2027 Best Value Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Studies Schools in Colorado
[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.
For its 2027 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 12 schools to find the best return on investment for parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies students.
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2027 Best Value Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Studies Schools in Colorado
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
For return on investment in parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies, no school beat Aims Community College this year. Located in the city of Greeley, Aims Community College is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,258, compared with $11,786 for out-of-state students. Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Studies graduates carry a median of $11,199 in student loans. Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Studies graduates of Aims Community College earn a median of $45,909 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Colorado State University Pueblo is a great value for students pursuing a degree in parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies, landing the #2 spot this year. Set in the city of Pueblo, Colorado State University Pueblo is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $9,720 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $17,944. Students borrow a median of $26,117 to complete the parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies program here. Early-career parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies graduates make about $34,865. Set against $26,117 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 95% of applicants are accepted.
Students looking for strong value in parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies will find it at Adams State College, which ranked #3. Adams State College is a mid-sized public school located in the town of Alamosa. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,824, with out-of-state students paying around $21,944. Typical student debt for parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies graduates is $21,451. Early-career parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies graduates make about $30,045. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Mesa State College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies, landing the #4 spot this year. Located in the city of Grand Junction, Mesa State College is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,927, with out-of-state students paying around $25,124. Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Studies graduates carry a median of $25,900 in student loans. Early-career parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies graduates make about $31,253. That is a strong return on a $25,900 median debt. The acceptance rate is 82%.
Students looking for strong value in parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies will find it at Metropolitan State College Of Denver, which ranked #5. Set in the city of Denver, Metropolitan State College Of Denver is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $11,124, while out-of-state students pay about $30,684. Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Studies graduates carry a median of $22,292 in student loans. Soon after graduation, parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies degree recipients from Metropolitan State College Of Denver generally make around $41,161. That is a strong return on a $22,292 median debt. Metropolitan State College Of Denver admits about 99% of applicants.
Western State College Of Colorado ranked #6 on our 2027 list of the best value parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies schools. Located in the town of Gunnison, Western State College Of Colorado is a moderately-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $11,318 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $24,434. Students borrow a median of $24,900 to complete the parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies program here. Soon after graduation, parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies degree recipients from Western State College Of Colorado generally make around $21,111. That is a strong return on a $24,900 median debt. Western State College Of Colorado admits about 100% of applicants.
Fort Lewis College landed the #7 spot for parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies value this year. Set in the town of Durango, Fort Lewis College is a mid-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $9,958, with out-of-state students paying around $21,526. Students borrow a median of $15,000 to complete the parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies program here. Soon after graduation, parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies degree recipients from Fort Lewis College generally make around $24,429. That is a strong return on a $15,000 median debt. Roughly 77% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Northern Colorado ranked #8 on our 2027 list of the best value parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies schools. University Of Northern Colorado is a large public school located in the city of Greeley. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $11,901, with out-of-state students paying around $26,979. Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Studies graduates carry a median of $24,450 in student loans. Early-career parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies graduates make about $40,518. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 86% of applicants are accepted.
Regis University earned the #9 position for value in parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies this year. Set in the city of Denver, Regis University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $28,140. Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Studies graduates carry a median of $31,773 in student loans. Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Studies graduates of Regis University earn a median of $72,028 early in their careers. Set against $31,773 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 86%.
Colorado State University Fort Collins placed #10 among the best values for parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies. Located in the city of Fort Collins, Colorado State University Fort Collins is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $13,373, compared with $35,061 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies graduates is $21,526. Soon after graduation, parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies degree recipients from Colorado State University Fort Collins generally make around $35,171. Set against $21,526 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 88% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Colorado Boulder placed #11 among the best values for parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies. Located in the city of Boulder, University Of Colorado Boulder is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $15,214, while out-of-state students pay about $42,970. Students borrow a median of $20,373 to complete the parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies program here. Soon after graduation, parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies degree recipients from University Of Colorado Boulder generally make around $55,861. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 78% of applicants are accepted.
Colorado Christian University earned the #12 position for value in parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies this year. Colorado Christian University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Lakewood. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $28,846. Students borrow a median of $36,092 to complete the parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies program here. Soon after graduation, parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies degree recipients from Colorado Christian University generally make around $47,333. Set against $36,092 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
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Notes and References
This list is compiled 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 · 12 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 12 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.
