2023 Best Value Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Master's Degree Schools
Identifying Quality Schools at More Affordable Prices
Finding the Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Master's Degree School for You
In 2020-2021, 73,813 people earned a degree or certificate in parks, recreation, leisure, and fitness studies, making the major the #15 most popular in the United States.
With all the programs available today, it can be tough to choose which one is the best 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 Master's Degree Schools ranking is one of many tools that Course Advisor has developed to help you make your educational decision. This report analyzed 294 schools in the United States to see which ones offered the best value master's degree programs for parks and rec students. The goal was to highlight schools with more affordable prices than others offering similar quality experiences.
Our ranking of value is based on the quality of a program as defined in our per sticker price dollar. 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.
In our regional and nationwide rankings, out-of-state tution and fees are used in our calculations. Average in-state tuition and fees are used for our statewide rankings.
Top 25 Best Schools for Affordable Quality for a Master's in Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness
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 master’s degree in the United States. American Military University is a fairly large private for-profit school located in the town of Charles Town.
American Military University graduate students pay an average of $7,050 in tuition and fees each year.
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Out of the 294 schools in the United States that were part of this year’s ranking, Ashland University landed the # 2 spot on the list. Located in the town of Ashland, Ashland is a private not-for-profit college with a small student population.
Out-of-state tuition fees for graduate students at Ashland are $6,972 per year.
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You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around you if you attend Grace College and Theological Seminary. The school came in at #3 on this year’s Best Value Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Master’s Degree Schools list. Grace College is a small private not-for-profit school located in the distant town of Winona Lake.
Out-of-state tuition fees for graduate students at Grace College are $8,054 per year.
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The excellent master’s degree programs at Concordia University, Irvine helped the school earn the #3 place on this year’s ranking of the best value parks, recreation, leisure, and fitness studies schools in the United States. Located in the city of Irvine, Concordia University, Irvine is a private not-for-profit school with a small student population.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state graduate students at Concordia University, Irvine are $8,564 a year.
Concordia University, Irvine also claimed a spot on our Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Master’s Degree Schools list. It’s in the top 10% of all schools in this category.
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You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around you if you attend Concordia University, Nebraska. The school came in at #5 on this year’s Best Value Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Master’s Degree Schools list. Concordia University, Nebraska is a small private not-for-profit school located in the town of Seward.
Out-of-state tuition fees for graduate students at Concordia University, Nebraska are $8,650 per year.
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West Texas A&M University landed the #6 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best value master’s degree parks, recreation, leisure, and fitness studies programs. Located in the fringe town of Canyon, West Texas A&M University is a public school with a moderately-sized student population.
West Texas A&M University graduate students pay an average of $8,574 in tuition and fees each year.
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Saint Cloud State University did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best places for parks, recreation, leisure, and fitness studies students to get a master’s degree. It came in at #7 on the list. Located in the small city of Saint Cloud, St. Cloud State University is a public college with a large student population.
Out-of-state tuition fees for graduate students at St. Cloud State University are $13,412 per year.
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Minnesota State University - Mankato landed the #8 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best value master’s degree parks, recreation, leisure, and fitness studies programs. Located in the city of Mankato, Minnesota State Mankato is a public school with a fairly large student population.
Out-of-state tuition fees for graduate students at Minnesota State Mankato are $9,308 per year.
As a testament to the quality of education it offers, Minnesota State Mankato also is in the top 20% of our Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Master’s Degree Schools ranking.
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Northwest Missouri State University landed the #9 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best value master’s degree parks, recreation, leisure, and fitness studies programs. Located in the remote town of Maryville, Northwest is a public college with a medium-sized student population.
Northwest graduate students pay an average of $7,064 in tuition and fees each year.
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Brigham Young University - Provo did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best places for parks, recreation, leisure, and fitness studies students to get a master’s degree. It came in at #10 on the list. Located in the midsize city of Provo, BYU is a private not-for-profit school with a very large student population.
BYU graduate students pay an average of $7,700 in tuition and fees each year.
BYU excels when it comes to quality. It’s ranked in the top 20% of all schools on our Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Master’s Degree Schools list.
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Minot State University did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best places for parks, recreation, leisure, and fitness studies students to get a master’s degree. It came in at #10 on the list. Located in the town of Minot, MSU is a public school with a small student population.
MSU graduate students pay an average of $10,263 in tuition and fees each year.
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Concordia University, Chicago did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best places for parks, recreation, leisure, and fitness studies students to get a master’s degree. It came in at #12 on the list. Concordia University, Chicago is a medium-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of River Forest.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state graduate students at Concordia University, Chicago are $9,378 a year.
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South Dakota State University did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best places for parks, recreation, leisure, and fitness studies students to get a master’s degree. It came in at #13 on the list. Located in the town of Brookings, South Dakota State is a public school with a large student population.
South Dakota State graduate students pay an average of $16,917 in tuition and fees each year.
