2023 Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Colleges for Veterans in Massachusetts
11
Ranked Colleges
1,210
Degrees Awarded
$34,100
Avg Cost*
It’s not easy to decide which college to attend when there so many options available for veterans. College Factual has developed its “Most Veteran Friendly in Massachusetts for Parks & Rec” ranking as one item you can use to help make this decision.
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, and 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 Massachusetts, there were 1,210 parks, recreation, leisure, and fitness studies graduates with average earnings and debt of $33,408 and $25,263 respectively.
This year’s “Most Veteran Friendly in Massachusetts for Parks & Rec” ranking looked at 11 colleges that offer degrees in a bachelor’s in parks, recreation, leisure, and fitness studies. The schools that top this list are recognized because they have great parks, recreation, leisure, and fitness studies programs and a strong support system for veterans and active service members.
When determining these rankings, we looked at things such as overall quality of the parks, recreation, leisure, and fitness studies program at the school, veteran affordability, and veteran satisfaction. See our ranking methodology to learn more.
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 “Most Veteran Friendly in Massachusetts for Parks & Rec” list to help you make the college decision.
To further help you make the college decision, we’ve developed a unique tool called College Combat that allows you to compare schools based on the factors that matter the most to you. We encourage you to try it out and pit your favorite colleges and universities head to head! If you don’t have time right now, you can bookmark it for later.
Most Veteran Friendly in Massachusetts for Parks & Rec
The colleges and universities below are the best for massachusetts vets studying parks & rec.
Top 11 Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Colleges for Veterans in Massachusetts
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Springfield College. It ranked #1 on our 2023 Most Veteran Friendly in Massachusetts for Parks & Rec list. Located in Springfield, Massachusetts, this small private not-for-profit school awarded 129 diplomas to qualified ’s parks and rec students in 2020-2021.
Springfield College also took the #[COLLEGE_QUALITY_RANK_ALL_LEVELS] spot in our “[COLLEGE_QUALITY_NAME_ALL_LEVELS]” ranking.According to our most recent data, Springfield College supports 3,068 students, and 1 of those are GI Bill® students, of which 0 are Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients. The average tuition and fees award for the Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients was $0. In addition to receiving other benefits, 0 students qualified for the Yellow Ribbon Program. Springfield College does offer credit for military training for eligible students.
With a freshman retention rate of 85%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.
[Read full report on veteran student life at Springfield College]](/colleges/springfield-college/student-life/veterans/)
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Massachusetts Amherst. It ranked #2 on our 2023 Most Veteran Friendly in Massachusetts for Parks & Rec list. UMass Amherst is a public institution located in Amherst, Massachusetts. The school has a large population, and it awarded 144 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
UMass Amherst did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #[COLLEGE_QUALITY_RANK_ALL_LEVELS] on our “[COLLEGE_QUALITY_NAME_ALL_LEVELS]” list.Among the 31,642 students enrolled at University of Massachusetts Amherst, 477 are GI Bill® students, according to our most recent data. Out of that number, 252 were Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients. The average Post-9/11 GI Bill® award for tuition and fees at the school was $8,295. To help with additional expenses, 21 students received funds through the Yellow Ribbon Program. Eligible students may be able to receive credit for their military training.
Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 89%. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only [DEFAULT_RATE_STRING]%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
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Out of the 11 schools in the Most Veteran Friendly in Massachusetts for Parks & Rec that were part of this year’s ranking, Endicott College landed the #3 spot on the list. Endicott College is a small school located in Beverly, Massachusetts that handed out 102 ’s parks and rec degrees in 2020-2021.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at Endicott, the school also landed the #[COLLEGE_QUALITY_RANK_ALL_LEVELS] spot in our “[COLLEGE_QUALITY_NAME_ALL_LEVELS]” ranking.According to our most recent data, Endicott supports 4,287 students, and 124 of those are GI Bill® students, of which 68 are Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients. The average tuition and fees award for the Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients was $9,129. On top of their other funding sources, 16 students qualified for the Yellow Ribbon Program. Eligible students may be able to receive credit for their military training.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of [DEFAULT_RATE_STRING]% 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%.
Full Endicott Veteran Student Life Report
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Salem State University. It ranked #4 on our 2023 Most Veteran Friendly in Massachusetts for Parks & Rec list. Salem State is a medium-sized school located in Salem, Massachusetts that handed out 35 ’s parks and rec degrees in 2020-2021.
Salem State also made our “[COLLEGE_QUALITY_NAME_ALL_LEVELS]” list, coming in at #[COLLEGE_QUALITY_RANK_ALL_LEVELS].Among the 7,242 students enrolled at Salem State University, 273 are GI Bill® students, according to our most recent data. Out of that number, 160 were Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients. The average Post-9/11 GI Bill® award for tuition and fees at the school was $8,582. During this same period, 5 students qualified for the Yellow Ribbon Program. Salem State University offers credit for military training for eligible students.
