2027 Best Value Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Studies Schools in Iowa
[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.
For its 2027 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 28 schools to find the best return on investment for parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies students.
What’s on this page:
2027 Best Value Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Studies Schools in Iowa
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
Leading the list is Kirkwood Community College, our #1 best value for parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies in Iowa. Located in the city of Cedar Rapids, Kirkwood Community College is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $6,176, while out-of-state students pay about $8,220. Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Studies graduates carry a median of $15,779 in student loans. Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Studies graduates of Kirkwood Community College earn a median of $41,681 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Students looking for strong value in parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies will find it at Des Moines Area Community College, which ranked #2. Set in the suburb of Ankeny, Des Moines Area Community College is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,790, compared with $6,690 for out-of-state students. Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Studies graduates carry a median of $14,956 in student loans. Early-career parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies graduates make about $43,121. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
University Of Northern Iowa came in at #3 on our 2027 list of the best value parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies schools. Set in the city of Cedar Falls, University Of Northern Iowa is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $9,936 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $21,712. Students borrow a median of $22,538 to complete the parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies program here. Early-career parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies graduates make about $37,949. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of Northern Iowa admits about 93% of applicants.
A rank of #4 makes Iowa Lakes Community College one of the best values for parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies. Iowa Lakes Community College is a mid-sized public school located in the town of Estherville. Students from in state pay about $7,392 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $7,872. Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Studies graduates carry a median of $20,876 in student loans. Early-career parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies graduates make about $46,937. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Iowa State University is a great value for students pursuing a degree in parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies, landing the #5 spot this year. Located in the city of Ames, Iowa State University is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $10,787, compared with $28,881 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $25,425 to complete the parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies program here. Soon after graduation, parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies degree recipients from Iowa State University generally make around $36,492. That is a strong return on a $25,425 median debt. Iowa State University admits about 89% of applicants.
Iowa Western Community College landed the #6 spot for parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies value this year. Iowa Western Community College is a large public school located in the suburb of Council Bluffs. In-state tuition and fees average $6,930, with out-of-state students paying around $7,080. Typical student debt for parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies graduates is $15,153. Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Studies graduates of Iowa Western Community College earn a median of $43,444 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $15,153 median debt.
Coe College earned the #7 position for value in parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies this year. Coe College is a small private not-for-profit school located in the city of Cedar Rapids. In-state tuition and fees average $54,666. Typical student debt for parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies graduates is $27,000. Soon after graduation, parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies degree recipients from Coe College generally make around $44,511. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 64% of applicants are accepted.
Mount Mercy University came in at #8 for value in parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies this year. Mount Mercy University is a small private not-for-profit school located in the city of Cedar Rapids. Students from in state pay about $40,878 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies graduates is $27,709. Soon after graduation, parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies degree recipients from Mount Mercy University generally make around $50,431. Set against $27,709 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Mount Mercy University admits about 82% of applicants.
Buena Vista University landed the #9 spot for parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies value this year. Located in the town of Storm Lake, Buena Vista University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $41,798. Typical student debt for parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies graduates is $27,000. Early-career parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies graduates make about $38,356. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. Roughly 78% of applicants are accepted.
Graceland University Lamoni landed the #10 spot for parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies value this year. Graceland University Lamoni is a small private not-for-profit school located in the rural area of Lamoni. In-state tuition and fees average $19,848. Typical student debt for parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies graduates is $27,000. Early-career parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies graduates make about $22,051. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. Graceland University Lamoni admits about 81% of applicants.
Waldorf College came in at #11 for value in parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies this year. Located in the rural area of Forest City, Waldorf College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $25,978 in tuition and fees. Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Studies graduates carry a median of $24,622 in student loans. Soon after graduation, parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies degree recipients from Waldorf College generally make around $63,346. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Waldorf College admits about 77% of applicants.
