2026 Best Value Parks Recreation Fitness Associate’s Degree Schools
Looking for the best-value Parks Recreation Fitness associate’s degree programs in the United States? This list ranks 1489 colleges 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 compile 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 Fitness Associate’s Degree Schools in the United States
Learn more about these high-value schools below:
Leading the list is International Sports Sciences Association, our #1 best-value Parks Recreation Fitness school in the United States. Based in Carpinteria, CA, International Sports Sciences Association is a private for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $15,265. Typical Parks Recreation Fitness student debt is $12,917. See the full International Sports Sciences Association profile
Out of the 1489 schools in the United States in this year's value ranking, University Of The Cumberlands landed the #2 spot. This private not-for-profit school is set in Williamsburg, KY. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,875. Students borrow a median of $22,630 to complete their Parks Recreation Fitness program here. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $45,036. Set against $22,630 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of The Cumberlands has an acceptance rate of 99%. Get the full University Of The Cumberlands report
You'll get strong value at South Texas College, which ranked #3 this year. South Texas College is a public school based in McAllen, TX. In-state tuition and fees run about $4,920, compared with $7,620 for out-of-state students. Graduates carry a median of $4,500 in student loans. South Texas College alumni report median earnings of $36,788 a decade after entry. That is a strong return on a $4,500 median debt. See the full South Texas College profile
Mt San Antonio College came in at #4 on this year's best-value Parks Recreation Fitness ranking in the United States. Set in Walnut, CA, Mt San Antonio College is a public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $1,364, with out-of-state students paying around $10,464. Mt San Antonio College Parks Recreation Fitness students take on a median of $6,865 in debt. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $46,283. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. More on Mt San Antonio College
Utah Valley University came in at #5 on this year's best-value Parks Recreation Fitness ranking in the United States. Set in Orem, UT, Utah Valley University is a public institution. Students from in state pay about $6,507 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $18,489. Students borrow a median of $15,252 to complete their Parks Recreation Fitness program here. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $55,486. Set against $15,252 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Read the full report on Utah Valley University
Bob Jones University landed the #6 spot for value in the United States this year. This private not-for-profit school is set in Greenville, SC. Students from in state pay about $22,892 in tuition and fees. Bob Jones University Parks Recreation Fitness students take on a median of $23,000 in debt. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $44,354. That is a strong return on a $23,000 median debt. See the full Bob Jones University profile
The University Of Findlay landed the #7 spot for value in the United States this year. Set in Findlay, OH, The University Of Findlay is a private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $41,164. The University Of Findlay Parks Recreation Fitness students take on a median of $27,000 in debt. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $56,996. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. Roughly 83% of applicants are accepted. More on The University Of Findlay
Keiser University Ft Lauderdale landed the #8 spot for value in the United States this year. Located in Fort Lauderdale, FL, Keiser University Ft Lauderdale is a private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees run about $25,056. Keiser University Ft Lauderdale Parks Recreation Fitness students take on a median of $26,888 in debt. Median earnings reach $39,696 ten years out. Set against $26,888 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Keiser University Ft Lauderdale admits about 97% of applicants. Get the full Keiser University Ft Lauderdale report
Webber International University placed #9 among the best-value Parks Recreation Fitness schools in the United States. This private not-for-profit school is set in Babson Park, FL. Students from in state pay about $33,770 in tuition and fees. Webber International University Parks Recreation Fitness students take on a median of $27,000 in debt. Median earnings reach $45,606 ten years out. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. Roughly 69% of applicants are accepted. More on Webber International University
Northern Virginia Community College ranked #10 on our 2026 list of the best-value Parks Recreation Fitness schools. More on Northern Virginia Community College
Post University
Post University placed #11 among the best-value Parks Recreation Fitness schools in the United States. See the full Post University profile
Southern Arkansas University Main Campus ranked #12 on our 2026 list of the best-value Parks Recreation Fitness schools. See the full Southern Arkansas University Main Campus profile
Southern Connecticut State University ranked #13 on our 2026 list of the best-value Parks Recreation Fitness schools. Read more about Southern Connecticut State University
University Of Kansas placed #14 among the best-value Parks Recreation Fitness schools in the United States. Read the full report on University Of Kansas
