2024 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in Massachusetts
12
Ranked Colleges
1,210
Degrees Awarded
$26,200
Avg Net Price*
With all of the options students have for higher education today, it can be tough to choose which direction to take. College Factual has developed its “Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in Massachusetts” ranking as one item you can use to help make this decision.
Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies is the 15th most popular major in the country with 73,813 degrees awarded in 2020-2021. In 2019-2020, parks, recreation, leisure, & fitness studies graduates who were awarded their degree in 2017-2019, earned an average of $31,423 and had an average of $24,388 in loans still to pay off.
Across Massachusetts, there were 1,210 parks, recreation, leisure, & fitness studies graduates with average earnings and debt of $33,408 and $25,263 respectively.
This year’s “Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in Massachusetts” ranking analyzed 12 colleges that offered a degree in parks, recreation, leisure, & fitness studies. This ranking identifies schools with high-quality parks, recreation, leisure, & fitness studies programs that also have a lower cost than schools of similar quality.
To come up with these rankings, we looked at factors such as the cost to attend the school after aid is awarded and overall quality of the parks, recreation, leisure, & fitness studies program at the school. Check out our ranking methodology for more information.
One Size Does Not Fit All
The parks & rec school you choose to invest your time and money in matters. To help you make the decision that is right for you, we’ve developed a number of major-specific rankings, including this list of “Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in Massachusetts”.
You can create your own custom comparison that focuses on the factors most important to you using our tool, College Combat. Test it out when you get a chance! You may also want to bookmark the link and share it with others who are trying to make the college decision.
Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in Massachusetts
The colleges and universities below are the best for massachusetts parks & rec students.
Top 12 Best Value Colleges for Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies in Massachusetts
Out of the 12 schools in the Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in Massachusetts that were part of this year’s ranking, University of Massachusetts Amherst landed the #1 spot on the list. Located in Amherst, Massachusetts, this large public school handed out 144 degrees to qualified ’s parks & rec students in 2020-2021.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at UMass Amherst, the school also landed the #1 spot in our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Schools in Massachusetts” ranking. It costs about $22,038 for Massachusetts Parks & Rec students per year to attend UMass Amherst.
Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 91%. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.9% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.
Full UMass Amherst Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Report
Out of the 12 schools in the Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in Massachusetts that were part of this year’s ranking, Salem State University landed the #2 spot on the list. Salem, Massachusetts is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s parks & rec degrees to 35 students in 2020-2021.
Salem State also took the #5 spot in our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Schools in Massachusetts” ranking. It costs about $19,017 for massachusetts parks & rec students per year to attend Salem State University.
Read full report on Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Salem State University
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Massachusetts - Boston. It ranked #3 on our 2024 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in Massachusetts list. Boston, Massachusetts is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s parks & rec degrees to 143 students in 2020-2021.
UMass Boston did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #2 on our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Schools in Massachusetts” list. The yearly cost to attend University of Massachusetts - Boston is $17,752 for Massachusetts Parks & Rec students.
Full University of Massachusetts - Boston Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Report
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Westfield State University. It ranked #4 on our 2024 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in Massachusetts list. Westfield is a medium-sized public school situated in Westfield, Massachusetts. It awarded 56 ’s parks & rec degrees in 2020-2021.
Westfield did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #8 on our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Schools in Massachusetts” list. It costs about $19,583 for massachusetts parks & rec students per year to attend Westfield State University.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 3.8% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.
Read more about Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Westfield
Out of the 12 schools in the Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in Massachusetts that were part of this year’s ranking, Gordon College landed the #5 spot on the list. Gordon College is a small school located in Wenham, Massachusetts that handed out 13 ’s parks & rec degrees in 2020-2021.
Gordon College did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #7 on our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Schools in Massachusetts” list. The yearly cost to attend Gordon College is $25,748 for Massachusetts Parks & Rec students.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 3.4%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Read more about Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Gordon College
Lasell University landed the #6 spot on the 2024 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in Massachusetts ranking. Lasell University is a small school located in Newton, Massachusetts that handed out 80 ’s parks & rec degrees in 2020-2021.
Lasell also took the #6 spot in our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Schools in Massachusetts” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Lasell University is $26,666 for massachusetts parks & rec students.
Read full report on Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Lasell
Endicott College landed the #7 spot on the 2024 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in Massachusetts ranking. Beverly, Massachusetts is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s parks & rec degrees to 102 students in 2020-2021.
Endicott also took the #4 spot in our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Schools in Massachusetts” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Endicott is $35,992 for massachusetts parks & rec students.
The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 87%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.8%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Read full report on Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Endicott College
Springfield College ranked #8 on this year’s Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in Massachusetts list. Springfield College is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Springfield, Massachusetts. It awarded 129 ’s parks & rec degrees in 2020-2021.
In addition to being on our massachusetts parks & rec students list, Springfield College has also earned the #3 rank in our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Schools in Massachusetts” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Springfield College is $28,710 for massachusetts parks & rec students.
With a freshman retention rate of 85%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.
Full Springfield College Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Report
Western New England University came in at #9 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in Massachusetts ranking. Western New England is a small school located in Springfield, Massachusetts that handed out 39 ’s parks & rec degrees in 2020-2021.
Western New England also took the #11 spot in our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Schools in Massachusetts” ranking. It costs about $30,594 for massachusetts parks & rec students per year to attend Western New England University.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 3.2%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Read full report on Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Western New England
Nichols College landed the #10 spot on the 2024 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in Massachusetts ranking. Nichols is a small school located in Dudley, Massachusetts that handed out 47 ’s parks & rec degrees in 2020-2021.
Nichols also took the #10 spot in our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Schools in Massachusetts” ranking. It costs about $29,951 for massachusetts parks & rec students per year to attend Nichols College.
Read full report on Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Nichols
With a ranking of #11, Regis College did quite well on the 2024 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in Massachusetts list. This small school is located in Weston, Massachusetts, and it awarded 16 ’s parks & rec degrees in 2020-2021.
Regis College did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #9 on our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Schools in Massachusetts” list. The estimated yearly cost for Regis College is $32,338 for massachusetts parks & rec students.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 3.9%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. Since the school has a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors.
Read full report on Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Regis College
Northeastern University Professional Advancement Network did quite well in the 2024 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in Massachusetts ranking, coming in at #12. This fairly large school is located in Boston, Massachusetts, and it awarded 35 ’s parks & rec degrees in 2020-2021.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at Northeastern University Professional Advancement Network, the school also landed the #12 spot in our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Schools in Massachusetts” ranking.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.5% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.
Read full report on Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Northeastern University Professional Advancement Network
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Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Schools in Massachusetts
Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies students in the state of Massachusetts
Best Value Colleges for Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies in Massachusetts (With Aid)
Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies students getting aid in Massachusetts
Best Value Colleges for Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies (Income $30-$48k) in Massachusetts
Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies students with family income $30-$48k in Massachusetts
Best Value Colleges for Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies (Income $75-$110k) in Massachusetts
Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies students with family income $75-$110k in Massachusetts
Best Value Colleges for Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies in Massachusetts
Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies students in Massachusetts
Highest Paid Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Graduates in Massachusetts
Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies students in Massachusetts
Best Value Colleges for Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies (Income $0-$30k) in Massachusetts
Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies students with family income less than $30k in Massachusetts
Best Value Colleges for Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies (Income $48-$75k) in Massachusetts
Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies students with family income $48-$75k in Massachusetts
Best Value Colleges for Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies (Income Over $110k) in Massachusetts
Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies students with family income exceeding $110k in Massachusetts
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
- *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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