As a testament to the quality of education it offers, South Dakota State also is in the top 15% of our Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Master’s Degree Schools ranking.
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With a ranking of #14, Valparaiso University did quite well on this year’s best value schools for parks, recreation, leisure, and fitness studies students working on their master’s degree. Valpo is a small private not-for-profit school located in the large suburb of Valparaiso.
Valpo graduate students pay an average of $12,220 in tuition and fees each year.
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Grand View University did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best places for parks, recreation, leisure, and fitness studies students to get a master’s degree. It came in at #15 on the list. Located in the medium-sized city of Des Moines, Grand View University is a private not-for-profit school with a small student population.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state graduate students at Grand View University are $9,440 a year.
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With a ranking of #16, Point Loma Nazarene University did quite well on this year’s best value schools for parks, recreation, leisure, and fitness studies students working on their master’s degree. Located in the city of San Diego, PLNU is a private not-for-profit school with a small student population.
PLNU graduate students pay an average of $11,880 in tuition and fees each year.
PLNU excels when it comes to quality. It’s ranked in the top 20% of all schools on our Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Master’s Degree Schools list.
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With a ranking of #17, Concordia University, Saint Paul did quite well on this year’s best value schools for parks, recreation, leisure, and fitness studies students working on their master’s degree. Concordia University, Saint Paul is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the large city of Saint Paul.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state graduate students at Concordia University, Saint Paul are $8,550 a year.
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Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best places for parks, recreation, leisure, and fitness studies students to get a master’s degree. It came in at #18 on the list. Located in the distant town of Slippery Rock, SRU is a public school with a medium-sized student population.
Out-of-state tuition fees for graduate students at SRU are $18,216 per year.
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With a ranking of #19, MSU Texas did quite well on this year’s best value schools for parks, recreation, leisure, and fitness studies students working on their master’s degree. Located in the medium-sized city of Wichita Falls, MSU Texas is a public college with a medium-sized student population.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state graduate students at MSU Texas are $8,056 a year.
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Southern Illinois University Edwardsville did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best places for parks, recreation, leisure, and fitness studies students to get a master’s degree. It came in at #20 on the list. SIUE is a fairly large public school located in the large suburb of Edwardsville.
SIUE graduate students pay an average of $9,316 in tuition and fees each year.
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With a ranking of #21, Illinois State University did quite well on this year’s best value schools for parks, recreation, leisure, and fitness studies students working on their master’s degree. Illinois State is a very large public school located in the suburb of Normal.
Illinois State graduate students pay an average of $11,773 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 Master’s Degree Schools ranking.
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Mount St Mary’s University ranked #22 on this year’s Best Value Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Master’s Degree Schools list. The Mount is a small private not-for-profit school located in the town of Emmitsburg.
The Mount graduate students pay an average of $13,676 in tuition and fees each year.
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Concordia University, Wisconsin did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best places for parks, recreation, leisure, and fitness studies students to get a master’s degree. It came in at #23 on the list. Located in the suburb of Mequon, Concordia University, Wisconsin is a private not-for-profit college with a medium-sized student population.
Concordia University, Wisconsin graduate students pay an average of $11,760 in tuition and fees each year.
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Missouri Western State University came in at #23 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Master’s Degree Schools ranking. Located in the city of Saint Joseph, Missouri Western is a public school with a small student population.
Missouri Western graduate students pay an average of $12,318 in tuition and fees each year.
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Lindenwood University ranked #23 on this year’s Best Value Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Master’s Degree Schools list. Located in the small city of Saint Charles, Lindenwood University is a private not-for-profit school with a medium-sized student population.
Lindenwood University graduate students pay an average of $9,784 in tuition and fees each year.
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Additional Noteworthy Schools
Here are some additional great value schools for Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness students seeking value that almost earned our Best Value Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Master's Degree Schools award.
| Rank | College | Location |
|---|---|---|
| 45 | California Baptist University | Riverside, CA |
| 46 | University of Central Arkansas | Conway, AR |
| 47 | Southern Nazarene University | Bethany, OK |
| 48 | Liberty University | Lynchburg, VA |
| 48 | Avila University | Kansas City, MO |
| 50 | Ohio University - Athens Campus | Athens, OH |
| 51 | Arkansas State University - Main Campus | Jonesboro, AR |
| 52 | North Central College | Naperville, IL |
| 52 | William Penn University | Oskaloosa, IA |
| 54 | Mississippi College | Clinton, MS |
| 55 | Texas Woman’s University | Denton, TX |
| 56 | Aurora University | Aurora, IL |
| 57 | Johnson & Wales University - Providence | Providence, RI |
| 58 | University of Arkansas | Fayetteville, AR |
Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies by Region
View the Best Value Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Master's Degree 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 | 67,146 |
| Recreation Administration | 3,122 |
| Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies | 3,106 |
| Outdoor Education | 265 |
| Other Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies | 174 |
Majors Similar to Parks & Rec
| 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 25 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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