2024 Best Value Colleges for Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies in the Southwest Region
61
Ranked Colleges
10,228
Degrees Awarded
$12,800
Avg Net Price*
Students have lots of options to chooose from today when trying to decide which college to attend. At College Factual, we’re committed to helping you make that decision by providing information such as that found in our “Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking.
Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies is the 15th most popular major in the country with 73,813 degrees awarded in 2020-2021. 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 the Southwest region, there were 10,228 parks, recreation, leisure, & fitness studies graduates with average earnings and debt of $32,393 and $22,734 respectively.
This year’s “Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking looked at 61 colleges that offer degrees in a bachelor’s in parks, recreation, leisure, & fitness studies. The schools that top this list are recognized because they have great parks, recreation, leisure, & fitness studies programs and cost less that schools of similar quality.
When determining these rankings, we looked at things such as overall quality of the parks, recreation, leisure, & fitness studies program at the school and the cost to attend the school once aid has been awarded. For more information, check out our ranking methodology.
One Size Does Not Fit All
When choosing the right school for you, it’s important to arm yourself with all the facts you can. To that end, we’ve created a number of major-specific rankings, including this “Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in the Southwest Region” list to help you make the college decision.
You can create your own custom comparison that focuses on the factors most important to you using our tool, College Combat. When you have some time, check it out - you may want to bookmark the link so you don’t forget it.
Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in the Southwest Region
The colleges and universities below are the best for southwest region parks & rec students.
Top 25 Best Value Colleges for Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies in the Southwest Region
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Northwestern Oklahoma State University. It ranked #1 on our 2024 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in the Southwest Region list. Northwestern Oklahoma State University is a small school located in Alva, Oklahoma that handed out 34 ’s parks & rec degrees in 2020-2021.
NWOSU also made our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Schools in the Southwest Region” list, coming in at #17. The yearly cost to attend Northwestern Oklahoma State University is $10,470 for southwest region parks & rec students.
Full NWOSU Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Report
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Southeastern Oklahoma State University. The school came in at #2 for the Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in the Southwest Region. Southeastern Oklahoma State University is located in Durant, Oklahoma and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 187 ’s parks & rec degrees to qualified students.
Southeastern Oklahoma State University did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #19 on our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Schools in the Southwest Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for Southeastern Oklahoma State University is $8,109 for Southwest Region Parks & Rec students.
Read full report on Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Southeastern Oklahoma State University
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Houston. It ranked #3 on our 2024 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in the Southwest Region list. This large school is located in Houston, Texas, and it awarded 490 ’s parks & rec degrees in 2020-2021.
UH also made our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Schools in the Southwest Region” list, coming in at #5. It costs about $13,721 for southwest region parks & rec students per year to attend University of Houston.
Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 85%. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 4.4% 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 UH
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Tarleton State University. It ranked #4 on our 2024 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in the Southwest Region list. Tarleton is a public institution located in Stephenville, Texas. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 289 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Tarleton did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #8 on our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Schools in the Southwest Region” list. The yearly cost to attend Tarleton State University is $20,307 for southwest region parks & rec students.
Full Tarleton State University Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Report
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend West Texas A&M University. The school came in at #5 for the Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in the Southwest Region. Located in Canyon, Texas, this medium-sized public school awarded 76 degrees to qualified ’s parks & rec students in 2020-2021.
It costs about $15,033 for Southwest Region Parks & Rec students per year to attend West Texas A&M University.
Read full report on Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at West Texas A&M University
Sam Houston State University did quite well in the 2024 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in the Southwest Region ranking, coming in at #6. Sam Houston State University is a large public school situated in Huntsville, Texas. It awarded 158 ’s parks & rec degrees in 2020-2021.
SHSU not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #12 on our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Schools in the Southwest Region” list. The yearly cost to attend SHSU is $15,035 for southwest region parks & rec students.
Full Sam Houston State University Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Report
Southern Nazarene University did quite well in the 2024 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in the Southwest Region ranking, coming in at #7. Located in Bethany, Oklahoma, this small private not-for-profit school handed out 43 degrees to qualified ’s parks & rec students in 2020-2021.
In addition to being on our southwest region parks & rec students list, SNU has also earned the #13 rank in our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Southern Nazarene University is $20,139 for southwest region 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%.
Read full report on Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at SNU
Texas Woman’s University did quite well in the 2024 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in the Southwest Region ranking, coming in at #8. Located in Denton, Texas, this fairly large public school handed out 159 diplomas to qualified ’s parks & rec students in 2020-2021.
TWU also took the #16 spot in our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend TWU is $9,684 for Southwest Region Parks & Rec students.
Read more about Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Texas Woman’s University
The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley did quite well in the 2024 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in the Southwest Region ranking, coming in at #9. The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley is a large school located in Edinburg, Texas that handed out 394 ’s parks & rec degrees in 2020-2021.
In addition to being on our southwest region parks & rec students list, UT Rio Grande Valley has also earned the #18 rank in our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend UT Rio Grande Valley is $3,743 for southwest region parks & rec students.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 0.7%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Full UT Rio Grande Valley Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Report
University of North Texas ranked #10 on this year’s Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in the Southwest Region list. UNT is a public institution located in Denton, Texas. The school has a large population, and it awarded 374 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
UNT not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #11 on our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Schools in the Southwest Region” list. The yearly cost to attend University of North Texas is $14,122 for Southwest Region Parks & Rec students.
