2023 Best Value Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Schools
Identifying Quality Schools at More Affordable Prices
Finding the Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies School for You
Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies is the #18 most popular major in the country with 10,452 degrees and certificates awarded in 2020-2021.
There are lots of options to pick from today when trying to decide which program is right for you. You're no longer limited to schools in your local area, either, since online programs are becoming more prevalent. Or you may find the programs at a trade school to be a better alternative for you.
The Best Value Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Schools ranking is one of many tools that Grad Degree Search has developed to help you make your educational decision. Our analysis looked at 299 schools in the United States to see which programs offered the best value experiences for parks and rec students with the aim of identifying those quality schools that are more affordable than some of their counterparts.
When determining this ranking, we place a high emphasis on the school's quality as well as its sticker price. Even though a college may be affordable, it may not offer value. More specifically, we discount our quality score by the published tuition and fees charged by a school. This gives the cost per unit of quality for each college. The value is determined by how much quality your dollar buys.
Our calculations use out-of-state tuition and fees in our nationwide and regional rankings. Average in-state tuition and fees are used for our statewide rankings.
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2023 Best Value Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Schools in the United States
The following schools top our list of the Best Value Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Colleges.
Top 25 Best Schools for Affordable Quality in Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness
Our 2023 rankings named American Public University System the best value school in the United States for parks, recreation, leisure, and fitness studies students. American Military University is a fairly large private for-profit school located in the fringe town of Charles Town.
American Military University undergraduate students pay an average of $7,360 in tuition and fees each year.
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around you if you attend Ashland University. The school came in at #2 on this year’s Best Value Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Schools list. Located in the town of Ashland, Ashland is a private not-for-profit school with a small student population.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate student at Ashland are $23,090 a year.
Read full report on Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Ashland University
A rank of #3 on this year’s list means Concordia University, Irvine is a great value for parks, recreation, leisure, and fitness studies students. Located in the large city of Irvine, Concordia University, Irvine is a private not-for-profit college with a small student population.
Concordia University, Irvine undergraduate students pay an average of $38,740 in tuition and fees each year.
Concordia University, Irvine excels when it comes to quality. It’s ranked in the top 10% of all schools on our Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Schools list.
The excellent programs at Grace College and Theological Seminary helped the school earn the #3 place on this year’s ranking of the best parks, recreation, leisure, and fitness studies schools in the United States. Grace College is a small private not-for-profit school located in the distant town of Winona Lake.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at Grace College are $25,044 per year.
Full Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Grace College and Theological Seminary Report
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Concordia University, Nebraska. It ranked #5 on our 2023 Best Value Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Schools list. Concordia University, Nebraska is a small private not-for-profit school located in the distant town of Seward.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate student at Concordia University, Nebraska are $36,310 a year.
With a ranking of #6, Winona State University did quite well on this year’s best value schools for parks, recreation, leisure, and fitness studies students. Located in the distant town of Winona, Winona State is a public school with a medium-sized student population.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate student at Winona State are $16,684 a year.
Winona State also claimed a spot on our Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Schools list. It’s in the top 15% of all schools in this category.
Read full report on Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Winona State University
West Texas A&M University came in at #7 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Schools ranking. Located in the town of Canyon, West Texas A&M University is a public school with a medium-sized student population.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at West Texas A&M University are $11,208 per year.
Saint Cloud State University ranked #8 on this year’s Best Value Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Schools list. Located in the small city of Saint Cloud, St. Cloud State University is a public school with a fairly large student population.
St. Cloud State University undergraduate students pay an average of $18,010 in tuition and fees each year.
Minnesota State University - Mankato landed the #9 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best value parks, recreation, leisure, and fitness studies programs. Located in the city of Mankato, Minnesota State Mankato is a public college with a fairly large student population.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at Minnesota State Mankato are $18,200 per year.
As a testament to the quality of education it offers, Minnesota State Mankato also is in the top 15% of our Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Schools ranking.
With a ranking of #10, Northwest Missouri State University did quite well on this year’s best value schools for parks, recreation, leisure, and fitness studies students. Located in the town of Maryville, Northwest is a public school with a moderately-sized student population.
Northwest undergraduate students pay an average of $14,919 in tuition and fees each year.
Minot State University came in at #11 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Schools ranking. Located in the remote town of Minot, MSU is a public school with a small student population.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at MSU are $8,163 per year.
Full Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Minot State University Report
Brigham Young University - Provo landed the #12 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best value parks, recreation, leisure, and fitness studies programs. Located in the medium-sized city of Provo, BYU is a private not-for-profit college with a fairly large student population.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at BYU are $6,120 per year.
In addition to its great value ranking, BYU is in the top 20% of all schools on our Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Schools list.
Concordia University, Chicago ranked #13 on this year’s Best Value Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Schools list. Concordia University, Chicago is a medium-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of River Forest.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at Concordia University, Chicago are $34,310 per year.
Full Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Concordia University, Chicago Report
South Dakota State University did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best value schools for parks, recreation, leisure, and fitness studies students. It came in at #14 on the list. Located in the town of Brookings, South Dakota State is a public school with a large student population.
South Dakota State undergraduate students pay an average of $12,809 in tuition and fees each year.
