2027 Best Value Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Studies Schools in the Middle Atlantic Region
[Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Studies](/majors/parks-recreation-fitness/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
College Factual analyzed 135 schools to build this 2027 ranking of the best value parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies schools.
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2027 Best Value Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Studies Schools in the Middle Atlantic Region
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
Cuny Brooklyn College tops our 2027 list of the best value parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies schools in the Middle Atlantic Region. Located in the city of Brooklyn, Cuny Brooklyn College is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $7,452, while out-of-state students pay about $15,402. Typical student debt for parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies graduates is $13,629. Early-career parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies graduates make about $50,584. Set against $13,629 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 58%.
Students looking for strong value in parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies will find it at Cuny Lehman College, which ranked #2. Located in the city of Bronx, Cuny Lehman College is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $7,410, compared with $15,360 for out-of-state students. Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Studies graduates carry a median of $10,861 in student loans. Early-career parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies graduates make about $29,583. That is a strong return on a $10,861 median debt. Cuny Lehman College admits about 57% of applicants.
A rank of #3 makes Middlesex County College one of the best values for parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies. Middlesex County College is a large public school located in the suburb of Edison. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,764, compared with $7,356 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies graduates is $9,514. Early-career parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies graduates make about $37,975. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Cuny Queens College earned it the #4 place for parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies. Cuny Queens College is a large public school located in the city of Queens. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $7,538, while out-of-state students pay about $15,488. Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Studies graduates carry a median of $5,500 in student loans. Early-career parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies graduates make about $16,236. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Cuny Queens College admits about 64% of applicants.
Suffolk County Community College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies, landing the #5 spot this year. Located in the suburb of Selden, Suffolk County Community College is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,630, while out-of-state students pay about $12,460. Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Studies graduates carry a median of $11,246 in student loans. Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Studies graduates of Suffolk County Community College earn a median of $35,667 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Raritan Valley Community College earned the #6 position for value in parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies this year. Located in the rural area of Branchburg, Raritan Valley Community College is a moderately-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $5,664 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $7,584. Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Studies graduates carry a median of $9,668 in student loans. Early-career parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies graduates make about $47,248. That is a strong return on a $9,668 median debt.
County College Of Morris came in at #7 for value in parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies this year. Located in the suburb of Randolph, County College Of Morris is a moderately-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $6,210 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $14,310. Typical student debt for parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies graduates is $7,000. Early-career parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies graduates make about $30,966. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Burlington County College placed #8 among the best values for parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies. Set in the suburb of Mount Laurel, Burlington County College is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $6,990 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $9,495. Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Studies graduates carry a median of $12,488 in student loans. Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Studies graduates of Burlington County College earn a median of $52,240 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Cuny Bronx Community College ranked #9 on our 2027 list of the best value parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies schools. Set in the city of Bronx, Cuny Bronx Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $5,206, with out-of-state students paying around $8,086. Students borrow a median of $8,224 to complete the parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies program here. Early-career parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies graduates make about $35,768. That is a strong return on a $8,224 median debt.