Read full report on Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at University of North Texas
Grand Canyon University landed the #11 spot on the 2024 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in the Southwest Region ranking. Grand Canyon University is a large private for-profit school situated in Phoenix, Arizona. It awarded 265 ’s parks & rec degrees in 2020-2021.
Grand Canyon University also took the #22 spot in our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. It costs about $20,585 for southwest region parks & rec students per year to attend Grand Canyon University.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 5.0% 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 Grand Canyon University
Southwestern Oklahoma State University landed the #12 spot on the 2024 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in the Southwest Region ranking. Weatherford, Oklahoma is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s parks & rec degrees to 56 students in 2020-2021.
It costs about $13,202 for southwest region parks & rec students per year to attend SWOSU.
Read full report on Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at SWOSU
Oklahoma Panhandle State University came in at #13 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in the Southwest Region ranking. Located in Goodwell, Oklahoma, this small public school awarded 25 degrees to qualified ’s parks & rec students in 2020-2021.
The estimated yearly cost for OPSU is $8,667 for southwest region parks & rec students.
Full Oklahoma Panhandle State University Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Report
South Texas College ranked #14 on this year’s Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in the Southwest Region list. This large school is located in McAllen, Texas, and it awarded 41 ’s parks & rec degrees in 2020-2021.
The estimated yearly cost for South Texas College is $1,504 for southwest region parks & rec students.
Read more about Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at South Texas College
Texas State University ranked #15 on this year’s Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in the Southwest Region list. San Marcos, Texas is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s parks & rec degrees to 627 students in 2020-2021.
Texas State also took the #9 spot in our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. It costs about $14,887 for Southwest Region Parks & Rec students per year to attend Texas State.
Full Texas State Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Report
East Central University landed the #16 spot on the 2024 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in the Southwest Region ranking. ECU is located in Ada, Oklahoma and, has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 90 ’s parks & rec degrees to qualified students.
The estimated yearly cost for East Central University is $10,496 for southwest region parks & rec students.
Full ECU Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Report
Angelo State University landed the #17 spot on the 2024 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in the Southwest Region ranking. Located in San Angelo, Texas, this fairly large public school handed out 123 degrees to qualified ’s parks & rec students in 2020-2021.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at Angelo State, the school also landed the #24 spot in our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Angelo State is $13,184 for Southwest Region Parks & Rec students.
Read full report on Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Angelo State
Lamar University did quite well in the 2024 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in the Southwest Region ranking, coming in at #18. Lamar University is a public institution located in Beaumont, Texas. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 68 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
It costs about $11,739 for southwest region parks & rec students per year to attend Lamar University.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 4.3%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Read more about Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Lamar University
Texas A&M University - Commerce came in at #19 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in the Southwest Region ranking. Located in Commerce, Texas, this fairly large public school handed out 132 degrees to qualified ’s parks & rec students in 2020-2021.
Texas A&M Commerce not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #20 on our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Schools in the Southwest Region” list. It costs about $13,515 for southwest region parks & rec students per year to attend Texas A&M University - Commerce.
Full Texas A&M Commerce Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Report
Northeastern State University came in at #20 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in the Southwest Region ranking. NSU is a medium-sized public school situated in Tahlequah, Oklahoma. It awarded 59 ’s parks & rec degrees in 2020-2021.
It costs about $10,094 for southwest region parks & rec students per year to attend Northeastern State University.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 3.7%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Read full report on Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at NSU
With a ranking of #21, Oklahoma State University - Main Campus did quite well on the 2024 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in the Southwest Region list. OSU is located in Stillwater, Oklahoma and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 131 ’s parks & rec degrees to qualified students.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at OSU, the school also landed the #10 spot in our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Oklahoma State University - Main Campus is $14,237 for southwest region parks & rec students.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.7%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Full OSU Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Report
Texas Tech University ranked #22 on this year’s Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in the Southwest Region list. This large school is located in Lubbock, Texas, and it awarded 116 ’s parks & rec degrees in 2020-2021.
Texas Tech also took the #15 spot in our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. It costs about $16,194 for Southwest Region Parks & Rec students per year to attend Texas Tech University.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 4.5%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 85%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.
Read full report on Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Texas Tech
Northern Arizona University did quite well in the 2024 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in the Southwest Region ranking, coming in at #23. Northern Arizona University is a large school located in Flagstaff, Arizona that handed out 188 ’s parks & rec degrees in 2020-2021.
The estimated yearly cost for Northern Arizona University is $14,308 for southwest region parks & rec students.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 4.6% 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 Northern Arizona University
With a ranking of #24, Arizona State University - Tempe did quite well on the 2024 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in the Southwest Region list. ASU - Tempe is a large school located in Tempe, Arizona that handed out 391 ’s parks & rec degrees in 2020-2021.
ASU - Tempe did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #4 on our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Schools in the Southwest Region” list. It costs about $13,107 for southwest region parks & rec students per year to attend Arizona State University - Tempe.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 4.5%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 86%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.
Read full report on Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at ASU - Tempe
Stephen F Austin State University came in at #25 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in the Southwest Region ranking. Nacogdoches, Texas is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s parks & rec degrees to 178 students in 2020-2021.
SFASU also took the #23 spot in our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for SFASU is $13,393 for southwest region parks & rec students.
Read full report on Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at SFASU
college factual
