2026 Best Value Parks Recreation Leisure Studies Master’s Degree Schools
Looking for the best-value Parks Recreation Leisure Studies master’s degree programs in the United States? Our ranking highlights 152 institutions by value — the balance of cost and student outcomes, using our 2026 methodology. Our scores reflect factors such as tuition, student debt, and post-graduation earnings to surface the strongest return on investment.
So you can compare your options, Course Advisor evaluated schools to build this 2026 value ranking, drawing primarily on U.S. Department of Education data (IPEDS and College Scorecard). View our full ranking methodology.
Top 25 Best-Value Parks Recreation Leisure Studies Master’s Degree Schools in the United States
Explore the best-value schools below:
Leading the list is Northwest Missouri State University, our #1 best-value Parks Recreation Leisure Studies school in the United States. Based in Maryville, MO, Northwest Missouri State University is a public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $10,611, while out-of-state students pay about $17,324. Students borrow a median of $25,250 to complete their Parks Recreation Leisure Studies program here. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $47,885. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. About 86% of those who apply are admitted. Get the full Northwest Missouri State University report
Ohio University Main Campus came in at #2 on this year's best-value Parks Recreation Leisure Studies ranking in the United States. This public school is set in Athens, OH. In-state tuition and fees average $14,158, while out-of-state students pay about $24,838. Students borrow a median of $24,546 to complete their Parks Recreation Leisure Studies program here. Ohio University Main Campus alumni report median earnings of $52,581 a decade after entry. Set against $24,546 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 85%. More on Ohio University Main Campus
You'll get strong value at University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign, which ranked #3 this year. Based in Champaign, IL, University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign is a public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $18,267, while out-of-state students pay about $40,096. The median Parks Recreation Leisure Studies program debt is $23,447. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $81,054. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign admits about 42% of applicants. Read the full report on University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign
You'll get strong value at California State University Long Beach, which ranked #4 this year. California State University Long Beach is a public school based in Long Beach, CA. In-state tuition and fees run about $7,374, compared with $19,974 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $14,500 to complete their Parks Recreation Leisure Studies program here. California State University Long Beach alumni report median earnings of $64,403 a decade after entry. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 46% of applicants are accepted. Get the full California State University Long Beach report
A rank of #5 makes University Of Northern Iowa one of the best values in the United States. Set in Cedar Falls, IA, University Of Northern Iowa is a public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,936, compared with $21,712 for out-of-state students. The median Parks Recreation Leisure Studies program debt is $23,907. A decade after starting, students earn a median of $55,177. That is a strong return on a $23,907 median debt. Roughly 93% of applicants are accepted. Get the full University Of Northern Iowa report
California State University Sacramento came in at #6 in this year's value ranking. Based in Sacramento, CA, California State University Sacramento is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $8,018, with out-of-state students paying around $20,618. California State University Sacramento Parks Recreation Leisure Studies students take on a median of $20,024 in debt. Graduates go on to earn a median of $64,876 ten years after entry. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. California State University Sacramento has an acceptance rate of 94%. Read the full report on California State University Sacramento
California State University Chico offered strong value this year, earning the #7 position. Located in Chico, CA, California State University Chico is a public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,472, with out-of-state students paying around $21,072. Students borrow a median of $18,179 to complete their Parks Recreation Leisure Studies program here. Graduates go on to earn a median of $64,172 ten years after entry. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. California State University Chico has an acceptance rate of 93%. Read more about California State University Chico
Suny College At Cortland came in at #8 in this year's value ranking. Located in Cortland, NY, Suny College At Cortland is a public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $8,874, compared with $18,784 for out-of-state students. Graduates carry a median of $25,369 in student loans. Graduates go on to earn a median of $60,236 ten years after entry. Set against $25,369 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. About 60% of those who apply are admitted. Read more about Suny College At Cortland
