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2022 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Master’s in North Carolina

11 Ranked Colleges
278 Degrees Awarded
$21,600 Avg Grad Tuition & Fees*
Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Master's in North Carolina

It’s not easy to decide which college to attend when there so many options available for students. College Factual has developed its “Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Master’s in North Carolina” ranking as one item you can use to help make this decision.

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 North Carolina, there were 3,567 parks, recreation, leisure, and fitness studies graduates with average earnings and debt of $26,371 and $26,986 respectively. At the master’s degree level specifically, there were 278 parks, recreation, leisure, and fitness studies graduates with average earnings and debt of $55,088 and $45,388 respectively.

For this year’s “Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Master’s in North Carolina” ranking, we looked at 11 colleges that offer a degree 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.

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. For more information, check out our ranking methodology.

More Ways to Rank Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Schools

When choosing the right school for you, it’s important to arm yourself with all the facts you can. To that end, we’ve created a number of major-specific rankings, including this “Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Master’s in North Carolina” list to help you make the college decision.

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. Go ahead and give it a try, or bookmark the link so you can check it out later.

Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Master’s in North Carolina

The following schools top our list of the Best Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Master’s in North Carolina.

Top 11 Best Value Master’s Degree Colleges for Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies in North Carolina

#1

North Carolina State University

Raleigh, North Carolina
#1 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend North Carolina State University. It ranked #1 on our 2022 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Master’s in North Carolina list. This large school is located in Raleigh, North Carolina, and it awarded 37 masters’s parks and rec degrees in 2019-2020.

NC State not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #1 on our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Master’s Degree Schools in North Carolina” list. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at NC State are $28,999.

Full North Carolina State University Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Report

#2

University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Chapel Hill, North Carolina
#2 in overall quality

Out of the 11 schools in the Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Master’s in North Carolina that were part of this year’s ranking, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill landed the #2 spot on the list. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill is located in Chapel Hill, North Carolina and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 37 masters’s parks and rec degrees to qualified students.

UNC Chapel Hill did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #2 on our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Master’s Degree Schools in North Carolina” list. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill are $30,248.

Read more about Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at UNC Chapel Hill

#3

East Carolina University

Greenville, North Carolina
#4 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend East Carolina University. It ranked #3 on our 2022 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Master’s in North Carolina list. ECU is a public institution located in Greenville, North Carolina. The school has a large population, and it awarded 46 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

ECU also made our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Master’s Degree Schools in North Carolina” list, coming in at #4. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at ECU are $20,685.

Read full report on Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at East Carolina University

#4

Appalachian State University

Boone, North Carolina
#6 in overall quality

Out of the 11 schools in the Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Master’s in North Carolina that were part of this year’s ranking, Appalachian State University landed the #4 spot on the list. Appalachian State University is a large public school situated in Boone, North Carolina. It awarded 26 masters’s parks and rec degrees in 2019-2020.

Appalachian State did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #6 on our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Master’s Degree Schools in North Carolina” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at Appalachian State University are $21,439, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

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

#5

Western Carolina University

Cullowhee, North Carolina
#7 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Western Carolina University. It ranked #5 on our 2022 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Master’s in North Carolina list. Western Carolina University is a public institution located in Cullowhee, North Carolina. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 24 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our north carolina master’s degree parks & rec students list, WCU has also earned the #7 rank in our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Master’s Degree Schools in North Carolina” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at WCU are $17,821, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read full report on Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Western Carolina University

#6

Wingate University

Wingate, North Carolina
#8 in overall quality

With a ranking of #6, Wingate University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Master’s in North Carolina list. Wingate University is a private not-for-profit institution located in Wingate, North Carolina. The school has a small population, and it awarded 22 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

Wingate not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #8 on our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Master’s Degree Schools in North Carolina” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at Wingate University are $11,430, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

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

#7

Gardner - Webb University

Boiling Springs, North Carolina
#9 in overall quality

With a ranking of #7, Gardner - Webb University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Master’s in North Carolina list. Gardner - Webb is a private not-for-profit institution located in Boiling Springs, North Carolina. The school has a small population, and it awarded 7 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our north carolina master’s degree parks & rec students list, Gardner - Webb has also earned the #9 rank in our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Master’s Degree Schools in North Carolina” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Gardner - Webb University are $9,050, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Full Gardner - Webb Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Report

#8

University of North Carolina at Greensboro

Greensboro, North Carolina
#10 in overall quality

University of North Carolina at Greensboro landed the #8 spot on the 2022 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Master’s in North Carolina ranking. University of North Carolina at Greensboro is a public institution located in Greensboro, North Carolina. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 31 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at UNC Greensboro, the school also landed the #10 spot in our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Master’s Degree Schools in North Carolina” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at UNC Greensboro are $21,918, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

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

#9

Lenoir - Rhyne University

Hickory, North Carolina
#5 in overall quality

With a ranking of #9, Lenoir - Rhyne University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Master’s in North Carolina list. Hickory, North Carolina is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out masters’s parks and rec degrees to 9 students in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our north carolina master’s degree parks & rec students list, Lenoir - Rhyne University has also earned the #5 rank in our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Master’s Degree Schools in North Carolina” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Lenoir - Rhyne University are $11,700, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Full Lenoir - Rhyne University Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Report

#10

North Carolina Central University

Durham, North Carolina
#11 in overall quality

North Carolina Central University came in at #10 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Master’s in North Carolina ranking. North Carolina Central University is a medium-sized school located in Durham, North Carolina that handed out 31 masters’s parks and rec degrees in 2019-2020.

North Carolina Central University did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #11 on our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Master’s Degree Schools in North Carolina” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at North Carolina Central University are $20,595, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Full North Carolina Central University Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Report

#11

Wake Forest University

Winston-Salem, North Carolina
#3 in overall quality

Wake Forest University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Master’s in North Carolina ranking, coming in at #11. Wake Forest University is a medium-sized private not-for-profit school situated in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. It awarded 7 masters’s parks and rec degrees in 2019-2020.

Wake Forest University did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #3 on our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Master’s Degree Schools in North Carolina” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at Wake Forest University are $39,216, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read more about Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Wake Forest University

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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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