Hudson Valley Community College came in at #10 for value in parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies this year. Located in the city of Troy, Hudson Valley Community College is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,796, with out-of-state students paying around $11,852. Students borrow a median of $12,868 to complete the parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies program here. Soon after graduation, parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies degree recipients from Hudson Valley Community College generally make around $43,989. Set against $12,868 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Cuny Kingsborough Community College placed #11 among the best values for parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies. Located in the city of Brooklyn, Cuny Kingsborough Community College is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,252, while out-of-state students pay about $8,132. Typical student debt for parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies graduates is $7,858. Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Studies graduates of Cuny Kingsborough Community College earn a median of $35,562 early in their careers. Set against $7,858 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Monroe Community College landed the #12 spot for parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies value this year. Located in the suburb of Rochester, Monroe Community College is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,006, while out-of-state students pay about $11,056. Students borrow a median of $12,921 to complete the parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies program here. Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Studies graduates of Monroe Community College earn a median of $38,757 early in their careers. Set against $12,921 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Mercer County Community College placed #13 among the best values for parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies. Mercer County Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the rural area of West Windsor. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,310, compared with $9,174 for out-of-state students. Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Studies graduates carry a median of $12,250 in student loans. Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Studies graduates of Mercer County Community College earn a median of $45,389 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Union County College placed #14 among the best values for parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies. Union County College is a large public school located in the suburb of Cranford. In-state tuition and fees average $5,280, while out-of-state students pay about $9,500. Typical student debt for parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies graduates is $14,218. Early-career parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies graduates make about $38,168. Set against $14,218 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Hagerstown Community College came in at #15 for value in parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies this year. Hagerstown Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the suburb of Hagerstown. In-state tuition and fees average $4,320, while out-of-state students pay about $8,190. Students borrow a median of $15,126 to complete the parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies program here. Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Studies graduates of Hagerstown Community College earn a median of $46,478 early in their careers. Set against $15,126 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Bucks County Community College placed #16 among the best values for parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies. Located in the rural area of Newtown, Bucks County Community College is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $5,646 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $13,926. Typical student debt for parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies graduates is $13,068. Soon after graduation, parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies degree recipients from Bucks County Community College generally make around $37,711. That is a strong return on a $13,068 median debt.
Farmingdale State College placed #17 among the best values for parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies. Farmingdale State College is a large public school located in the suburb of Farmingdale. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $8,626, with out-of-state students paying around $18,536. Students borrow a median of $18,500 to complete the parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies program here. Soon after graduation, parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies degree recipients from Farmingdale State College generally make around $29,717. That is a strong return on a $18,500 median debt. Farmingdale State College admits about 63% of applicants.
Erie Community College ranked #18 on our 2027 list of the best value parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies schools. Erie Community College is a large public school located in the city of Buffalo. In-state tuition and fees average $6,100, with out-of-state students paying around $11,300. Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Studies graduates carry a median of $12,580 in student loans. Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Studies graduates of Erie Community College earn a median of $37,069 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Niagara County Community College placed #19 among the best values for parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies. Niagara County Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the rural area of Sanborn. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,894, compared with $12,030 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies graduates is $13,970. Early-career parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies graduates make about $36,258. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Suny Westchester Community College earned the #20 position for value in parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies this year. Suny Westchester Community College is a large public school located in the suburb of Valhalla. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,948, with out-of-state students paying around $12,486. Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Studies graduates carry a median of $8,764 in student loans. Soon after graduation, parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies degree recipients from Suny Westchester Community College generally make around $57,520. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Sussex County Community College ranked #21 on our 2027 list of the best value parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies schools. Located in the rural area of Newton, Sussex County Community College is a mid-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,544, while out-of-state students pay about $9,024. Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Studies graduates carry a median of $10,750 in student loans. Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Studies graduates of Sussex County Community College earn a median of $27,179 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Hudson County Community College placed #22 among the best values for parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies. Set in the city of Jersey City, Hudson County Community College is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,384, with out-of-state students paying around $9,248. Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Studies graduates carry a median of $10,671 in student loans. Early-career parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies graduates make about $35,909. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Harford Community College earned the #23 position for value in parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies this year. Harford Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the rural area of Bel Air. Students from in state pay about $4,032 in tuition and fees, compared with $8,832 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies graduates is $12,624. Early-career parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies graduates make about $50,636. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
The Community College Of Baltimore County came in at #24 for value in parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies this year. The Community College Of Baltimore County is a very large public school located in the suburb of Baltimore. In-state tuition and fees average $4,110, compared with $10,182 for out-of-state students. Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Studies graduates carry a median of $18,038 in student loans. Soon after graduation, parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies degree recipients from The Community College Of Baltimore County generally make around $52,440. Set against $18,038 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Lehigh Carbon Community College placed #25 among the best values for parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies. Located in the rural area of Schnecksville, Lehigh Carbon Community College is a moderately-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,280, compared with $13,270 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies graduates is $14,450. Soon after graduation, parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies degree recipients from Lehigh Carbon Community College generally make around $39,957. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Rest of the Top 50 Best Value Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Studies Schools
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies value ranking:
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Notes and References
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 edition. The methodology weighs the cost of a degree against the earnings graduates go on to achieve, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 135 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 135 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.