Oklahoma State University Main Campus landed the #9 spot for value in the United States this year. Located in Stillwater, OK, Oklahoma State University Main Campus is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees run about $10,110, compared with $25,630 for out-of-state students. The median Parks Recreation Leisure Studies program debt is $21,313. Median earnings reach $57,413 ten years out. That is a strong return on a $21,313 median debt. The acceptance rate is 75%. See the full Oklahoma State University Main Campus profile
Indiana University Bloomington placed #10 among the best-value Parks Recreation Leisure Studies schools in the United States. Located in Bloomington, IN, Indiana University Bloomington is a public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $12,144, with out-of-state students paying around $41,891. Graduates carry a median of $19,750 in student loans. A decade after starting, students earn a median of $63,742. Set against $19,750 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 78%. See the full Indiana University Bloomington profile
University Of Utah came in at #11 in this year's value ranking. Located in Salt Lake City, UT, University Of Utah is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $9,620, compared with $30,860 for out-of-state students. Graduates carry a median of $22,982 in student loans. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $67,170. That is a strong return on a $22,982 median debt. Roughly 86% of applicants are accepted. Read more about University Of Utah
Northern Arizona University placed #12 among the best-value Parks Recreation Leisure Studies schools in the United States. Located in Flagstaff, AZ, Northern Arizona University is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees run about $12,619, while out-of-state students pay about $20,044. Typical Parks Recreation Leisure Studies student debt is $21,500. A decade after starting, students earn a median of $54,384. That is a strong return on a $21,500 median debt. Roughly 90% of applicants are accepted. Read the full report on Northern Arizona University
East Carolina University ranked #13 on our 2026 list of the best-value Parks Recreation Leisure Studies schools. East Carolina University is a public school based in Greenville, NC. Students from in state pay about $7,361 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $23,638. The median Parks Recreation Leisure Studies program debt is $19,587. Graduates go on to earn a median of $55,146 ten years after entry. That is a strong return on a $19,587 median debt. East Carolina University has an acceptance rate of 89%. More on East Carolina University
Southern Oregon University came in at #14 in this year's value ranking. Set in Ashland, OR, Southern Oregon University is a public institution. Students from in state pay about $12,762 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $31,887. Typical Parks Recreation Leisure Studies student debt is $24,951. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $49,175. That is a strong return on a $24,951 median debt. Southern Oregon University admits about 89% of applicants. Get the full Southern Oregon University report
Southern Illinois University Carbondale offered strong value this year, earning the #15 position. Southern Illinois University Carbondale is a public school based in Carbondale, IL. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $13,334. Typical Parks Recreation Leisure Studies student debt is $20,525. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $53,390. That is a strong return on a $20,525 median debt. Roughly 87% of applicants are accepted. Read more about Southern Illinois University Carbondale
University Of Toledo placed #16 among the best-value Parks Recreation Leisure Studies schools in the United States. University Of Toledo is a public school based in Toledo, OH. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $12,157, while out-of-state students pay about $21,517. Students borrow a median of $24,923 to complete their Parks Recreation Leisure Studies program here. A decade after starting, students earn a median of $50,632. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 92%. See the full University Of Toledo profile
Clemson University ranked #17 on our 2026 list of the best-value Parks Recreation Leisure Studies schools. See the full Clemson University profile
Western Michigan University offered strong value this year, earning the #18 position. Read the full report on Western Michigan University
Lake Tahoe Community College offered strong value this year, earning the #19 position. More on Lake Tahoe Community College
Niagara County Community College came in at #20 in this year's value ranking. Read the full report on Niagara County Community College
University Of Minnesota Duluth landed the #21 spot for value in the United States this year. More on University Of Minnesota Duluth
El Camino Community College District landed the #22 spot for value in the United States this year. Get the full El Camino Community College District report
Red Rocks Community College ranked #23 on our 2026 list of the best-value Parks Recreation Leisure Studies schools. Read more about Red Rocks Community College