Columbus Technical College came in at #15 in this year's value ranking. More on Columbus Technical College
Ecclesia College
Ecclesia College placed #16 among the best-value Parks Recreation Fitness schools in the United States. More on Ecclesia College
Emporia State University came in at #17 in this year's value ranking. More on Emporia State University
Everglades University ranked #18 on our 2026 list of the best-value Parks Recreation Fitness schools. Get the full Everglades University report
Hocking College
Hocking College offered strong value this year, earning the #19 position. Read the full report on Hocking College
Kalamazoo Valley Community College landed the #20 spot for value in the United States this year. Read more about Kalamazoo Valley Community College
Los Angeles Mission College offered strong value this year, earning the #21 position. Get the full Los Angeles Mission College report
Manchester Community College Nh offered strong value this year, earning the #22 position. Read the full report on Manchester Community College Nh
Texas A And M International University placed #23 among the best-value Parks Recreation Fitness schools in the United States. More on Texas A And M International University
University Of Akron Main Campus came in at #24 in this year's value ranking. Get the full University Of Akron Main Campus report
University Of Phoenix Arizona landed the #25 spot for value in the United States this year. More on University Of Phoenix Arizona
Rest of the Top 50 Best-Value Parks Recreation Fitness Associate’s Degree Schools in the United States
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s value ranking:
Utica College
Utica College placed #26 among the best-value Parks Recreation Fitness schools in the United States. Read the full report on Utica College
Virginia University Of Lynchburg offered strong value this year, earning the #27 position. Get the full Virginia University Of Lynchburg report
Arcadia University offered strong value this year, earning the #28 position. Read more about Arcadia University
Columbia College Chicago placed #29 among the best-value Parks Recreation Fitness schools in the United States. See the full Columbia College Chicago profile
Johnson University placed #30 among the best-value Parks Recreation Fitness schools in the United States. See the full Johnson University profile
Livingstone College came in at #31 in this year's value ranking. See the full Livingstone College profile
Merritt College
Merritt College came in at #32 in this year's value ranking. Read more about Merritt College
Rockland Community College offered strong value this year, earning the #33 position. More on Rockland Community College
Transylvania University placed #34 among the best-value Parks Recreation Fitness schools in the United States. Get the full Transylvania University report
William Woods University came in at #35 in this year's value ranking. See the full William Woods University profile
Grayson College
Grayson College offered strong value this year, earning the #36 position. Read more about Grayson College
Michigan State University landed the #37 spot for value in the United States this year. Read the full report on Michigan State University
Neumann University placed #38 among the best-value Parks Recreation Fitness schools in the United States. See the full Neumann University profile
Rockhurst University landed the #39 spot for value in the United States this year. Read more about Rockhurst University
Rose State College offered strong value this year, earning the #40 position. Read the full report on Rose State College
University Of Dubuque came in at #41 in this year's value ranking. Read more about University Of Dubuque
University Of Missouri Columbia landed the #42 spot for value in the United States this year. More on University Of Missouri Columbia
University Of Virginia Main Campus offered strong value this year, earning the #43 position. Read more about University Of Virginia Main Campus
Wagner College
Wagner College placed #44 among the best-value Parks Recreation Fitness schools in the United States. Read more about Wagner College
Western Texas College offered strong value this year, earning the #45 position. Read more about Western Texas College
Adelphi University offered strong value this year, earning the #46 position. More on Adelphi University
Arkansas Tech University landed the #47 spot for value in the United States this year. More on Arkansas Tech University
Brenau University placed #48 among the best-value Parks Recreation Fitness schools in the United States. See the full Brenau University profile
Broome Community College came in at #49 in this year's value ranking. Read more about Broome Community College
College Of The Canyons came in at #50 in this year's value ranking. Get the full College Of The Canyons report
Related Parks Recreation Fitness Value Rankings
See value rankings for other degree levels:
- Best Value Parks Recreation Fitness Schools (All Levels)
- Best Value Parks Recreation Fitness Certificate Degree Schools
- Best Value Parks Recreation Fitness Undergraduate Certificate Degree Schools
- Best Value Parks Recreation Fitness Bachelor’s Degree Schools
- Best Value Parks Recreation Fitness Graduate Certificate Degree Schools
- Best Value Parks Recreation Fitness Master’s Degree Schools
- Best Value Parks Recreation Fitness Doctoral Degree Schools
Ranking Methodology & Notes
This list is compiled by Course Advisor (DMS_RANKING_2023), 2026 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 · Scope: Nation. *Averages shown above reflect the top 1489 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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