2022 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Doctorate
When pursuing a degree in today’s world, students have many different options to choose from. 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 Doctorate” ranking is one tool we have developed to help in this regard.
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 doctor’s degree level specifically, there were 349 parks, recreation, leisure, and fitness studies graduates with average earnings and debt of $72,680 and $116,043 respectively.
This year’s “Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Doctorate” ranking analyzed 50 colleges that offered 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.
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. See our ranking methodology to learn more.
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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 for a Doctorate” list, to help you choose the best school for you.
In addition to our rankings, you can take two colleges and compare them based on the criteria that matters most to you in our unique tool, College Combat. If you’re torn between two schools, you can use it to help you see how they stack up against one another. Bookmark it so you can compare any new schools that might interest you.
Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Doctorate
The colleges and universities below are the best for doctor’s degree parks & rec students.
Top 25 Best Value Doctor’s Degree Colleges for Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of Western States. The school came in at #1 for the Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Doctorate. Western States Chiropractic College is located in Portland, Oregon and, has a small student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 20 doctorate’s parks and rec degrees to qualified students.
In addition to being on our doctor’s degree parks & rec students list, Western States Chiropractic College has also earned the #1 rank in our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Doctor’s Degree Schools” ranking. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Western States Chiropractic College are $9,600.
Out of the 50 schools in the Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Doctorate that were part of this year’s ranking, Concordia University, Chicago landed the #2 spot on the list. Concordia University, Chicago is a medium-sized private not-for-profit school situated in River Forest, Illinois. It awarded 13 doctorate’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 Concordia University, Chicago are $9,378.
Read full report on Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Concordia University, Chicago
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Northern Iowa. It ranked #3 on our 2022 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Doctorate list. University of Northern Iowa is located in Cedar Falls, Iowa and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 5 doctorate’s parks and rec degrees to qualified students.
UNI also made our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Doctor’s Degree Schools” list, coming in at #5. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at UNI are $22,648.
Read full report on Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at University of Northern Iowa
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Clemson University. The school came in at #4 for the Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Doctorate. This large school is located in Clemson, South Carolina, and it awarded 14 doctorate’s parks and rec degrees in 2019-2020.
In addition to being on our doctor’s degree parks & rec students list, Clemson has also earned the #3 rank in our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Doctor’s Degree Schools” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Clemson are $23,246, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.
Read full report on Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Clemson
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Texas Woman’s University. It ranked #5 on our 2022 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Doctorate list. This fairly large school is located in Denton, Texas, and it awarded 11 doctorate’s parks and rec degrees in 2019-2020.
Average graduate tuition and fees at TWU are $14,962, but some majors have different tuition rates.
Read full report on Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Texas Woman’s University
University of Houston ranked #6 on this year’s Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Doctorate list. University of Houston is located in Houston, Texas and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 8 doctorate’s parks and rec degrees to qualified students.
Average graduate tuition and fees at University of Houston are $18,689, but some majors have different tuition rates.
Full UH Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Report
The University of Texas at Austin did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Doctorate ranking, coming in at #7. This large school is located in Austin, Texas, and it awarded 4 doctorate’s parks and rec degrees in 2019-2020.
UT Austin not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #10 on our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Doctor’s Degree Schools” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at The University of Texas at Austin are $22,886, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.
Read full report on Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at UT Austin
University of Utah landed the #8 spot on the 2022 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Doctorate ranking. This large school is located in Salt Lake City, Utah, and it awarded 7 doctorate’s parks and rec degrees in 2019-2020.
U of U also took the #19 spot in our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Doctor’s Degree Schools” ranking. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at U of U are $24,695.
Read more about Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at U of U
With a ranking of #9, Texas A&M University - College Station did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Doctorate list. Texas A&M University - College Station is a large public school situated in College Station, Texas. It awarded 8 doctorate’s parks and rec degrees in 2019-2020.
Texas A&M College Station also took the #23 spot in our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Doctor’s Degree Schools” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Texas A&M University - College Station are $22,743, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.
Full Texas A&M College Station Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Report
Iowa State University came in at #10 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Doctorate ranking. Located in Ames, Iowa, this large public school awarded 6 diplomas to qualified doctorate’s parks and rec students in 2019-2020.
In addition to being on our doctor’s degree parks & rec students list, Iowa State has also earned the #20 rank in our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Doctor’s Degree Schools” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Iowa State are $25,948, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.
Read more about Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Iowa State
With a ranking of #11, University of Wisconsin - Madison did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Doctorate list. University of Wisconsin - Madison is a large public school situated in Madison, Wisconsin. It awarded 2 doctorate’s parks and rec degrees in 2019-2020.
