2026 Best Value Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Studies Schools in Oregon
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Studies Schools
Leading the list is Portland Community College, our #1 best value for parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies in Oregon. Set in the city of Portland, Portland Community College is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $5,220 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $10,440. Typical student debt for parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies graduates is $20,648. Early-career parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies graduates make about $49,580. Set against $20,648 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Eastern Oregon University is a great value for students pursuing a degree in parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies, landing the #2 spot this year. Located in the town of La Grande, Eastern Oregon University is a moderately-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $11,184, while out-of-state students pay about $24,729. Students borrow a median of $25,000 to complete the parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies program here. Early-career parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies graduates make about $32,584. Set against $25,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 98% of applicants are accepted.
A rank of #3 makes Southern Oregon University one of the best values for parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies. Set in the suburb of Ashland, Southern Oregon University is a moderately-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $12,762, while out-of-state students pay about $31,887. Typical student debt for parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies graduates is $23,000. Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Studies graduates of Southern Oregon University earn a median of $34,979 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Southern Oregon University admits about 89% of applicants.
Western Oregon University is a great value for students pursuing a degree in parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies, landing the #4 spot this year. Located in the town of Monmouth, Western Oregon University is a moderately-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $11,514, while out-of-state students pay about $32,169. Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Studies graduates carry a median of $24,500 in student loans. Soon after graduation, parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies degree recipients from Western Oregon University generally make around $32,249. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 98% of applicants are accepted.
Oregon State University is a great value for students pursuing a degree in parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies, landing the #5 spot this year. Located in the city of Corvallis, Oregon State University is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $14,400, while out-of-state students pay about $38,190. Typical student debt for parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies graduates is $24,155. Early-career parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies graduates make about $29,880. That is a strong return on a $24,155 median debt. The acceptance rate is 77%.
Warner Pacific College came in at #6 for value in parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies this year. Located in the city of Portland, Warner Pacific College is a small private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $22,220. Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Studies graduates carry a median of $41,254 in student loans. Soon after graduation, parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies degree recipients from Warner Pacific College generally make around $31,903. That is a strong return on a $41,254 median debt. Warner Pacific College admits about 71% of applicants.
Northwest Christian University earned the #7 position for value in parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies this year. Set in the city of Eugene, Northwest Christian University is a small private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $35,800. Students borrow a median of $25,735 to complete the parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies program here. Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Studies graduates of Northwest Christian University earn a median of $62,860 early in their careers. Set against $25,735 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 67% of applicants are accepted.
Willamette University landed the #8 spot for parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies value this year. Located in the city of Salem, Willamette University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $51,156. Students borrow a median of $25,343 to complete the parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies program here. Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Studies graduates of Willamette University earn a median of $41,892 early in their careers. Set against $25,343 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 77% of applicants are accepted.
Corban University came in at #9 for value in parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies this year. Corban University is a small private not-for-profit school located in the city of Salem. In-state tuition and fees average $37,963. Students borrow a median of $24,318 to complete the parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies program here. Early-career parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies graduates make about $41,194. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 94%.
Linfield College landed the #10 spot for parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies value this year. Located in the town of McMinnville, Linfield College is a small private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $51,736. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies program here. Soon after graduation, parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies degree recipients from Linfield College generally make around $31,285. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 85% of applicants are accepted.
George Fox University placed #11 among the best values for parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies. Located in the town of Newberg, George Fox University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $41,320. Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Studies graduates carry a median of $26,743 in student loans. Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Studies graduates of George Fox University earn a median of $29,842 early in their careers. Set against $26,743 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 94%.
Pacific University ranked #12 on our 2026 list of the best value parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies schools. Set in the suburb of Forest Grove, Pacific University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $56,374 in tuition and fees. Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Studies graduates carry a median of $26,848 in student loans. Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Studies graduates of Pacific University earn a median of $26,219 early in their careers. Set against $26,848 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Pacific University admits about 90% of applicants.
Notes and References
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. Schools are scored on the balance of cost (tuition and student debt) against student outcomes (post-graduation earnings) — a measure of return on investment, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 18 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 7 ranked schools only.
- 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).
More about our data sources and methodologies.
[Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Studies](/majors/parks-recreation-fitness/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
