2027 Best Value Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Studies Schools in Connecticut

[Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Studies](/majors/parks-recreation-fitness/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies education at a price that pays off.
To produce this 2027 ranking, College Factual evaluated 9 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies students.
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2027 Best Value Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Studies Schools in Connecticut
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Studies Schools
Capital Community College tops our 2027 list of the best value parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies schools in Connecticut. Set in the city of New Britain, Capital Community College is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,338, compared with $15,596 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies graduates is $12,059. Soon after graduation, parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies degree recipients from Capital Community College generally make around $43,086. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Central Connecticut State University is a great value for students pursuing a degree in parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies, landing the #2 spot this year. Central Connecticut State University is a large public school located in the suburb of New Britain. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $13,050, while out-of-state students pay about $16,550. Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Studies graduates carry a median of $26,000 in student loans. Early-career parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies graduates make about $35,701. That is a strong return on a $26,000 median debt. Central Connecticut State University admits about 73% of applicants.
Southern Connecticut State University came in at #3 on our 2027 list of the best value parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies schools. Located in the city of New Haven, Southern Connecticut State University is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $13,442, while out-of-state students pay about $16,942. Students borrow a median of $25,800 to complete the parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies program here. Soon after graduation, parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies degree recipients from Southern Connecticut State University generally make around $27,761. That is a strong return on a $25,800 median debt. Roughly 92% of applicants are accepted.
Students looking for strong value in parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies will find it at University Of Connecticut, which ranked #4. Located in the town of Storrs, University Of Connecticut is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $21,044 in tuition and fees, compared with $43,712 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $23,125 to complete the parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies program here. Soon after graduation, parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies degree recipients from University Of Connecticut generally make around $40,704. That is a strong return on a $23,125 median debt. Roughly 52% of applicants are accepted.
A rank of #5 makes Post University one of the best values for parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies. Post University is a very large private for-profit school located in the city of Waterbury. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $15,922. Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Studies graduates carry a median of $31,250 in student loans. Soon after graduation, parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies degree recipients from Post University generally make around $29,592. That is a strong return on a $31,250 median debt.
University Of Bridgeport earned the #6 position for value in parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies this year. Set in the city of Bridgeport, University Of Bridgeport is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $35,760. Typical student debt for parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies graduates is $28,601. Soon after graduation, parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies degree recipients from University Of Bridgeport generally make around $56,368. Set against $28,601 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 83% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Hartford landed the #7 spot for parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies value this year. Set in the city of West Hartford, University Of Hartford is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $49,075. Students borrow a median of $25,648 to complete the parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies program here. Early-career parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies graduates make about $51,123. Set against $25,648 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of Hartford admits about 96% of applicants.
Mitchell College landed the #8 spot for parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies value this year. Mitchell College is a small private not-for-profit school located in the city of New London. In-state tuition and fees average $40,490. Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Studies graduates carry a median of $26,500 in student loans. Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Studies graduates of Mitchell College earn a median of $27,007 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $26,500 median debt. The acceptance rate is 95%.
Albertus Magnus College ranked #9 on our 2027 list of the best value parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies schools. Set in the city of New Haven, Albertus Magnus College is a small private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $41,908. Students borrow a median of $36,919 to complete the parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies program here. Soon after graduation, parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies degree recipients from Albertus Magnus College generally make around $50,188. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Albertus Magnus College admits about 59% of applicants.
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Notes and References
This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 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 · 9 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 9 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.