2027 Best Value Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Studies Schools in Nebraska
[Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Studies](/majors/parks-recreation-fitness/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
To produce this 2027 ranking, College Factual evaluated 12 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies students.
What’s on this page:
2027 Best Value Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Studies Schools in Nebraska
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
Peru State College earned the #1 spot for value among parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies schools in Nebraska. Peru State College is a small public school located in the rural area of Peru. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $8,433. Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Studies graduates carry a median of $26,254 in student loans. Early-career parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies graduates make about $40,993. Set against $26,254 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
University Of Nebraska At Omaha came in at #2 on our 2027 list of the best value parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies schools. Located in the city of Omaha, University Of Nebraska At Omaha is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $8,718, compared with $23,206 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $25,661 to complete the parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies program here. Soon after graduation, parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies degree recipients from University Of Nebraska At Omaha generally make around $42,812. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 87% of applicants are accepted.
Chadron State College came in at #3 on our 2027 list of the best value parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies schools. Set in the town of Chadron, Chadron State College is a mid-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $8,294. Students borrow a median of $26,117 to complete the parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies program here. Early-career parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies graduates make about $27,129. Set against $26,117 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Wayne State College earned it the #4 place for parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies. Located in the town of Wayne, Wayne State College is a moderately-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,171. Typical student debt for parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies graduates is $25,043. Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Studies graduates of Wayne State College earn a median of $35,343 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $25,043 median debt.
A rank of #5 makes University Of Nebraska At Kearney one of the best values for parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies. University Of Nebraska At Kearney is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Kearney. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,564, with out-of-state students paying around $16,484. Students borrow a median of $26,419 to complete the parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies program here. Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Studies graduates of University Of Nebraska At Kearney earn a median of $34,161 early in their careers. Set against $26,419 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of Nebraska At Kearney admits about 90% of applicants.
College Of Saint Mary placed #6 among the best values for parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies. Located in the city of Omaha, College Of Saint Mary is a small private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $24,510. Typical student debt for parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies graduates is $25,539. Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Studies graduates of College Of Saint Mary earn a median of $66,015 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 45% of applicants are accepted.
Bellevue University came in at #7 for value in parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies this year. Located in the suburb of Bellevue, Bellevue University is a large private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $12,873. Typical student debt for parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies graduates is $27,852. Soon after graduation, parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies degree recipients from Bellevue University generally make around $33,229. That is a strong return on a $27,852 median debt.
Nebraska Wesleyan University earned the #8 position for value in parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies this year. Located in the city of Lincoln, Nebraska Wesleyan University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $43,572. 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 Nebraska Wesleyan University generally make around $28,791. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 80% of applicants are accepted.
Concordia University Seward landed the #9 spot for parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies value this year. Concordia University Seward is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the town of Seward. Students from in state pay about $40,640 in tuition and fees. 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 Concordia University Seward generally make around $58,863. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 86%.
Hastings College earned the #10 position for value in parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies this year. Set in the town of Hastings, Hastings College is a small private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $37,770. Typical student debt for parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies graduates is $24,125. Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Studies graduates of Hastings College earn a median of $42,417 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 72%.
Midland University came in at #11 for value in parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies this year. Set in the town of Fremont, Midland University is a small private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $42,050. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies program here. Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Studies graduates of Midland University earn a median of $31,475 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 66%.
Doane College Crete landed the #12 spot for parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies value this year. Set in the town of Crete, Doane College Crete is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $41,985 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies graduates is $28,802. Early-career parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies graduates make about $53,500. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 98% of applicants are accepted.
More Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Studies Rankings
View All Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Studies Rankings >
Notes and References
The ranking above is published 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 · 12 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 12 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.
