2023 Best Value Colleges for Parks, Recreation & Leisure Facilities Management
66
Ranked Colleges
2,937
Degrees Awarded
$14,800
Avg Net Price*
When it comes to choosing a college, students have a lot of options - but not all of them are good. College Factual has developed its “Best Value Parks Administration Schools” ranking as one item you can use to help make this decision.
In 2020-2021, 2,937 people earned their degree in parks, recreation and leisure facilities management, making the major the 231st most popular in the United States.
This year’s “Best Value Parks Administration Schools” ranking analyzed 66 colleges that offered a degree in parks, recreation and leisure facilities management. Not only do the schools that top this list have excellent parks, recreation and leisure facilities management programs, but they also cost less that schools of similar quality.
To come up with these rankings, we looked at factors such as the cost to attend the school after aid is awarded and overall quality of the parks, recreation and leisure facilities management program at the school. Check out our ranking methodology for more information.
More Ways to Rank Parks, Recreation & Leisure Facilities Management Schools
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 Administration Schools” list to help you make the college decision.
In addition to College Factual’s rankings, you may want to take a look at College Combat, our unique tool that lets you pit your favorite schools head-to-head and compare how they rate on factors that most interest you. When you have some time, check it out - you may want to bookmark the link so you don’t forget it.
Best Value Parks Administration Schools
The colleges and universities below are the best for parks administration students.
Top 25 Best Value Colleges for Parks, Recreation & Leisure Facilities Management
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend South Dakota State University. It ranked #1 on our 2023 Best Value Parks Administration Schools list. Brookings, South Dakota is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s parks administration degrees to 21 students in 2020-2021.
In addition to being on our parks administration students list, South Dakota State has also earned the #7 rank in our “Best Parks, Recreation & Leisure Facilities Management Schools” ranking. It costs about $18,578 for Parks Administration students per year to attend South Dakota State University.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.7% 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 Facilities Management at South Dakota State University
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Western Illinois University. The school came in at #2 for the Best Value Parks Administration Schools. WIU is a public institution located in Macomb, Illinois. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 54 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
WIU also made our “Best Parks, Recreation & Leisure Facilities Management Schools” list, coming in at #15. The yearly cost to attend WIU is $15,305 for Parks Administration students.
Read more about Parks, Recreation & Leisure Facilities Management at WIU
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania. It ranked #3 on our 2023 Best Value Parks Administration Schools list. This medium-sized school is located in Slippery Rock, Pennsylvania, and it awarded 51 ’s parks administration degrees in 2020-2021.
SRU also took the #10 spot in our “Best Parks, Recreation & Leisure Facilities Management Schools” ranking. It costs about $19,927 for Parks Administration students per year to attend SRU.
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 Facilities Management at SRU
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of Wisconsin - La Crosse. The school came in at #4 for the Best Value Parks Administration Schools. Located in La Crosse, Wisconsin, this fairly large public school handed out 38 diplomas to qualified ’s parks administration students in 2020-2021.
UW - La Crosse also took the #13 spot in our “Best Parks, Recreation & Leisure Facilities Management Schools” ranking. It costs about $14,654 for Parks Administration students per year to attend UW - La Crosse.
With a freshman retention rate of 86%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.5%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Read full report on Parks, Recreation & Leisure Facilities Management at UW - La Crosse
Out of the 66 schools in the Best Value Parks Administration Schools that were part of this year’s ranking, Florida International University landed the #5 spot on the list. Miami, Florida is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s parks administration degrees to 267 students in 2020-2021.
FIU also took the #8 spot in our “Best Parks, Recreation & Leisure Facilities Management Schools” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Florida International University is $5,298 for parks administration students.
With a freshman retention rate of 91%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 4.4%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Read full report on Parks, Recreation & Leisure Facilities Management at FIU
Brigham Young University - Idaho ranked #6 on this year’s Best Value Parks Administration Schools list. Rexburg, Idaho is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s parks administration degrees to 46 students in 2020-2021.