Full Salem State Veteran Student Life Report
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Massachusetts - Boston. It ranked #5 on our 2023 Most Veteran Friendly in Massachusetts for Parks & Rec list. University of Massachusetts - Boston is a fairly large public school situated in Boston, Massachusetts. It awarded 143 ’s parks and rec degrees in 2020-2021.
UMass Boston did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #[COLLEGE_QUALITY_RANK_ALL_LEVELS] on our “[COLLEGE_QUALITY_NAME_ALL_LEVELS]” list.Among the 16,259 students enrolled at UMass Boston, 678 are GI Bill® students, according to our most recent data. Out of that number, 362 were Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients. The average Post-9/11 GI Bill® award for tuition and fees at the school was $12,414. During this same period, 0 students qualified for the Yellow Ribbon Program. Students may be able to receive credit for their military training, depending on their background.
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Lasell University did quite well in the 2023 Most Veteran Friendly in Massachusetts for Parks & Rec ranking, coming in at #6. Lasell University is a private not-for-profit institution located in Newton, Massachusetts. The school has a small population, and it awarded 80 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Lasell did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #[COLLEGE_QUALITY_RANK_ALL_LEVELS] on our “[COLLEGE_QUALITY_NAME_ALL_LEVELS]” list.According to our most recent data, Lasell University supports 1,951 students, and 58 of those are GI Bill® students, of which 29 are Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients. The average tuition and fees award for the Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients was $8,225. In addition to receiving other benefits, 8 students qualified for the Yellow Ribbon Program. Eligible students may be able to receive credit for their military training.
[Read full report on veteran student life at Lasell University]](/colleges/lasell-college/student-life/veterans/)
Westfield State University came in at #7 in this year’s edition of the Most Veteran Friendly in Massachusetts for Parks & Rec ranking. Located in Westfield, Massachusetts, this medium-sized public school handed out 56 diplomas to qualified ’s parks and rec students in 2020-2021.
Westfield not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #[COLLEGE_QUALITY_RANK_ALL_LEVELS] on our “[COLLEGE_QUALITY_NAME_ALL_LEVELS]” list.According to our most recent data, Westfield State University supports 5,395 students, and 197 of those are GI Bill® students, of which 67 are Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients. The average Post-9/11 GI Bill® award for tuition and fees at the school was $4,224. During this same period, 0 students qualified for the Yellow Ribbon Program. Eligible students may be able to receive credit for their military training.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of [DEFAULT_RATE_STRING]% 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…
Regis College landed the #8 spot on the 2023 Most Veteran Friendly in Massachusetts for Parks & Rec ranking. Regis College is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Weston, Massachusetts. It awarded 16 ’s parks and rec degrees in 2020-2021.
Regis College not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #[COLLEGE_QUALITY_RANK_ALL_LEVELS] on our “[COLLEGE_QUALITY_NAME_ALL_LEVELS]” list.Among the 3,460 students enrolled at Regis College, 86 are GI Bill® students, according to our most recent data. Out of that number, 51 were Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients. The average tuition and fees award for the Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients was $12,384. On top of their other funding sources, 6 students qualified for the Yellow Ribbon Program. Regis College offers credit for military training for eligible students.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of [DEFAULT_RATE_STRING]% 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%. Since the school has a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors.
Full Regis College Veteran Student Life Report
Nichols College ranked #9 on this year’s Most Veteran Friendly in Massachusetts for Parks & Rec list. Nichols College is a private not-for-profit institution located in Dudley, Massachusetts. The school has a small population, and it awarded 47 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at Nichols, the school also landed the #[COLLEGE_QUALITY_RANK_ALL_LEVELS] spot in our “[COLLEGE_QUALITY_NAME_ALL_LEVELS]” ranking.Among the 1,518 students enrolled at Nichols, 36 are GI Bill® students, according to our most recent data. Out of that number, 22 were Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients. The average tuition and fees award for the Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients was $14,839. In addition to receiving other benefits, 8 students received funds through the Yellow Ribbon Program. Eligible students may be able to receive credit for their military training.
[Read full report on veteran student life at Nichols College]](/colleges/nichols-college/student-life/veterans/)
Western New England University came in at #10 in this year’s edition of the Most Veteran Friendly in Massachusetts for Parks & Rec ranking. Western New England University is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Springfield, Massachusetts. It awarded 39 ’s parks and rec degrees in 2020-2021.
In addition to being on our massachusetts vets studying parks & rec list, Western New England has also earned the #[COLLEGE_QUALITY_RANK_ALL_LEVELS] rank in our “[COLLEGE_QUALITY_NAME_ALL_LEVELS]” ranking.According to our most recent data, Western New England supports 3,673 students, and 81 of those are GI Bill® students, of which 37 are Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients. The average tuition and fees award for the Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients was $12,271. On top of their other funding sources, 13 students received funds through the Yellow Ribbon Program.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is [DEFAULT_RATE_STRING]%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
[Read full report on veteran student life at Western New England University]](/colleges/western-new-england-university/student-life/veterans/)
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