by our College Data Analytics Team
[Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Studies](/majors/parks-recreation-fitness/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
College Factual analyzed 20 schools to build this 2027 ranking of the best value parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies schools.
What’s on this page:
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies, balancing cost against outcomes.
For return on investment in parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies, no school beat Haskell Indian Nations University this year. Haskell Indian Nations University is a small public school located in the city of Lawrence. Students from in state pay about $600 in tuition and fees. Soon after graduation, parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies degree recipients from Haskell Indian Nations University generally make around $24,914. Roughly 90% of applicants are accepted.
Wichita State University is a great value for students pursuing a degree in parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies, landing the #2 spot this year. Wichita State University is a large public school located in the city of Wichita. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,684, while out-of-state students pay about $19,869. Students borrow a median of $23,000 to complete the parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies program here. Soon after graduation, parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies degree recipients from Wichita State University generally make around $34,774. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 94%.
Students looking for strong value in parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies will find it at Washburn University, which ranked #3. Washburn University is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Topeka. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,945, while out-of-state students pay about $20,949. Students borrow a median of $27,717 to complete the parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies program here. Soon after graduation, parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies degree recipients from Washburn University generally make around $25,679. Set against $27,717 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
University Of Kansas is a great value for students pursuing a degree in parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies, landing the #4 spot this year. Located in the city of Lawrence, University Of Kansas is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $12,102, compared with $30,432 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $22,125 to complete the parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies program here. Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Studies graduates of University Of Kansas earn a median of $33,891 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of Kansas admits about 94% of applicants.
A rank of #5 makes Pittsburg State University one of the best values for parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies. Located in the town of Pittsburg, Pittsburg State University is a moderately-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $8,400 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $19,744. Typical student debt for parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies graduates is $24,758. Early-career parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies graduates make about $36,360. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 89%.
Butler Community College placed #6 among the best values for parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies. Butler Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of El Dorado. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $3,541, while out-of-state students pay about $6,271. Students borrow a median of $16,670 to complete the parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies program here. Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Studies graduates of Butler Community College earn a median of $39,404 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $16,670 median debt.
Emporia State University earned the #7 position for value in parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies this year. Emporia State University is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Emporia. In-state tuition and fees average $7,106, with out-of-state students paying around $15,419. Typical student debt for parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies graduates is $23,131. Soon after graduation, parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies degree recipients from Emporia State University generally make around $46,440. Set against $23,131 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 98%.
Tabor College earned the #8 position for value in parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies this year. Set in the rural area of Hillsboro, Tabor College is a small private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $36,200. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $54,058. The acceptance rate is 65%.
University Of Saint Mary placed #9 among the best values for parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies. University Of Saint Mary is a small private not-for-profit school located in the town of Leavenworth. In-state tuition and fees average $35,380. Typical student debt for parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies graduates is $27,946. Soon after graduation, parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies degree recipients from University Of Saint Mary generally make around $29,151. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 87%.
Sterling College Kansas earned the #10 position for value in parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies this year. Located in the rural area of Sterling, Sterling College Kansas is a small private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $33,700. Typical student debt for parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies graduates is $27,250. Early-career parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies graduates make about $30,086. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 48% of applicants are accepted.
Kansas Wesleyan University landed the #11 spot for parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies value this year. Kansas Wesleyan University is a small private not-for-profit school located in the town of Salina. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $34,630. Students borrow a median of $26,076 to complete the parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies program here. Early-career parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies graduates make about $42,094. That is a strong return on a $26,076 median debt. The acceptance rate is 72%.
Baker University earned the #12 position for value in parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies this year. Located in the rural area of Baldwin City, Baker University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $35,200. Students borrow a median of $29,554 to complete the parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies program here. Soon after graduation, parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies degree recipients from Baker University generally make around $62,916. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 94%.
Mcpherson College earned the #13 position for value in parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies this year. Located in the town of McPherson, Mcpherson College is a small private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $37,146. Typical student debt for parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies graduates is $27,000. Early-career parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies graduates make about $42,278. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Mcpherson College admits about 77% of applicants.
Bethany College Kansas ranked #14 on our 2027 list of the best value parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies schools. Set in the rural area of Lindsborg, Bethany College Kansas is a small private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $33,000. Typical student debt for parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies graduates is $25,000. Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Studies graduates of Bethany College Kansas earn a median of $28,881 early in their careers. Set against $25,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Bethany College Kansas admits about 56% of applicants.
Benedictine College earned the #15 position for value in parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies this year. Benedictine College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the town of Atchison. Students from in state pay about $36,350 in tuition and fees. Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Studies graduates carry a median of $26,798 in student loans. Early-career parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies graduates make about $46,255. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 98% of applicants are accepted.
Friends University landed the #16 spot for parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies value this year. Friends University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Wichita. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $34,192. Students borrow a median of $26,500 to complete the parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies program here. Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Studies graduates of Friends University earn a median of $24,870 early in their careers. Set against $26,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Friends University admits about 55% of applicants.
Ottawa University Ottawa landed the #17 spot for parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies value this year. Set in the town of Ottawa, Ottawa University Ottawa is a small private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $35,880. 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 Ottawa University Ottawa generally make around $30,426. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Ottawa University Ottawa admits about 83% of applicants.
Southwestern College placed #18 among the best values for parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies. Southwestern College is a small private not-for-profit school located in the town of Winfield. In-state tuition and fees average $39,822. Students borrow a median of $31,875 to complete the parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies program here. Soon after graduation, parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies degree recipients from Southwestern College generally make around $58,036. Set against $31,875 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 76%.
Midamerica Nazarene University earned the #19 position for value in parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies this year. Set in the suburb of Olathe, Midamerica Nazarene University is a small private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $37,174. Students borrow a median of $25,740 to complete the parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies program here. Early-career parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies graduates make about $63,799. That is a strong return on a $25,740 median debt. Midamerica Nazarene University admits about 79% of applicants.
Bethel College North Newton ranked #20 on our 2027 list of the best value parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies schools. Located in the town of North Newton, Bethel College North Newton is a small private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $35,014 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies graduates is $27,000. Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Studies graduates of Bethel College North Newton earn a median of $51,624 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. The acceptance rate is 94%.
This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 edition. Schools are scored on the balance of cost (tuition and student debt) against student outcomes (post-graduation earnings) — a measure of return on investment, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 20 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 20 ranked schools only.
More about our data sources and methodologies.