2026 Best Value Parks, Recreation & Leisure Facilities Management Schools in the Southwest Region
[Parks, Recreation & Leisure Facilities Management](/majors/parks-recreation-fitness/recreation-administration/parks-recreation-facilities-management/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
For its 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 10 schools to find the best return on investment for parks, recreation & leisure facilities management students.
What’s on this page:
2026 Best Value Parks, Recreation & Leisure Facilities Management Schools in the Southwest Region
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the parks, recreation & leisure facilities management degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Parks, Recreation & Leisure Facilities Management Schools
Our analysis ranked University Of North Texas the best value for a degree in parks, recreation & leisure facilities management in the Southwest Region. Set in the city of Denton, University Of North Texas is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $11,309, with out-of-state students paying around $21,149. Typical student debt for parks, recreation & leisure facilities management graduates is $26,000. Soon after graduation, parks, recreation & leisure facilities management degree recipients from University Of North Texas generally make around $39,969. Set against $26,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 72%.
Southwestern Oklahoma State University came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the best value parks, recreation & leisure facilities management schools. Set in the town of Weatherford, Southwestern Oklahoma State University is a moderately-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $8,469, compared with $8,499 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for parks, recreation & leisure facilities management graduates is $19,757. Parks, Recreation & Leisure Facilities Management graduates of Southwestern Oklahoma State University earn a median of $38,506 early in their careers. Set against $19,757 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Texas State University San Marcos is a great value for students pursuing a degree in parks, recreation & leisure facilities management, landing the #3 spot this year. Texas State University San Marcos is a very large public school located in the city of San Marcos. In-state tuition and fees average $11,450, compared with $22,930 for out-of-state students. Parks, Recreation & Leisure Facilities Management graduates carry a median of $23,000 in student loans. Soon after graduation, parks, recreation & leisure facilities management degree recipients from Texas State University San Marcos generally make around $32,620. That is a strong return on a $23,000 median debt. Texas State University San Marcos admits about 89% of applicants.
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Notes and References
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 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 · 10 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 3 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.
