2027 Best Value Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Studies Schools in Arkansas
[Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Studies](/majors/parks-recreation-fitness/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
College Factual analyzed 13 schools to build this 2027 ranking of the best value parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies schools.
What’s on this page:
2027 Best Value Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Studies Schools in Arkansas
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
Our analysis ranked Arkansas State University Main Campus the best value for a degree in parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies in Arkansas. Set in the city of Jonesboro, Arkansas State University Main Campus is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,090, compared with $14,522 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies graduates is $26,000. Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Studies graduates of Arkansas State University Main Campus earn a median of $43,319 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $26,000 median debt. Arkansas State University Main Campus admits about 82% of applicants.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Arkansas Tech University earned it the #2 place for parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies. Arkansas Tech University is a large public school located in the town of Russellville. Students from in state pay about $8,674 in tuition and fees, compared with $14,668 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies graduates is $23,726. Soon after graduation, parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies degree recipients from Arkansas Tech University generally make around $35,073. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 96%.
Central Baptist College came in at #3 on our 2027 list of the best value parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies schools. Set in the city of Conway, Central Baptist College is a small private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $21,330. Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Studies graduates carry a median of $46,694 in student loans. Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Studies graduates of Central Baptist College earn a median of $44,780 early in their careers. Set against $46,694 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Central Baptist College admits about 64% of applicants.
Southern Arkansas University Main Campus is a great value for students pursuing a degree in parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies, landing the #4 spot this year. Located in the town of Magnolia, Southern Arkansas University Main Campus is a moderately-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $9,960 in tuition and fees, compared with $15,690 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $20,169 to complete the parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies program here. Early-career parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies graduates make about $38,612. Set against $20,169 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Southern Arkansas University Main Campus admits about 75% of applicants.
A rank of #5 makes University Of Arkansas At Monticello one of the best values for parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies. Set in the town of Monticello, University Of Arkansas At Monticello is a mid-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,292, with out-of-state students paying around $14,857. Typical student debt for parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies graduates is $22,000. Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Studies graduates of University Of Arkansas At Monticello earn a median of $29,213 early in their careers. Set against $22,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Williams Baptist College landed the #6 spot for parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies value this year. Located in the rural area of Walnut Ridge, Williams Baptist College is a small private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $21,070 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies graduates is $18,933. Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Studies graduates of Williams Baptist College earn a median of $31,309 early in their careers. Set against $18,933 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Williams Baptist College admits about 83% of applicants.
University Of Central Arkansas earned the #7 position for value in parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies this year. Set in the city of Conway, University Of Central Arkansas is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $10,523, with out-of-state students paying around $18,023. Students borrow a median of $25,000 to complete the parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies program here. Early-career parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies graduates make about $38,372. Set against $25,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 90% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Arkansas earned the #8 position for value in parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies this year. Set in the city of Fayetteville, University Of Arkansas is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $10,104 in tuition and fees, compared with $29,966 for out-of-state students. Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Studies graduates carry a median of $24,516 in student loans. Soon after graduation, parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies degree recipients from University Of Arkansas generally make around $40,899. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of Arkansas admits about 74% of applicants.
Lyon College came in at #9 for value in parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies this year. Lyon College is a small private not-for-profit school located in the town of Batesville. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $31,000. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $44,232. Lyon College admits about 63% of applicants.
John Brown University placed #10 among the best values for parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies. Set in the town of Siloam Springs, John Brown University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $31,756. Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Studies graduates carry a median of $25,216 in student loans. Early-career parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies graduates make about $50,420. Set against $25,216 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 76% of applicants are accepted.
Harding University landed the #11 spot for parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies value this year. Harding University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the town of Searcy. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $25,962. Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Studies graduates carry a median of $26,054 in student loans. Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Studies graduates of Harding University earn a median of $29,178 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 70% of applicants are accepted.
Ouachita Baptist University came in at #12 for value in parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies this year. Ouachita Baptist University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the town of Arkadelphia. Students from in state pay about $34,500 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies graduates is $19,672. Soon after graduation, parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies degree recipients from Ouachita Baptist University generally make around $31,385. Set against $19,672 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 68%.
Henderson State University placed #13 among the best values for parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies. Set in the town of Arkadelphia, Henderson State University is a mid-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $8,244, with out-of-state students paying around $10,620. Typical student debt for parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies graduates is $25,000. Early-career parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies graduates make about $39,286. Set against $25,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
More Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Studies Rankings
View All Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Studies Rankings >
Notes and References
The ranking above is published 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 · 13 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 13 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.
