2027 Best Value Parks, Recreation & Leisure Facilities Management Schools in the The Plains States Region
[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. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong parks, recreation & leisure facilities management education at a price that pays off.
College Factual analyzed 4 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 The Plains States Region
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 Missouri Western State University this year. Set in the city of Saint Joseph, Missouri Western State University is a mid-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $9,545, with out-of-state students paying around $18,455. Parks, Recreation & Leisure Facilities Management graduates carry a median of $24,362 in student loans. Early-career parks, recreation & leisure facilities management graduates make about $41,107. Set against $24,362 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Students looking for strong value in parks, recreation & leisure facilities management will find it at Minnesota State University Mankato, which ranked #2. Located in the city of Mankato, Minnesota State University Mankato is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,572, with out-of-state students paying around $18,942. Typical student debt for parks, recreation & leisure facilities management graduates is $27,000. Parks, Recreation & Leisure Facilities Management graduates of Minnesota State University Mankato earn a median of $36,220 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. Minnesota State University Mankato admits about 88% of applicants.
South Dakota State University came in at #3 on our 2027 list of the best value parks, recreation & leisure facilities management schools. South Dakota State University is a large public school located in the town of Brookings. Students from in state pay about $9,299 in tuition and fees, compared with $12,809 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for parks, recreation & leisure facilities management graduates is $25,093. Parks, Recreation & Leisure Facilities Management graduates of South Dakota State University earn a median of $38,076 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. South Dakota State University admits about 98% of applicants.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Central Methodist University College Of Liberal Arts And Sciences earned it the #4 place for parks, recreation & leisure facilities management. Central Methodist University College Of Liberal Arts And Sciences is a small private not-for-profit school located in the rural area of Fayette. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $28,620. Parks, Recreation & Leisure Facilities Management graduates carry a median of $24,633 in student loans. Parks, Recreation & Leisure Facilities Management graduates of Central Methodist University College Of Liberal Arts And Sciences earn a median of $47,538 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $24,633 median debt. Central Methodist University College Of Liberal Arts And Sciences admits about 57% of applicants.
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Notes and References
This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 edition. Schools are scored on the balance of cost (tuition and student debt) against student outcomes (post-graduation earnings) — a measure of return on investment, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 4 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 4 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.
