2027 Best Value Parks, Recreation & Leisure Facilities Management Master’s Degree Schools
[Parks, Recreation & Leisure Facilities Management](/majors/parks-recreation-fitness/recreation-administration/parks-recreation-facilities-management/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
College Factual analyzed 12 schools to build this 2027 ranking of the best value parks, recreation & leisure facilities management schools.
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2027 Best Value Parks, Recreation & Leisure Facilities Management Schools in the United States
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in parks, recreation & leisure facilities management, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Parks, Recreation & Leisure Facilities Management Schools
For return on investment in parks, recreation & leisure facilities management, no school beat University Of Florida this year. Set in the city of Gainesville, University Of Florida is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $6,381, compared with $28,659 for out-of-state students. Parks, Recreation & Leisure Facilities Management graduates carry a median of $18,606 in student loans. Soon after graduation, parks, recreation & leisure facilities management degree recipients from University Of Florida generally make around $41,046. That is a strong return on a $18,606 median debt. Roughly 24% of applicants are accepted.
A rank of #2 makes Florida International University one of the best values for parks, recreation & leisure facilities management. Located in the suburb of Miami, Florida International University is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,565, while out-of-state students pay about $18,964. Students borrow a median of $19,000 to complete the parks, recreation & leisure facilities management program here. Parks, Recreation & Leisure Facilities Management graduates of Florida International University earn a median of $39,858 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $19,000 median debt. Florida International University admits about 55% of applicants.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Western Kentucky University earned it the #3 place for parks, recreation & leisure facilities management. Western Kentucky University is a large public school located in the city of Bowling Green. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $11,652, compared with $27,000 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $26,000 to complete the parks, recreation & leisure facilities management program here. Early-career parks, recreation & leisure facilities management graduates make about $43,655. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Western Kentucky University admits about 94% of applicants.
Students looking for strong value in parks, recreation & leisure facilities management will find it at North Carolina State University At Raleigh, which ranked #4. Located in the city of Raleigh, North Carolina State University At Raleigh is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $8,799 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $32,847. Typical student debt for parks, recreation & leisure facilities management graduates is $20,500. Early-career parks, recreation & leisure facilities management graduates make about $45,117. Set against $20,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 42% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Wisconsin La Crosse came in at #5 on our 2027 list of the best value parks, recreation & leisure facilities management schools. Set in the city of La Crosse, University Of Wisconsin La Crosse is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $10,070, compared with $19,517 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $22,005 to complete the parks, recreation & leisure facilities management program here. Soon after graduation, parks, recreation & leisure facilities management degree recipients from University Of Wisconsin La Crosse generally make around $34,490. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 76% of applicants are accepted.
Frostburg State University ranked #6 on our 2027 list of the best value parks, recreation & leisure facilities management schools. Set in the town of Frostburg, Frostburg State University is a mid-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $10,220, with out-of-state students paying around $25,814. Students borrow a median of $25,000 to complete the parks, recreation & leisure facilities management program here. Early-career parks, recreation & leisure facilities management graduates make about $25,345. Set against $25,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 89% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Arkansas placed #7 among the best values for parks, recreation & leisure facilities management. University Of Arkansas is a very large public school located in the city of Fayetteville. Students from in state pay about $10,104 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $29,966. Parks, Recreation & Leisure Facilities Management graduates carry a median of $24,019 in student loans. Parks, Recreation & Leisure Facilities Management graduates of University Of Arkansas earn a median of $47,041 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $24,019 median debt. Roughly 74% of applicants are accepted.
Slippery Rock University Of Pennsylvania placed #8 among the best values for parks, recreation & leisure facilities management. Slippery Rock University Of Pennsylvania is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Slippery Rock. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $10,568, with out-of-state students paying around $14,676. Students borrow a median of $26,000 to complete the parks, recreation & leisure facilities management program here. Early-career parks, recreation & leisure facilities management graduates make about $46,457. That is a strong return on a $26,000 median debt. Roughly 72% of applicants are accepted.
South Dakota State University earned the #9 position for value in parks, recreation & leisure facilities management this year. Set in the town of Brookings, South Dakota State University is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,299, with out-of-state students paying around $12,809. Parks, Recreation & Leisure Facilities Management graduates carry a median of $25,093 in student loans. Early-career parks, recreation & leisure facilities management graduates make about $38,076. Set against $25,093 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. South Dakota State University admits about 98% of applicants.
Southern Connecticut State University ranked #10 on our 2027 list of the best value parks, recreation & leisure facilities management schools. Set in the city of New Haven, Southern Connecticut State University is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $13,442, while out-of-state students pay about $16,942. Students borrow a median of $25,000 to complete the parks, recreation & leisure facilities management program here. Early-career parks, recreation & leisure facilities management graduates make about $46,274. That is a strong return on a $25,000 median debt. The acceptance rate is 92%.
Clemson University earned the #11 position for value in parks, recreation & leisure facilities management this year. Set in the suburb of Clemson, Clemson University is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $15,554, with out-of-state students paying around $40,866. Students borrow a median of $22,592 to complete the parks, recreation & leisure facilities management program here. Early-career parks, recreation & leisure facilities management graduates make about $43,626. Set against $22,592 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 38%.
New England College placed #12 among the best values for parks, recreation & leisure facilities management. Located in the rural area of Henniker, New England College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $27,474. Parks, Recreation & Leisure Facilities Management graduates carry a median of $35,038 in student loans. Early-career parks, recreation & leisure facilities management graduates make about $68,950. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 92%.
Other Parks, Recreation & Leisure Facilities Management Degree Levels
Explore the best-value parks, recreation & leisure facilities management schools at other degree levels:
View All Parks, Recreation & Leisure Facilities Management 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.
