of Morris
Hudson Valley Community College came in at #15 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for an Associate ranking. Located in Troy, New York, this medium-sized public school handed out 35 degrees to qualified associates’s parks and rec students in 2019-2020.
HVCC did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #18 on our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Associate Degree Schools” list. The estimated yearly cost for Hudson Valley Community College is $8,548 for Associate Degree Parks & Rec students.
Read more about Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at HVCC
With a ranking of #16, Bob Jones University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for an Associate list. Bob Jones University is located in Greenville, South Carolina and, has a small student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 5 associates’s parks and rec degrees to qualified students.
In addition to being on our associate degree parks & rec students list, Bob Jones University has also earned the #12 rank in our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Associate Degree Schools” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Bob Jones University is $12,923 for Associate Degree Parks & Rec students.
Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 86%. The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 2.0%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Read more about Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Bob Jones University
Luzerne County Community College ranked #17 on this year’s Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for an Associate list. Nanticoke, Pennsylvania is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The public school handed out associates’s parks and rec degrees to 3 students in 2019-2020.
Luzerne County Community College did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #23 on our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Associate Degree Schools” list. It costs about $7,985 for Associate Degree Parks & Rec students per year to attend Luzerne County Community College.
Full Luzerne County Community College Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Report
Utah Valley University ranked #18 on this year’s Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for an Associate list. Utah Valley University is a large school located in Orem, Utah that handed out 6 associates’s parks and rec degrees in 2019-2020.
UVU also took the #17 spot in our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Associate Degree Schools” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for UVU is $9,159 for associate degree parks & rec students.
Read full report on Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Utah Valley University
Portland Community College did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for an Associate ranking, coming in at #19. Portland Community College is a public institution located in Portland, Oregon. The school has a large population, and it awarded 9 associates’s degrees in 2019-2020.
Portland Community College also took the #21 spot in our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Associate Degree Schools” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Portland Community College is $8,914 for Associate Degree Parks & Rec students.
Read more about Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Portland Community College
Keiser University - Ft Lauderdale did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for an Associate ranking, coming in at #20. Keiser University - Ft Lauderdale is a large school located in Fort Lauderdale, Florida that handed out 96 associates’s parks and rec degrees in 2019-2020.
In addition to being on our associate degree parks & rec students list, Keiser University - Ft Lauderdale has also earned the #7 rank in our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Associate Degree Schools” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Keiser University - Ft Lauderdale is $33,428 for Associate Degree Parks & Rec students.
Norco College landed the #21 spot on the 2022 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for an Associate ranking. Norco College is a fairly large public school situated in Norco, California. It awarded 39 associates’s parks and rec degrees in 2019-2020.
Norco College not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #16 on our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Associate Degree Schools” list. It costs about $5,099 for associate degree parks & rec students per year to attend Norco College.
Read full report on Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Norco College
Wake Technical Community College came in at #22 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for an Associate ranking. Located in Raleigh, North Carolina, this large public school handed out 4 degrees to qualified associates’s parks and rec students in 2019-2020.
Wake Technical Community College also made our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Associate Degree Schools” list, coming in at #24. The estimated yearly cost for Wake Technical Community College is $6,876 for associate degree parks & rec students.
Read more about Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Wake Technical Community College
With a ranking of #23, The University of Findlay did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for an Associate list. Findlay is a small school located in Findlay, Ohio that handed out 6 associates’s parks and rec degrees in 2019-2020.
Findlay also took the #6 spot in our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Associate Degree Schools” ranking. The yearly cost to attend The University of Findlay is $24,884 for associate degree parks & rec students.
The student loan default rate at the school is 4.7%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Read full report on Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at The University of Findlay
Webber International University came in at #24 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for an Associate ranking. Babson Park, Florida is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out associates’s parks and rec degrees to 2 students in 2019-2020.
In addition to being on our associate degree parks & rec students list, Webber International University has also earned the #20 rank in our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Associate Degree Schools” ranking. It costs about $24,479 for Associate Degree Parks & Rec students per year to attend Webber International University.
Read full report on Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Webber International University
Lane Community College did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for an Associate ranking, coming in at #25. Lane Community College is located in Eugene, Oregon and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 1 associates’s parks and rec degrees to qualified students.
Lane Community College not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #25 on our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Associate Degree Schools” list. It costs about $8,553 for associate degree parks & rec students per year to attend Lane Community College.
Read more about Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Lane Community College
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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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