The estimated yearly cost for Brigham Young University - Idaho is $6,698 for parks administration students.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 3.1%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Read full report on Parks, Recreation & Leisure Facilities Management at Brigham Young University - Idaho
University of North Texas ranked #7 on this year’s Best Value Parks Administration Schools list. UNT is a large public school situated in Denton, Texas. It awarded 80 ’s parks administration degrees in 2020-2021.
UNT did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #11 on our “Best Parks, Recreation & Leisure Facilities Management Schools” list. It costs about $14,122 for parks administration students per year to attend UNT.
With a freshman retention rate of 85%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.
Read more about Parks, Recreation & Leisure Facilities Management at University of North Texas
Western Kentucky University ranked #8 on this year’s Best Value Parks Administration Schools list. WKU is a public institution located in Bowling Green, Kentucky. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 108 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
In addition to being on our parks administration students list, WKU has also earned the #9 rank in our “Best Parks, Recreation & Leisure Facilities Management Schools” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Western Kentucky University is $12,522 for Parks Administration students.
Read full report on Parks, Recreation & Leisure Facilities Management at Western Kentucky University
University of Arkansas came in at #9 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Parks Administration Schools ranking. Fayetteville, Arkansas is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s parks administration degrees to 19 students in 2020-2021.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at UARK, the school also landed the #5 spot in our “Best Parks, Recreation & Leisure Facilities Management Schools” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for UARK is $16,507 for parks administration students.
With a freshman retention rate of 85%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 4.1%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Full University of Arkansas Parks, Recreation & Leisure Facilities Management Report
Central Michigan University came in at #10 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Parks Administration Schools ranking. Central Michigan University is a fairly large school located in Mount Pleasant, Michigan that handed out 10 ’s parks administration degrees in 2020-2021.
Central Michigan also made our “Best Parks, Recreation & Leisure Facilities Management Schools” list, coming in at #22. The yearly cost to attend Central Michigan University is $16,007 for parks administration students.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 4.8% 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 Central Michigan University Parks, Recreation & Leisure Facilities Management Report
Minnesota State University - Mankato came in at #11 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Parks Administration Schools ranking. Located in Mankato, Minnesota, this fairly large public school awarded 36 diplomas to qualified ’s parks administration students in 2020-2021.
Minnesota State Mankato also took the #17 spot in our “Best Parks, Recreation & Leisure Facilities Management Schools” ranking. It costs about $17,159 for Parks Administration students per year to attend Minnesota State Mankato.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 3.6%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Full Minnesota State University - Mankato Parks, Recreation & Leisure Facilities Management Report
University of Florida landed the #12 spot on the 2023 Best Value Parks Administration Schools ranking. UF is located in Gainesville, Florida and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 59 ’s parks administration degrees to qualified students.
UF not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #2 on our “Best Parks, Recreation & Leisure Facilities Management Schools” list. The estimated yearly cost for UF is $5,135 for parks administration students.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.7%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 97%.
Read more about Parks, Recreation & Leisure Facilities Management at University of Florida
With a ranking of #13, Saint Cloud State University did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Parks Administration Schools list. Located in Saint Cloud, Minnesota, this fairly large public school handed out 16 diplomas to qualified ’s parks administration students in 2020-2021.
St. Cloud State University also took the #24 spot in our “Best Parks, Recreation & Leisure Facilities Management Schools” ranking. The yearly cost to attend St. Cloud State University is $14,581 for Parks Administration students.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 4.6%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Read more about Parks, Recreation & Leisure Facilities Management at St. Cloud State University
Western Carolina University did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Parks Administration Schools ranking, coming in at #14. WCU is a fairly large school located in Cullowhee, North Carolina that handed out 47 ’s parks administration degrees in 2020-2021.
The estimated yearly cost for WCU is $13,924 for Parks Administration students.
Full WCU Parks, Recreation & Leisure Facilities Management Report
Southwestern Oklahoma State University ranked #15 on this year’s Best Value Parks Administration Schools list. Southwestern Oklahoma State University is a small school located in Weatherford, Oklahoma that handed out 17 ’s parks administration degrees in 2020-2021.
The estimated yearly cost for SWOSU is $13,202 for parks administration students.