UW - Madison did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #13 on our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Doctor’s Degree Schools” list. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at University of Wisconsin - Madison are $25,523.
Read full report on Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at UW - Madison
University of Northern Colorado came in at #12 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Doctorate ranking. Greeley, Colorado is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out doctorate’s parks and rec degrees to 12 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 Northern Colorado are $21,708.
Full University of Northern Colorado Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Report
With a ranking of #13, University of Nebraska at Omaha did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Doctorate list. Omaha, Nebraska is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out doctorate’s parks and rec degrees to 1 students in 2019-2020.
Average graduate tuition and fees at UNOMAHA are $16,374, but some majors have different tuition rates.
Read more about Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at University of Nebraska at Omaha
University of Iowa landed the #14 spot on the 2022 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Doctorate ranking. University of Iowa is a large school located in Iowa City, Iowa that handed out 5 doctorate’s parks and rec degrees in 2019-2020.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at Iowa, the school also landed the #12 spot in our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Doctor’s Degree Schools” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at University of Iowa are $27,613, but some majors have different tuition rates.
Read more about Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at University of Iowa
United States Sports Academy came in at #15 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Doctorate ranking. United States Sports Academy is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Daphne, Alabama. It awarded 10 doctorate’s parks and rec degrees in 2019-2020.
Average graduate tuition and fees at The Academy are $19,440, but some majors have different tuition rates.
Read more about Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at United States Sports Academy
North Carolina State University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Doctorate ranking, coming in at #16. Located in Raleigh, North Carolina, this large public school handed out 4 diplomas to qualified doctorate’s parks and rec students in 2019-2020.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at NC State, the school also landed the #8 spot in our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Doctor’s Degree Schools” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at NC State are $28,999, but some majors have different tuition rates.
Full NC State Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Report
Oklahoma State University - Main Campus ranked #17 on this year’s Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Doctorate list. Located in Stillwater, Oklahoma, this large public school handed out 4 degrees to qualified doctorate’s parks and rec students in 2019-2020.
Average graduate tuition and fees at OSU are $23,963, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.
University of North Carolina at Greensboro ranked #18 on this year’s Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Doctorate list. UNC Greensboro is a fairly large school located in Greensboro, North Carolina that handed out 12 doctorate’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 UNC Greensboro are $21,918.
Full University of North Carolina at Greensboro Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Report
Temple University ranked #19 on this year’s Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Doctorate list. Temple University is a large school located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania that handed out 5 doctorate’s parks and rec degrees in 2019-2020.
Temple not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #16 on our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Doctor’s Degree Schools” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at Temple are $24,236, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.
Full Temple University Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Report
With a ranking of #20, University of Georgia did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Doctorate list. Athens, Georgia is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out doctorate’s parks and rec degrees to 5 students in 2019-2020.
Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at UGA are $27,476.
Full University of Georgia Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Report
With a ranking of #21, University of Arkansas did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Doctorate list. UARK is a large school located in Fayetteville, Arkansas that handed out 1 doctorate’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 UARK are $22,121.
Read more about Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at UARK
Colorado State University - Fort Collins ranked #22 on this year’s Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Doctorate list. Colorado State is a large public school situated in Fort Collins, Colorado. It awarded 3 doctorate’s parks and rec degrees in 2019-2020.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at Colorado State, the school also landed the #22 spot in our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Doctor’s Degree Schools” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Colorado State are $28,055, but some majors have different tuition rates.
Troy University landed the #23 spot on the 2022 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Doctorate ranking. Troy University is located in Troy, Alabama and, has a fairly large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 1 doctorate’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 Troy University are $16,156.
Full Troy University Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Report
University of South Carolina - Columbia landed the #24 spot on the 2022 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Doctorate ranking. University of South Carolina - Columbia is a large public school situated in Columbia, South Carolina. It awarded 5 doctorate’s parks and rec degrees in 2019-2020.
UofSC also took the #15 spot in our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Doctor’s Degree Schools” ranking. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at University of South Carolina - Columbia are $30,160.
Full University of South Carolina - Columbia Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Report
Middle Tennessee State University landed the #25 spot on the 2022 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Doctorate ranking. Middle Tennessee State University is a public institution located in Murfreesboro, Tennessee. The school has a large population, and it awarded 5 doctorate’s degrees in 2019-2020.
Average graduate tuition and fees at Middle Tennessee State University are $26,172, but some majors have different tuition rates.
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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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