2023 Best Value Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Bachelor's Degree Schools in the Southeast Region
Highlighting Quality Schools With More Affordable Pricing
Finding the Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Bachelor's Degree School for You
Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies is the #15 most popular major in the country with 73,813 degrees and certificates awarded in 2020-2021.
There are so many programs in today's world that it can tough to figure out which one is the right one for you. As online education oppotunities continue to grow, you're not restricted to just schools in your local area anymore. Even some of the 'big name' schools are offering online courses. Also, there are a number of trade schools with offerings that you might find attractive.
Along with in-depth profiles of schools and the programs they offer, Course Advisor has created the Best Value Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Bachelor's Degree Schools in the Southeast Region to help you in your search for the best school for you. This report analyzed 152 schools in the Southeast Region to see which ones offered the best value bachelor's degree programs for parks and rec students. The goal was to highlight schools with more affordable prices than others offering similar quality experiences.
This ranking is not just a list of inexpensive schools. We also consider each school's quality, since we believe a low-quality school may not be a 'bargain' at any price. Specifically, our score for quality is discounted by the published tuition and fees charged by the given college. This gives the cost per unit of quality for each college. The more quality your dollar buys, the better the value.
For nationwide and regional rankings, we use out-of-state tuition and fees in our calculations. For statewide rankings, we use average in-state tuition and fees.
Top 15% Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Bachelor's Degree Schools
Our analysis found American Public University System to be the best value school for parks, recreation, leisure, and fitness studies students who want to pursue a bachelor’s degree in the Southeast Region . Located in the town of Charles Town, American Military University is a private for-profit school with a fairly large student population.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate student at American Military University are $7,360 a year.
In addition to its great value ranking, American Military University is in the top 5% of all schools on our Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southeast Region list.
Request Information
A rank of #2 on this year’s list means University of North Carolina at Pembroke is a great value for parks, recreation, leisure, and fitness studies students working on their bachelor’s degree. Located in the town of Pembroke, UNC Pembroke is a public college with a moderately-sized student population.
UNC Pembroke undergraduate students pay an average of $7,495 in tuition and fees each year.
Request Information
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around you if you attend Western Carolina University. The school came in at #3 on this year’s Best Value Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southeast Region list. WCU is a large public school located in the distant town of Cullowhee.
WCU undergraduate students pay an average of $8,367 in tuition and fees each year.
Full Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Western Carolina University Report
Request Information
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around you if you attend University of Florida-Online. The school came in at #4 on this year’s Best Value Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southeast Region list. Located in the medium-sized city of Gainesville, UF Online is a public college with a moderately-sized student population.
UF Online undergraduate students pay an average of $16,579 in tuition and fees each year.
In addition to its great value ranking, UF Online is in the top 10% of all schools on our Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southeast Region list.
Read full report on Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at University of Florida-Online
Request Information
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around you if you attend United States Sports Academy. The school came in at #5 on this year’s Best Value Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southeast Region list. The Academy is a fairly small private not-for-profit school located in the city of Daphne.
The Academy undergraduate students pay an average of $17,424 in tuition and fees each year.
Read full report on Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at United States Sports Academy
Request Information
University of the Cumberlands landed the #6 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best value bachelor’s degree parks, recreation, leisure, and fitness studies programs. Cumberlands is a large private not-for-profit school located in the remote town of Williamsburg.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate student at Cumberlands are $9,875 a year.
Full Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at University of the Cumberlands Report
Request Information
Mississippi University for Women landed the #7 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best value bachelor’s degree parks, recreation, leisure, and fitness studies programs. MUW is a small public school located in the remote town of Columbus.
MUW undergraduate students pay an average of $7,756 in tuition and fees each year.
Request Information
Arkansas State University - Main Campus came in at #8 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southeast Region ranking. Located in the small city of Jonesboro, A-State is a public college with a large student population.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate student at A-State are $12,698 a year.
Request Information
University of Memphis ranked #9 on this year’s Best Value Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southeast Region list. Located in the city of Memphis, UofM is a public school with a very large student population.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at UofM are $14,088 per year.
Read full report on Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at University of Memphis
Request Information
University of North Carolina at Wilmington landed the #10 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best value bachelor’s degree parks, recreation, leisure, and fitness studies programs. Located in the midsize city of Wilmington, UNCW is a public school with a large student population.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at UNCW are $21,303 per year.
Request Information
Henderson State University landed the #11 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best value bachelor’s degree parks, recreation, leisure, and fitness studies programs. Henderson State University is a small public school located in the town of Arkadelphia.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at Henderson State University are $9,768 per year.
Request Information
William Carey University ranked #12 on this year’s Best Value Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southeast Region list. William Carey University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Hattiesburg.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate student at William Carey University are $14,550 a year.
Full Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at William Carey University Report
Request Information
Florida International University ranked #13 on this year’s Best Value Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southeast Region list. Located in the large suburb of Miami, FIU is a public school with a very large student population.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at FIU are $18,963 per year.