Loras College landed the #12 spot for parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies value this year. Loras College is a small private not-for-profit school located in the city of Dubuque. In-state tuition and fees average $39,824. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies program here. Early-career parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies graduates make about $31,493. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 100% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Iowa placed #13 among the best values for parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies. University Of Iowa is a very large public school located in the city of Iowa City. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $11,283, with out-of-state students paying around $33,371. Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Studies graduates carry a median of $23,863 in student loans. Soon after graduation, parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies degree recipients from University Of Iowa generally make around $32,737. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 84%.
Grand View University earned the #14 position for value in parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies this year. Located in the city of Des Moines, Grand View University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $34,762. Typical student debt for parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies graduates is $26,921. Early-career parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies graduates make about $43,236. That is a strong return on a $26,921 median debt. Roughly 99% of applicants are accepted.
Simpson College landed the #15 spot for parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies value this year. Located in the town of Indianola, Simpson College is a small private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $47,656. Typical student debt for parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies graduates is $27,000. Soon after graduation, parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies degree recipients from Simpson College generally make around $38,158. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 86%.
Upper Iowa University came in at #16 for value in parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies this year. Set in the rural area of Fayette, Upper Iowa University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $19,475. Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Studies graduates carry a median of $25,641 in student loans. Soon after graduation, parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies degree recipients from Upper Iowa University generally make around $35,361. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 96%.
Luther College landed the #17 spot for parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies value this year. Located in the town of Decorah, Luther College is a small private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $52,120. 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 Luther College generally make around $42,426. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. Roughly 72% of applicants are accepted.
William Penn University ranked #18 on our 2027 list of the best value parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies schools. Located in the town of Oskaloosa, William Penn University is a small private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $29,750 in tuition and fees. Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Studies graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Studies graduates of William Penn University earn a median of $30,314 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 52%.
Central College earned the #19 position for value in parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies this year. Central College is a small private not-for-profit school located in the town of Pella. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $20,988. Typical student debt for parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies graduates is $27,000. Soon after graduation, parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies degree recipients from Central College generally make around $35,914. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. The acceptance rate is 86%.
University Of Dubuque landed the #20 spot for parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies value this year. University Of Dubuque is a small private not-for-profit school located in the city of Dubuque. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $42,095. Typical student debt for parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies graduates is $27,560. Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Studies graduates of University Of Dubuque earn a median of $37,528 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $27,560 median debt. The acceptance rate is 89%.
Cornell College ranked #21 on our 2027 list of the best value parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies schools. Cornell College is a small private not-for-profit school located in the town of Mount Vernon. Students from in state pay about $52,660 in tuition and fees. Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Studies graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Studies graduates of Cornell College earn a median of $35,439 early in their careers. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Cornell College admits about 80% of applicants.
Briar Cliff University placed #22 among the best values for parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies. Briar Cliff University is a small private not-for-profit school located in the city of Sioux City. Students from in state pay about $35,642 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies graduates is $27,000. Soon after graduation, parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies degree recipients from Briar Cliff University generally make around $61,105. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Clarke University placed #23 among the best values for parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies. Clarke University is a small private not-for-profit school located in the city of Dubuque. In-state tuition and fees average $40,910. Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Studies graduates carry a median of $26,974 in student loans. Soon after graduation, parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies degree recipients from Clarke University generally make around $31,013. Set against $26,974 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 72% of applicants are accepted.
Saint Ambrose University earned the #24 position for value in parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies this year. Saint Ambrose University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Davenport. In-state tuition and fees average $36,658. Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Studies graduates carry a median of $26,000 in student loans. Soon after graduation, parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies degree recipients from Saint Ambrose University generally make around $26,608. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 77%.
Dordt College ranked #25 on our 2027 list of the best value parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies schools. Set in the town of Sioux Center, Dordt College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $37,050. Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Studies graduates carry a median of $21,812 in student loans. Early-career parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies graduates make about $54,926. Set against $21,812 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Dordt College admits about 68% of applicants.
Rest of the Top 28 Best Value Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Studies Schools
Not far behind, these schools also offered excellent value in parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies:
More Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Studies Rankings
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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 · 28 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 28 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.
