2027 Best Value Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Studies Schools in Louisiana

[Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Studies](/majors/parks-recreation-fitness/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
For its 2027 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 11 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 Louisiana
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
Our analysis ranked Louisiana State University Alexandria the best value for a degree in parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies in Louisiana. Located in the rural area of Alexandria, Louisiana State University Alexandria is a moderately-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $7,050, compared with $14,725 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $24,656 to complete the parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies program here. Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Studies graduates of Louisiana State University Alexandria earn a median of $47,702 early in their careers. Set against $24,656 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 92%.
Louisiana Tech University is a great value for students pursuing a degree in parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies, landing the #2 spot this year. Louisiana Tech University is a large public school located in the town of Ruston. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $10,125, compared with $16,866 for out-of-state students. Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Studies graduates carry a median of $24,750 in student loans. Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Studies graduates of Louisiana Tech University earn a median of $31,802 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $24,750 median debt. Louisiana Tech University admits about 86% of applicants.
University Of New Orleans is a great value for students pursuing a degree in parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies, landing the #3 spot this year. University Of New Orleans is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of New Orleans. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,172, with out-of-state students paying around $14,008. Typical student debt for parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies graduates is $25,000. Early-career parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies graduates make about $25,262. Set against $25,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 74%.
Mcneese State University is a great value for students pursuing a degree in parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies, landing the #4 spot this year. Set in the city of Lake Charles, Mcneese State University is a moderately-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $8,489, with out-of-state students paying around $9,989. Typical student debt for parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies graduates is $19,014. Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Studies graduates of Mcneese State University earn a median of $38,189 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 78%.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Southeastern Louisiana University earned it the #5 place for parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies. Set in the city of Hammond, Southeastern Louisiana University is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,373, with out-of-state students paying around $20,851. 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 $35,345. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 99% of applicants are accepted.
Louisiana College landed the #6 spot for parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies value this year. Louisiana College is a small private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Pineville. Students from in state pay about $20,266 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies graduates is $25,000. Early-career parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies graduates make about $57,294. That is a strong return on a $25,000 median debt. Roughly 77% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Louisiana Monroe earned the #7 position for value in parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies this year. University Of Louisiana Monroe is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Monroe. Students from in state pay about $9,190 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $21,290. Typical student debt for parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies graduates is $21,500. Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Studies graduates of University Of Louisiana Monroe earn a median of $34,789 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $21,500 median debt. The acceptance rate is 85%.
Northwestern State University Of Louisiana ranked #8 on our 2027 list of the best value parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies schools. Northwestern State University Of Louisiana is a large public school located in the town of Natchitoches. Students from in state pay about $8,864 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $19,652. Students borrow a median of $24,000 to complete the parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies program here. Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Studies graduates of Northwestern State University Of Louisiana earn a median of $28,009 early in their careers. Set against $24,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 92% of applicants are accepted.
Louisiana State University And Agricultural And Mechanical College landed the #9 spot for parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies value this year. Set in the city of Baton Rouge, Louisiana State University And Agricultural And Mechanical College is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $11,954, compared with $28,631 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $23,000 to complete the parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies program here. Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Studies graduates of Louisiana State University And Agricultural And Mechanical College earn a median of $31,956 early in their careers. Set against $23,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 73% of applicants are accepted.
Grambling State University ranked #10 on our 2027 list of the best value parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies schools. Located in the town of Grambling, Grambling State University is a moderately-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $7,683, with out-of-state students paying around $16,706. Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Studies graduates carry a median of $41,750 in student loans. Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Studies graduates of Grambling State University earn a median of $33,711 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $41,750 median debt. Grambling State University admits about 45% of applicants.
Tulane University Of Louisiana ranked #11 on our 2027 list of the best value parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies schools. Set in the city of New Orleans, Tulane University Of Louisiana is a large private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $68,678. Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Studies graduates carry a median of $22,077 in student loans. Early-career parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies graduates make about $53,507. Set against $22,077 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Tulane University Of Louisiana admits about 14% of applicants.
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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 · 11 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 11 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.