Full Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Florida International University Report
Request Information
University of North Florida landed the #14 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best value bachelor’s degree parks, recreation, leisure, and fitness studies programs. UNF is a fairly large public school located in the large city of Jacksonville.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at UNF are $19,407 per year.
Read full report on Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at University of North Florida
Request Information
University of Southern Mississippi ranked #15 on this year’s Best Value Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southeast Region list. Located in the small city of Hattiesburg, Southern Miss is a public school with a large student population.
Southern Miss undergraduate students pay an average of $11,204 in tuition and fees each year.
Request Information
Louisiana College did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best places for parks, recreation, leisure, and fitness studies students to get a bachelor’s degree. It came in at #16 on the list. Located in the suburb of Pineville, Louisiana College is a private not-for-profit school with a small student population.
Louisiana College undergraduate students pay an average of $17,950 in tuition and fees each year.
Read full report on Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Louisiana College
Request Information
University of Florida came in at #17 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southeast Region ranking. UF is a fairly large public school located in the medium-sized city of Gainesville.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at UF are $28,659 per year.
On top of its placing in our value ranking, UF also did well on our Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southeast Region list. It’s in the top 10% of all schools reviewed in this analysis.
Request Information
With a ranking of #18, Arkansas Tech University did quite well on this year’s best value schools for parks, recreation, leisure, and fitness studies students working on their bachelor’s degree. Located in the remote town of Russellville, ATU is a public school with a moderately-sized student population.
ATU undergraduate students pay an average of $13,636 in tuition and fees each year.
Request Information
With a ranking of #19, East Tennessee State University did quite well on this year’s best value schools for parks, recreation, leisure, and fitness studies students working on their bachelor’s degree. Located in the small city of Johnson City, ETSU is a public school with a fairly large student population.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate student at ETSU are $12,740 a year.
Full Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at East Tennessee State University Report
Request Information
Georgia Southern University ranked #20 on this year’s Best Value Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southeast Region list. Located in the town of Statesboro, GaSou is a public college with a fairly large student population.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at GaSou are $17,539 per year.
Full Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Georgia Southern University Report
Request Information
Martin Methodist College did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best places for parks, recreation, leisure, and fitness studies students to get a bachelor’s degree. It came in at #21 on the list. Martin Methodist is a small private not-for-profit school located in the distant town of Pulaski.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate student at Martin Methodist are $10,200 a year.
Full Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Martin Methodist College Report
Request Information
The University of Tennessee - Martin ranked #22 on this year’s Best Value Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southeast Region list. Located in the remote town of Martin, UT Martin is a public college with a moderately-sized student population.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate student at UT Martin are $15,952 a year.
Request InformationHonorable Mentions
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 Bachelor's Degree Schools in the Southeast Region award.
| Rank | College | Location |
|---|---|---|
| 23 | Kennesaw State University | Kennesaw, GA |
| 24 | Austin Peay State University | Clarksville, TN |
| 25 | Liberty University | Lynchburg, VA |
| 25 | University of Central Arkansas | Conway, AR |
| 25 | James Madison University | Harrisonburg, VA |
| 28 | Shepherd University | Shepherdstown, WV |
| 29 | Morehead State University | Morehead, KY |
| 30 | Florida Atlantic University | Boca Raton, FL |
Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Colleges by State
Explore the best parks, recreation, leisure, and fitness studies colleges for a specific state in the Southeast region.
| State | Degrees Awarded |
|---|---|
| North Carolina | 3,436 |
| West Virginia | 1,238 |
| Mississippi | 1,128 |
| South Carolina | 1,339 |
| Florida | 2,340 |
| Virginia | 1,729 |
| Arkansas | 1,012 |
| Alabama | 959 |
| Kentucky | 1,141 |
| Georgia | 1,981 |
| Tennessee | 2,462 |
| Louisiana | 703 |
More Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Rankings in the Southeast Region
Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Related Majors for Parks & Rec
Parks & Rec Majors to Study
| Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Health & Physical Education | 67,146 |
| Recreation Administration | 3,122 |
| Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies | 3,106 |
| Outdoor Education | 265 |
| Other Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies | 174 |
Most Popular Related Majors
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Homeland Security, Law Enforcement & Firefighting | 142,610 |
| Public Administration & Social Service | 98,583 |
| Legal Professions | 61,055 |
| Military Technologies & Applied Sciences | 4,477 |
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.
Course Advisor provides higher-education, college and university, degree, program, career, salary, and other helpful information to students, faculty, institutions, and other internet audiences. Presented information and data are subject to change. Inclusion on this website does not imply or represent a direct relationship with the company, school, or brand. Information, though believed correct at time of publication, may not be correct, and no warranty is provided. Contact the schools to verify any information before relying on it. Financial aid may be available for those who qualify. The displayed options may include sponsored or recommended results, not necessarily based on your preferences.
© Course Advisor – All Rights Reserved.