2026 Best Value Parks Recreation Leisure Studies Undergraduate Certificate Degree Schools
Looking for the best-value Parks Recreation Leisure Studies undergraduate certificate degree programs in the United States? We have ranked 152 schools by value — the balance of cost and student outcomes, using our 2026 methodology. The rankings below weigh 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 Undergraduate Certificate Degree Schools in the United States
Learn more about these high-value schools below:
For return on investment, no school beat Miami University Oxford this year in the United States. Located in Oxford, OH, Miami University Oxford is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees run about $17,519, while out-of-state students pay about $38,965. Graduates carry a median of $24,177 in student loans. Miami University Oxford alumni report median earnings of $55,076 a decade after entry. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Miami University Oxford has an acceptance rate of 75%. More on Miami University Oxford
Out of the 152 schools in the United States in this year's value ranking, Atlanta Technical College landed the #2 spot. Read the full report on Atlanta Technical College
You'll get strong value at Northeast Community College, which ranked #3 this year. Read the full report on Northeast Community College
You'll get strong value at Northwest Missouri State University, which ranked #4 this year. See the full Northwest Missouri State University profile
You'll get strong value at Western State College Of Colorado, which ranked #5 this year. Get the full Western State College Of Colorado report
Mount Olive College offered strong value this year, earning the #6 position. Read more about Mount Olive College
North Greenville University came in at #7 in this year's value ranking. Read more about North Greenville University
Ferrum College landed the #8 spot for value in the United States this year. See the full Ferrum College profile
University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign offered strong value this year, earning the #9 position. See the full University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign profile
Indiana Institute Of Technology offered strong value this year, earning the #10 position. Read the full report on Indiana Institute Of Technology
Corning Community College placed #11 among the best-value Parks Recreation Leisure Studies schools in the United States. More on Corning Community College
Montana State University Billings came in at #12 in this year's value ranking. Read more about Montana State University Billings
Gordon College
Gordon College ranked #13 on our 2026 list of the best-value Parks Recreation Leisure Studies schools. Read the full report on Gordon College
Mohawk Valley Community College ranked #14 on our 2026 list of the best-value Parks Recreation Leisure Studies schools. More on Mohawk Valley Community College
Dakota College At Bottineau landed the #15 spot for value in the United States this year. Get the full Dakota College At Bottineau report
Niagara County Community College landed the #16 spot for value in the United States this year. Read more about Niagara County Community College
University Of Northern Iowa offered strong value this year, earning the #17 position. Read the full report on University Of Northern Iowa
Brigham Young University Provo landed the #18 spot for value in the United States this year. See the full Brigham Young University Provo profile
York College Pennsylvania ranked #19 on our 2026 list of the best-value Parks Recreation Leisure Studies schools. Get the full York College Pennsylvania report
Garrett College
Garrett College ranked #20 on our 2026 list of the best-value Parks Recreation Leisure Studies schools. Read more about Garrett College
Simpson University landed the #21 spot for value in the United States this year. More on Simpson University
Benedict College
Benedict College ranked #22 on our 2026 list of the best-value Parks Recreation Leisure Studies schools. More on Benedict College
Ohio University Southern Campus offered strong value this year, earning the #23 position. More on Ohio University Southern Campus
California State University Chico landed the #24 spot for value in the United States this year. See the full California State University Chico profile
Olivet Nazarene University landed the #25 spot for value in the United States this year. More on Olivet Nazarene University
Rest of the Top 50 Best-Value Parks Recreation Leisure Studies Undergraduate Certificate Degree Schools in the United States
These schools also delivered strong value this year:
Allan Hancock College ranked #26 on our 2026 list of the best-value Parks Recreation Leisure Studies schools. See the full Allan Hancock College profile
Diablo Valley College landed the #27 spot for value in the United States this year. Read the full report on Diablo Valley College
Newberry College
Newberry College placed #28 among the best-value Parks Recreation Leisure Studies schools in the United States. More on Newberry College
California State University Northridge placed #29 among the best-value Parks Recreation Leisure Studies schools in the United States. Read more about California State University Northridge
University Of Nebraska At Omaha landed the #30 spot for value in the United States this year. More on University Of Nebraska At Omaha
Ohio University Chillicothe Campus placed #31 among the best-value Parks Recreation Leisure Studies schools in the United States. Read the full report on Ohio University Chillicothe Campus
Northwest College ranked #32 on our 2026 list of the best-value Parks Recreation Leisure Studies schools. See the full Northwest College profile
East Mississippi Community College placed #33 among the best-value Parks Recreation Leisure Studies schools in the United States. Get the full East Mississippi Community College report
Kutztown University Of Pennsylvania came in at #34 in this year's value ranking. Read more about Kutztown University Of Pennsylvania
Black Hills State University offered strong value this year, earning the #35 position. Get the full Black Hills State University report
Central Georgia Technical College Warner Robins landed the #36 spot for value in the United States this year. More on Central Georgia Technical College Warner Robins
Lake Tahoe Community College ranked #37 on our 2026 list of the best-value Parks Recreation Leisure Studies schools. Get the full Lake Tahoe Community College report
University Of South Alabama ranked #38 on our 2026 list of the best-value Parks Recreation Leisure Studies schools. Get the full University Of South Alabama report
Feather River Community College District landed the #39 spot for value in the United States this year. See the full Feather River Community College District profile
University Of North Carolina At Greensboro ranked #40 on our 2026 list of the best-value Parks Recreation Leisure Studies schools. Read more about University Of North Carolina At Greensboro
American River College ranked #41 on our 2026 list of the best-value Parks Recreation Leisure Studies schools. Get the full American River College report
Southern Utah University offered strong value this year, earning the #42 position. See the full Southern Utah University profile
Warren County Community College placed #43 among the best-value Parks Recreation Leisure Studies schools in the United States. More on Warren County Community College
Depaul University offered strong value this year, earning the #44 position. More on Depaul University
San Francisco State University placed #45 among the best-value Parks Recreation Leisure Studies schools in the United States. Read more about San Francisco State University
Houghton College
Houghton College ranked #46 on our 2026 list of the best-value Parks Recreation Leisure Studies schools. Read the full report on Houghton College
Southeast Missouri State University landed the #47 spot for value in the United States this year. Read the full report on Southeast Missouri State University
University Of Toledo ranked #48 on our 2026 list of the best-value Parks Recreation Leisure Studies schools. More on University Of Toledo
Cuny Lehman College landed the #49 spot for value in the United States this year. Get the full Cuny Lehman College report
Frederick Community College landed the #50 spot for value in the United States this year. Get the full Frederick Community College report
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 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 Master’s Degree Schools
- Best Value Parks Recreation Leisure Studies Doctoral Degree Schools
Ranking Methodology & Notes
This list is compiled 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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