2026 Best Value Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Studies Schools in Virginia
[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.
College Factual analyzed 30 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best value parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies schools.
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2026 Best Value Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Studies Schools in Virginia
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 Old Dominion University, our #1 best value for parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies in Virginia. Set in the city of Norfolk, Old Dominion University is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $12,750, compared with $33,780 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $26,100 to complete the parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies program here. Soon after graduation, parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies degree recipients from Old Dominion University generally make around $37,395. That is a strong return on a $26,100 median debt. The acceptance rate is 90%.
Norfolk State University is a great value for students pursuing a degree in parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies, landing the #2 spot this year. Located in the city of Norfolk, Norfolk State University is a moderately-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $10,180 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $21,682. Early-career parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies graduates make about $54,971. Norfolk State University admits about 88% of applicants.
Students looking for strong value in parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies will find it at Radford University, which ranked #3. Located in the town of Radford, Radford University is a moderately-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $12,548, while out-of-state students pay about $25,633. Students borrow a median of $26,000 to complete the parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies program here. Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Studies graduates of Radford University earn a median of $30,145 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $26,000 median debt. Radford University admits about 90% of applicants.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at George Mason University earned it the #4 place for parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies. George Mason University is a very large public school located in the suburb of Fairfax. In-state tuition and fees average $14,220, compared with $38,688 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $25,033 to complete the parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies program here. Early-career parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies graduates make about $36,484. That is a strong return on a $25,033 median debt. Roughly 88% of applicants are accepted.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Virginia Commonwealth University earned it the #5 place for parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies. Located in the city of Richmond, Virginia Commonwealth University is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $16,720, with out-of-state students paying around $39,884. Students borrow a median of $23,813 to complete the parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies program here. Soon after graduation, parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies degree recipients from Virginia Commonwealth University generally make around $45,781. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 93% of applicants are accepted.
Virginia State University ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the best value parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies schools. Virginia State University is a moderately-sized public school located in the suburb of Petersburg. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $10,043, with out-of-state students paying around $22,650. Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Studies graduates carry a median of $29,010 in student loans. Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Studies graduates of Virginia State University earn a median of $34,682 early in their careers. Set against $29,010 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Virginia State University admits about 89% of applicants.
Randolph College ranked #7 on our 2026 list of the best value parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies schools. Set in the city of Lynchburg, Randolph College is a small private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $30,310. Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Studies graduates carry a median of $23,750 in student loans. Early-career parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies graduates make about $43,197. That is a strong return on a $23,750 median debt. Randolph College admits about 94% of applicants.
Lynchburg College landed the #8 spot for parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies value this year. Set in the city of Lynchburg, Lynchburg College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $36,750 in tuition and fees. Early-career parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies graduates make about $107,159. Lynchburg College admits about 43% of applicants.
Bridgewater College earned the #9 position for value in parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies this year. Bridgewater College is a small private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Bridgewater. In-state tuition and fees average $16,090. Typical student debt for parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies graduates is $27,000. Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Studies graduates of Bridgewater College earn a median of $30,243 early in their careers. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 92% of applicants are accepted.
James Madison University came in at #10 for value in parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies this year. James Madison University is a very large public school located in the city of Harrisonburg. In-state tuition and fees average $13,966, while out-of-state students pay about $31,312. Typical student debt for parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies graduates is $21,500. Early-career parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies graduates make about $40,528. That is a strong return on a $21,500 median debt. Roughly 72% of applicants are accepted.
Virginia Wesleyan College came in at #11 for value in parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies this year. Set in the city of Virginia Beach, Virginia Wesleyan College is a small private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $37,500. Typical student debt for parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies graduates is $27,925. Early-career parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies graduates make about $45,517. Set against $27,925 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Virginia Wesleyan College admits about 73% of applicants.
Longwood University ranked #12 on our 2026 list of the best value parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies schools. Longwood University is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Farmville. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $15,740, with out-of-state students paying around $27,980. Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Studies graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Soon after graduation, parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies degree recipients from Longwood University generally make around $39,479. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 90%.
Emory And Henry College placed #13 among the best values for parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies. Emory And Henry College is a small private not-for-profit school located in the rural area of Emory. Students from in state pay about $39,000 in tuition and fees. Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Studies graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Soon after graduation, parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies degree recipients from Emory And Henry College generally make around $28,146. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. Emory And Henry College admits about 84% of applicants.
College Of William And Mary landed the #14 spot for parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies value this year. Located in the suburb of Williamsburg, College Of William And Mary is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $25,734, compared with $51,038 for out-of-state students. Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Studies graduates carry a median of $21,413 in student loans. Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Studies graduates of College Of William And Mary earn a median of $27,114 early in their careers. Set against $21,413 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 34%.
University Of Virginia Main Campus landed the #15 spot for parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies value this year. Set in the suburb of Charlottesville, University Of Virginia Main Campus is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $23,118 in tuition and fees, compared with $61,591 for out-of-state students. Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Studies graduates carry a median of $23,250 in student loans. Early-career parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies graduates make about $40,998. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of Virginia Main Campus admits about 17% of applicants.
Bluefield College came in at #16 for value in parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies this year. Set in the town of Bluefield, Bluefield College is a small private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $26,770 in tuition and fees. Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Studies graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Soon after graduation, parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies degree recipients from Bluefield College generally make around $24,450. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 59% of applicants are accepted.
Averett University ranked #17 on our 2026 list of the best value parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies schools. Averett University is a small private not-for-profit school located in the town of Danville. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $38,550. Typical student debt for parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies graduates is $28,000. Soon after graduation, parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies degree recipients from Averett University generally make around $36,908. That is a strong return on a $28,000 median debt. Roughly 57% of applicants are accepted.
Roanoke College came in at #18 for value in parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies this year. Located in the suburb of Salem, Roanoke College is a small private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $38,068. Typical student debt for parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies graduates is $27,000. Early-career parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies graduates make about $27,304. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roanoke College admits about 83% of applicants.
Liberty University ranked #19 on our 2026 list of the best value parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies schools. Liberty University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Lynchburg. In-state tuition and fees average $16,173. Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Studies graduates carry a median of $25,645 in student loans. Soon after graduation, parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies degree recipients from Liberty University generally make around $35,922. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 99%.
Shenandoah University earned the #20 position for value in parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies this year. Located in the city of Winchester, Shenandoah University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $36,950. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies program here. Soon after graduation, parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies degree recipients from Shenandoah University generally make around $37,676. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. Roughly 77% of applicants are accepted.
Hampton University earned the #21 position for value in parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies this year. Located in the suburb of Hampton, Hampton University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $30,592. Students borrow a median of $26,000 to complete the parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies program here. Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Studies graduates of Hampton University earn a median of $27,633 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $26,000 median debt. Hampton University admits about 62% of applicants.
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Notes and References
This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 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 · 30 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 14 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.