Simpson University placed #24 among the best-value Parks Recreation Leisure Studies schools in the United States. Get the full Simpson University report
Mount Olive College landed the #25 spot for value in the United States this year. Read the full report on Mount Olive College
Rest of the Top 50 Best-Value Parks Recreation Leisure Studies Master’s Degree Schools in the United States
Not far behind, these schools also offered excellent value:
Arizona State University came in at #26 in this year's value ranking. Read more about Arizona State University
American River College placed #27 among the best-value Parks Recreation Leisure Studies schools in the United States. Get the full American River College report
Northeast Community College came in at #28 in this year's value ranking. See the full Northeast Community College profile
Western Washington University offered strong value this year, earning the #29 position. Read the full report on Western Washington University
Central State University placed #30 among the best-value Parks Recreation Leisure Studies schools in the United States. Read the full report on Central State University
University Of Colorado Boulder ranked #31 on our 2026 list of the best-value Parks Recreation Leisure Studies schools. More on University Of Colorado Boulder
Bethune Cookman University offered strong value this year, earning the #32 position. Read the full report on Bethune Cookman University
Palomar College
Palomar College came in at #33 in this year's value ranking. See the full Palomar College profile
Ouachita Baptist University placed #34 among the best-value Parks Recreation Leisure Studies schools in the United States. Read more about Ouachita Baptist University
Gordon College
Gordon College ranked #35 on our 2026 list of the best-value Parks Recreation Leisure Studies schools. Read more about Gordon College
Suny College At Plattsburgh came in at #36 in this year's value ranking. Get the full Suny College At Plattsburgh report
Winona State University landed the #37 spot for value in the United States this year. Get the full Winona State University report
Brigham Young University Provo ranked #38 on our 2026 list of the best-value Parks Recreation Leisure Studies schools. Read the full report on Brigham Young University Provo
Depaul University placed #39 among the best-value Parks Recreation Leisure Studies schools in the United States. Read the full report on Depaul University
Ohio University Lancaster Campus offered strong value this year, earning the #40 position. See the full Ohio University Lancaster Campus profile
Baker University
Baker University landed the #41 spot for value in the United States this year. Get the full Baker University report
Southeast Missouri State University landed the #42 spot for value in the United States this year. See the full Southeast Missouri State University profile
University Of South Alabama placed #43 among the best-value Parks Recreation Leisure Studies schools in the United States. Read the full report on University Of South Alabama
Alaska Pacific University placed #44 among the best-value Parks Recreation Leisure Studies schools in the United States. Read the full report on Alaska Pacific University
Shaw University
Shaw University placed #45 among the best-value Parks Recreation Leisure Studies schools in the United States. Read more about Shaw University
Central Wyoming College placed #46 among the best-value Parks Recreation Leisure Studies schools in the United States. More on Central Wyoming College
Montana State University Billings placed #47 among the best-value Parks Recreation Leisure Studies schools in the United States. Read more about Montana State University Billings
York College Pennsylvania landed the #48 spot for value in the United States this year. Read the full report on York College Pennsylvania
Ithaca College
Ithaca College came in at #49 in this year's value ranking. Read the full report on Ithaca College
Lindenwood University placed #50 among the best-value Parks Recreation Leisure Studies schools in the United States. Read more about Lindenwood University
Related Parks Recreation Leisure Studies Value Rankings
Compare value rankings at other degree levels:
- Best Value Parks Recreation Leisure Studies Schools (All Levels)
- Best Value Parks Recreation Leisure Studies Certificate Degree Schools
- Best Value Parks Recreation Leisure Studies Undergraduate Certificate Degree Schools
- Best Value Parks Recreation Leisure Studies Associate’s Degree Schools
- Best Value Parks Recreation Leisure Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools
- Best Value Parks Recreation Leisure Studies Graduate Certificate Degree Schools
- Best Value Parks Recreation Leisure Studies Doctoral Degree Schools
Ranking Methodology & Notes
These rankings are produced by Course Advisor (DMS_RANKING_2023), 2026 edition. Rankings consider 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 · Scope: Nation. *Averages shown above reflect the top 152 ranked schools only.
References
- Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) — National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education (core institutional data).
- College Scorecard — U.S. Department of Education (graduate earnings and outcomes data).
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