Read more about Parks, Recreation & Leisure Facilities Management at Southwestern Oklahoma State University
Texas State University landed the #16 spot on the 2023 Best Value Parks Administration Schools ranking. Texas State is a large school located in San Marcos, Texas that handed out 91 ’s parks administration degrees in 2020-2021.
Texas State also took the #14 spot in our “Best Parks, Recreation & Leisure Facilities Management Schools” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Texas State is $14,887 for parks administration students.
Read full report on Parks, Recreation & Leisure Facilities Management at Texas State University
Illinois State University came in at #17 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Parks Administration Schools ranking. This large school is located in Normal, Illinois, and it awarded 87 ’s parks administration degrees in 2020-2021.
Illinois State also made our “Best Parks, Recreation & Leisure Facilities Management Schools” list, coming in at #12. The estimated yearly cost for Illinois State is $20,830 for Parks Administration students.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 3.6% 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%.
Full Illinois State Parks, Recreation & Leisure Facilities Management Report
Eastern Illinois University ranked #18 on this year’s Best Value Parks Administration Schools list. Located in Charleston, Illinois, this medium-sized public school awarded 12 diplomas to qualified ’s parks administration students in 2020-2021.
The yearly cost to attend Eastern Illinois University is $13,098 for parks administration students.
Full EIU Parks, Recreation & Leisure Facilities Management Report
North Carolina State University did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Parks Administration Schools ranking, coming in at #19. NC State is a public institution located in Raleigh, North Carolina. The school has a large population, and it awarded 79 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
NC State not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #3 on our “Best Parks, Recreation & Leisure Facilities Management Schools” list. It costs about $16,411 for parks administration students per year to attend NC State.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.0% 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%. With a freshman retention rate of 94%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.
Read full report on Parks, Recreation & Leisure Facilities Management at NC State
Western Michigan University landed the #20 spot on the 2023 Best Value Parks Administration Schools ranking. Located in Kalamazoo, Michigan, this fairly large public school handed out 5 diplomas to qualified ’s parks administration students in 2020-2021.
The yearly cost to attend WMU is $20,371 for parks administration students.
Full WMU Parks, Recreation & Leisure Facilities Management Report
With a ranking of #21, University of North Carolina at Wilmington did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Parks Administration Schools list. Located in Wilmington, North Carolina, this fairly large public school awarded 63 degrees to qualified ’s parks administration students in 2020-2021.
UNCW also took the #18 spot in our “Best Parks, Recreation & Leisure Facilities Management Schools” ranking. It costs about $19,136 for parks administration students per year to attend UNCW.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 3.1% 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 Facilities Management at UNCW
The College at Brockport came in at #22 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Parks Administration Schools ranking. The College at Brockport is a public institution located in Brockport, New York. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 14 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
SUNY Brockport did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #19 on our “Best Parks, Recreation & Leisure Facilities Management Schools” list. The yearly cost to attend SUNY Brockport is $16,532 for parks administration students.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 3.8%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Read full report on Parks, Recreation & Leisure Facilities Management at The College at Brockport
Clemson University did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Parks Administration Schools ranking, coming in at #23. Located in Clemson, South Carolina, this large public school awarded 174 diplomas to qualified ’s parks administration students in 2020-2021.
In addition to being on our parks administration students list, Clemson has also earned the #1 rank in our “Best Parks, Recreation & Leisure Facilities Management Schools” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Clemson is $21,262 for Parks Administration students.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.7% 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%. With a freshman retention rate of 94%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.
Full Clemson Parks, Recreation & Leisure Facilities Management Report
Florida State University ranked #24 on this year’s Best Value Parks Administration Schools list. Located in Tallahassee, Florida, this large public school handed out 15 degrees to qualified ’s parks administration students in 2020-2021.
It costs about $9,946 for parks administration students per year to attend Florida State University.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.8%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 95%.
Read full report on Parks, Recreation & Leisure Facilities Management at Florida State
With a ranking of #25, Henderson State University did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Parks Administration Schools list. Henderson State University is a small school located in Arkadelphia, Arkansas that handed out 37 ’s parks administration degrees in 2020-2021.
The estimated yearly cost for Henderson State University is $14,902 for Parks Administration students.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 4.8%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Read more about Parks, Recreation & Leisure Facilities Management at Henderson State University
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