2024 Best Value Colleges for Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies in Florida
20
Ranked Colleges
2,397
Degrees Awarded
$17,700
Avg Net Price*
When it comes to choosing a college, students have a lot of options - but not all of them are good. One of our goals at College Factual is to give you as much information as we can - such as our “Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in Florida” ranking - to help you make that decision.
In 2020-2021, 73,813 people earned their degree in parks, recreation, leisure, & fitness studies, making the major the 15th most popular in the United States. 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 Florida, there were 2,397 parks, recreation, leisure, & fitness studies graduates with average earnings and debt of $30,773 and $21,713 respectively.
This year’s “Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in Florida” ranking looked at 20 colleges that offer degrees in a bachelor’s 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. For more information, check out our ranking methodology.
More Ways to Rank Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Schools
Since picking the right college can be one of the most important decisions of your life, we’ve developed the “Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in Florida” ranking, along with many other major-related rankings, to help you make that decision.
In addition to College Factual’s rankings, you may want to take a look at College Combat, our unique tool that lets you pit your favorite schools head-to-head and compare how they rate on factors that most interest you. We encourage you to try it out and pit your favorite colleges and universities head to head! If you don’t have time right now, you can bookmark it for later.
Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in Florida
The following schools top our list of the Best Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in Florida.
Top 20 Best Value Colleges for Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies in Florida
Out of the 20 schools in the Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in Florida that were part of this year’s ranking, University of Florida landed the #1 spot on the list. UF is a public institution located in Gainesville, Florida. The school has a large population, and it awarded 306 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
In addition to being on our florida parks & rec students list, UF has also earned the #1 rank in our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Schools in Florida” ranking. The yearly cost to attend UF is $5,135 for florida parks & rec students.
The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 97%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.7%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Full University of Florida Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Report
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Florida International University. The school came in at #2 for the Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in Florida. This large school is located in Miami, Florida, and it awarded 274 ’s parks & rec degrees in 2020-2021.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at FIU, the school also landed the #2 spot in our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Schools in Florida” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Florida International University is $5,298 for Florida Parks & Rec students.
With a freshman retention rate of 90%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 4.4%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Full FIU Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Report
Out of the 20 schools in the Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in Florida that were part of this year’s ranking, Florida State University landed the #3 spot on the list. Florida State is located in Tallahassee, Florida and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 219 ’s parks & rec degrees to qualified students.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at Florida State, the school also landed the #4 spot in our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Schools in Florida” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Florida State is $9,946 for Florida Parks & Rec students.
Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 94%. 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%.
Full Florida State Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Report
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend The University of West Florida. The school came in at #4 for the Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in Florida. Located in Pensacola, Florida, this fairly large public school awarded 147 degrees to qualified ’s parks & rec students in 2020-2021.
UWF not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #6 on our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Schools in Florida” list. The yearly cost to attend UWF is $7,089 for Florida Parks & Rec students.
Read more about Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at The University of West Florida
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Central Florida. It ranked #5 on our 2024 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in Florida list. Orlando, Florida is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s parks & rec degrees to 67 students in 2020-2021.
UCF did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #7 on our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Schools in Florida” list. It costs about $8,618 for florida parks & rec students per year to attend University of Central Florida.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 3.7% 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%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 92%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.
Full University of Central Florida Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Report
University of North Florida did quite well in the 2024 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in Florida ranking, coming in at #6. Jacksonville, Florida is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s parks & rec degrees to 90 students in 2020-2021.
UNF not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #10 on our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Schools in Florida” list. The yearly cost to attend University of North Florida is $8,865 for Florida 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%.
Full UNF Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Report
Florida Atlantic University landed the #7 spot on the 2024 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in Florida ranking. FAU is located in Boca Raton, Florida and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 189 ’s parks & rec degrees to qualified students.
FAU also made our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Schools in Florida” list, coming in at #9. The estimated yearly cost for Florida Atlantic University is $10,735 for Florida Parks & Rec students.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 4.4%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Read more about Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Florida Atlantic University
University of South Florida - Main Campus ranked #8 on this year’s Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in Florida list. USF Tampa is a large school located in Tampa, Florida that handed out 53 ’s parks & rec degrees in 2020-2021.
In addition to being on our florida parks & rec students list, USF Tampa has also earned the #8 rank in our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Schools in Florida” ranking. The yearly cost to attend University of South Florida - Main Campus is $8,346 for Florida Parks & Rec students.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 3.3%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 90%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.
Read more about Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at University of South Florida - Main Campus
Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University ranked #9 on this year’s Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in Florida list. Located in Tallahassee, Florida, this medium-sized public school awarded 34 degrees to qualified ’s parks & rec students in 2020-2021.
