2027 Best Value Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Studies Schools in Alabama
[Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Studies](/majors/parks-recreation-fitness/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
To produce this 2027 ranking, College Factual evaluated 16 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 Alabama
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
Leading the list is University Of North Alabama, our #1 best value for parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies in Alabama. Located in the city of Florence, University Of North Alabama is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $12,120, with out-of-state students paying around $22,320. Typical student debt for parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies graduates is $23,250. Soon after graduation, parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies degree recipients from University Of North Alabama generally make around $29,714. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 87%.
Students looking for strong value in parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies will find it at University Of West Alabama, which ranked #2. Set in the rural area of Livingston, University Of West Alabama is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $10,990, compared with $20,090 for out-of-state students. Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Studies graduates carry a median of $31,894 in student loans. Soon after graduation, parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies degree recipients from University Of West Alabama generally make around $53,270. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of West Alabama admits about 43% of applicants.
Auburn University At Montgomery is a great value for students pursuing a degree in parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies, landing the #3 spot this year. Located in the city of Montgomery, Auburn University At Montgomery is a moderately-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,700, compared with $20,668 for out-of-state students. Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Studies graduates carry a median of $26,500 in student loans. Early-career parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies graduates make about $46,152. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 92%.
Jacksonville State University is a great value for students pursuing a degree in parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies, landing the #4 spot this year. Jacksonville State University is a large public school located in the suburb of Jacksonville. Students from in state pay about $12,894 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $23,334. Students borrow a median of $21,500 to complete the parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies program here. Early-career parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies graduates make about $31,303. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Jacksonville State University admits about 78% of applicants.
Troy University came in at #5 on our 2027 list of the best value parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies schools. Troy University is a large public school located in the town of Troy. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $10,176, with out-of-state students paying around $20,352. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies program here. Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Studies graduates of Troy University earn a median of $45,064 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. Roughly 96% of applicants are accepted.
University Of South Alabama earned the #6 position for value in parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies this year. Located in the city of Mobile, University Of South Alabama is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $10,116, compared with $19,092 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies graduates is $26,750. Early-career parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies graduates make about $34,546. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 71%.
Alabama A And M University earned the #7 position for value in parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies this year. Alabama A And M University is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Normal. In-state tuition and fees average $10,024, compared with $18,634 for out-of-state students. Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Studies graduates carry a median of $36,000 in student loans. Soon after graduation, parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies degree recipients from Alabama A And M University generally make around $27,568. Set against $36,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Alabama A And M University admits about 58% of applicants.
University Of Montevallo ranked #8 on our 2027 list of the best value parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies schools. Located in the town of Montevallo, University Of Montevallo is a mid-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $13,948, with out-of-state students paying around $26,968. Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Studies graduates carry a median of $25,000 in student loans. Early-career parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies graduates make about $30,250. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 54%.
University Of Alabama At Huntsville ranked #9 on our 2027 list of the best value parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies schools. Located in the city of Huntsville, University Of Alabama At Huntsville is a moderately-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $12,132, compared with $26,408 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $24,250 to complete the parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies program here. Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Studies graduates of University Of Alabama At Huntsville earn a median of $27,788 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 69%.
Spring Hill College placed #10 among the best values for parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies. Located in the city of Mobile, Spring Hill College is a small private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $24,054 in tuition and fees. Median earnings reach $51,500 ten years out. The acceptance rate is 77%.
Faulkner University landed the #11 spot for parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies value this year. Located in the city of Montgomery, Faulkner University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $23,920. Typical student debt for parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies graduates is $34,658. Early-career parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies graduates make about $25,710. That is a strong return on a $34,658 median debt. Faulkner University admits about 73% of applicants.
University Of Mobile landed the #12 spot for parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies value this year. Set in the rural area of Mobile, University Of Mobile is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $26,910. Typical student debt for parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies graduates is $26,000. Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Studies graduates of University Of Mobile earn a median of $26,785 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 78%.
The University Of Alabama landed the #13 spot for parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies value this year. Set in the city of Tuscaloosa, The University Of Alabama is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $12,180, with out-of-state students paying around $34,172. Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Studies graduates carry a median of $24,496 in student loans. Soon after graduation, parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies degree recipients from The University Of Alabama generally make around $50,740. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 77% of applicants are accepted.
Huntingdon College came in at #14 for value in parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies this year. Set in the city of Montgomery, Huntingdon College is a small private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $29,070. Typical student debt for parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies graduates is $26,798. Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Studies graduates of Huntingdon College earn a median of $28,469 early in their careers. Set against $26,798 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 70%.
United States Sports Academy landed the #15 spot for parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies value this year. Located in the city of Daphne, United States Sports Academy is a small private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $20,700. Soon after graduation, parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies degree recipients from United States Sports Academy generally make around $62,592. United States Sports Academy admits about 61% of applicants.
Samford University ranked #16 on our 2027 list of the best value parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies schools. Samford University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Birmingham. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $40,150. Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Studies graduates carry a median of $21,039 in student loans. Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Studies graduates of Samford University earn a median of $64,132 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 82%.
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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 · 16 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 16 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.