As a testament to the quality of education it offers, South Dakota State also is in the top 10% of our Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Schools ranking.
With a ranking of #15, Valparaiso University did quite well on this year’s best value schools for parks, recreation, leisure, and fitness studies students. Valpo is a small private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Valparaiso.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate student at Valpo are $44,796 a year.
Read full report on Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Valparaiso University
Grand View University landed the #16 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best value parks, recreation, leisure, and fitness studies programs. Located in the city of Des Moines, Grand View University is a private not-for-profit school with a small student population.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at Grand View University are $30,954 per year.
Read full report on Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Grand View University
Point Loma Nazarene University ranked #17 on this year’s Best Value Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Schools list. Located in the city of San Diego, PLNU is a private not-for-profit school with a small student population.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at PLNU are $39,500 per year.
PLNU also claimed a spot on our Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Schools list. It’s in the top 20% of all schools in this category.
Read full report on Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Point Loma Nazarene University
Concordia University, Saint Paul came in at #18 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Schools ranking. Concordia University, Saint Paul is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Saint Paul.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate student at Concordia University, Saint Paul are $23,900 a year.
Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best value schools for parks, recreation, leisure, and fitness studies students. It came in at #19 on the list. Located in the town of Slippery Rock, SRU is a public college with a medium-sized student population.
SRU undergraduate students pay an average of $14,615 in tuition and fees each year.
MSU Texas did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best value schools for parks, recreation, leisure, and fitness studies students. It came in at #20 on the list. Located in the city of Wichita Falls, MSU Texas is a public college with a moderately-sized student population.
MSU Texas undergraduate students pay an average of $11,726 in tuition and fees each year.
Read full report on Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at MSU Texas
Missouri State University - Springfield did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best value schools for parks, recreation, leisure, and fitness studies students. It came in at #21 on the list. Located in the midsize city of Springfield, Missouri State is a public college with a very large student population.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate student at Missouri State are $16,498 a year.
Southern Illinois University Edwardsville landed the #22 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best value parks, recreation, leisure, and fitness studies programs. SIUE is a large public school located in the large suburb of Edwardsville.
SIUE undergraduate students pay an average of $11,496 in tuition and fees each year.
Illinois State University did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best value schools for parks, recreation, leisure, and fitness studies students. It came in at #23 on the list. Illinois State is a very large public school located in the midsize suburb of Normal.
Illinois State undergraduate students pay an average of $24,172 in tuition and fees each year.
As a testament to the quality of education it offers, Illinois State also is in the top 20% of our Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Schools ranking.
Read full report on Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Illinois State University
Mount St Mary’s University came in at #24 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Schools ranking. The Mount is a small private not-for-profit school located in the fringe town of Emmitsburg.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate student at The Mount are $44,750 a year.
Read full report on Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Mount St Mary’s University
Lindenwood University ranked #25 on this year’s Best Value Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Schools list. Located in the city of Saint Charles, Lindenwood University is a private not-for-profit college with a medium-sized student population.
Lindenwood University undergraduate students pay an average of $18,640 in tuition and fees each year.
Full Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Lindenwood University Report
Rest of the Top Best Value Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Schools
Additional Noteworthy Schools
These are some additional schools worth mentioning that are also great but just didn't quite make the cut to earn our top Best Value Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Schools award.
| Rank | College | Location |
|---|---|---|
| 45 | East Central University | Ada, OK |
| 46 | Gardner - Webb University | Boiling Springs, NC |
| 47 | Liberty University | Lynchburg, VA |
| 48 | California Baptist University | Riverside, CA |
| 49 | Salem State University | Salem, MA |
| 50 | University of Central Arkansas | Conway, AR |
| 51 | Southern Nazarene University | Bethany, OK |
| 52 | Avila University | Kansas City, MO |
| 53 | Ohio University - Athens Campus | Athens, OH |
| 54 | Arkansas State University - Main Campus | Jonesboro, AR |
| 55 | William Penn University | Oskaloosa, IA |
| 55 | North Central College | Naperville, IL |
| 57 | United States Sports Academy | Daphne, AL |
| 57 | Mississippi College | Clinton, MS |
| 59 | Aurora University | Aurora, IL |
Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies by Region
View the Best Value Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Schools for a specific region near you.
| Region |
|---|
| Southeast |
| New England |
| Rocky Mountains |
| Plains States |
| Middle Atlantic |
| Far Western US |
| Southwest |
| Great Lakes |
More Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Rankings
Majors Related to Parks & Rec
Parks & Rec Majors to Study
| Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Health & Physical Education | 9,742 |
| Recreation Administration | 441 |
| Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies | 206 |
| Other Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies | 35 |
| Outdoor Education | 28 |
Most Popular Majors Related to Parks & Rec
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Public Administration & Social Service | 53,252 |
| Legal Professions | 45,189 |
| Homeland Security, Law Enforcement & Firefighting | 13,045 |
| Military Technologies & Applied Sciences | 1,613 |
Notes and References
*These averages are for the top 27 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 the rest 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).
- Credit for the banner image above goes to NPS Photo/Zurbuch.
More about our data sources and methodologies.
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