Florida A&M University also took the #15 spot in our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Schools in Florida” ranking. It costs about $13,126 for florida parks & rec students per year to attend Florida A&M University.
Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 89%.
Read full report on Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Florida A&M University
With a ranking of #10, Keiser University - Ft Lauderdale did quite well on the 2024 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in Florida list. Located in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, this fairly large private not-for-profit school handed out 185 diplomas to qualified ’s parks & rec students in 2020-2021.
Keiser University - Ft Lauderdale also made our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Schools in Florida” list, coming in at #3. The yearly cost to attend Keiser University - Ft Lauderdale is $36,084 for florida parks & rec students.
Full Keiser University - Ft Lauderdale Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Report
Florida Gulf Coast University landed the #11 spot on the 2024 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in Florida ranking. This fairly large school is located in Fort Myers, Florida, and it awarded 49 ’s parks & rec degrees in 2020-2021.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at FGCU, the school also landed the #17 spot in our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Schools in Florida” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for FGCU is $11,299 for florida parks & rec students.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 4.2%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Full Florida Gulf Coast University Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Report
Southeastern University landed the #12 spot on the 2024 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in Florida ranking. Southeastern University is a medium-sized private not-for-profit school situated in Lakeland, Florida. It awarded 68 ’s parks & rec degrees in 2020-2021.
SEU also made our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Schools in Florida” list, coming in at #12. The yearly cost to attend Southeastern University is $26,640 for Florida Parks & Rec students.
Full Southeastern University Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Report
Barry University came in at #13 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in Florida ranking. Barry University is located in Miami, Florida and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 44 ’s parks & rec degrees to qualified students.
Barry University also made our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Schools in Florida” list, coming in at #14. The estimated yearly cost for Barry University is $20,539 for Florida Parks & Rec students.
Read full report on Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Barry University
Warner University came in at #14 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in Florida ranking. Warner University is a private not-for-profit institution located in Lake Wales, Florida. The school has a small population, and it awarded 27 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Warner University also took the #18 spot in our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Schools in Florida” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Warner University is $18,108 for Florida Parks & Rec students.
Read more about Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Warner University
Nova Southeastern University ranked #15 on this year’s Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in Florida list. Nova Southeastern University is a large school located in Fort Lauderdale, Florida that handed out 74 ’s parks & rec degrees in 2020-2021.
NUS Florida also took the #11 spot in our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Schools in Florida” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Nova Southeastern University is $25,833 for florida parks & rec students.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.9%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Read full report on Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at NUS Florida
Webber International University came in at #16 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in Florida ranking. Located in Babson Park, Florida, this small private not-for-profit school awarded 28 degrees to qualified ’s parks & rec students in 2020-2021.
Webber International University not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #16 on our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Schools in Florida” list. The estimated yearly cost for Webber International University is $26,774 for Florida Parks & Rec students.
Read more about Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Webber International University
Palm Beach Atlantic University landed the #17 spot on the 2024 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in Florida ranking. Palm Beach Atlantic is located in West Palm Beach, Florida and, has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 32 ’s parks & rec degrees to qualified students.
Palm Beach Atlantic also took the #13 spot in our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Schools in Florida” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Palm Beach Atlantic University is $26,530 for florida parks & rec students.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 3.3% 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 Palm Beach Atlantic University
The University of Tampa ranked #18 on this year’s Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in Florida list. Located in Tampa, Florida, this fairly large private not-for-profit school handed out 58 diplomas to qualified ’s parks & rec students in 2020-2021.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at UT, the school also landed the #19 spot in our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Schools in Florida” ranking. It costs about $32,440 for florida parks & rec students per year to attend UT.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 3.4% 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 The University of Tampa
University of Florida-Online came in at #19 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in Florida ranking. This medium-sized school is located in Gainesville, Florida, and it awarded 45 ’s parks & rec degrees in 2020-2021.
In addition to being on our florida parks & rec students list, UF Online has also earned the #20 rank in our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Schools in Florida” ranking. It costs about $5,577 for Florida Parks & Rec students per year to attend UF Online.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.7%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 91%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.
Full UF Online Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Report
University of Miami landed the #20 spot on the 2024 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in Florida ranking. U Miami is located in Coral Gables, Florida and, has a fairly large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 100 ’s parks & rec degrees to qualified students.
In addition to being on our florida parks & rec students list, U Miami has also earned the #5 rank in our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Schools in Florida” ranking. The yearly cost to attend University of Miami is $46,098 for Florida Parks & Rec students.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.9%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 93%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.
Read more about Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at University of Miami
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