2023 Best Value Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Schools in Arkansas
Identifying Quality Schools at More Affordable Prices
Finding the Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies School for You
Out of the majors we analyze each year, parks, recreation, leisure, and fitness studies was ranked 8th in Arkansas. In fact, 1,012 were awarded in the state in 2020-2021.
When it comes to higher education, there are a lot of options for students. 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.
To help you arm yourself with the information you need to make your decision, Course Advisor has developed this Best Value Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Schools in Arkansas ranking. Our analysis looked at 6 schools in Arkansas to see which programs offered the best value experiences for parks and rec students with the aim of identifying those quality schools that are more affordable than some of their counterparts.
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. 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.
For nationwide and regional rankings, we use out-of-state tuition and fees in our calculations. Average in-state tuition and fees are used for our statewide rankings.
Best Arkansas Schools for Affordable Quality in Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness
Our analysis found Arkansas State University - Main Campus to be the best value school for parks, recreation, leisure, and fitness studies students who want to pursue a degree in Arkansas. A-State is a large public school located in the city of Jonesboro.
The average tuition and fees for an in-state undergraduate at A-State are $7,130 a year. Parks & Rec majors at A-State take out an average of $26,748 in student loans while working on their egree. Assuming that a graduate chooses a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly loan payment is $122.
Request Information
A rank of #2 on this year’s list means University of Arkansas is a great value for parks, recreation, leisure, and fitness studies students. UARK is a fairly large public school located in the small city of Fayetteville.
UARK undergraduate students pay an average of $9,574 in in-state tuition and fees each year. While working on their degree, parks and rec majors at UARK accumulate an average of around $22,940 in student debt. For students who choose a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly student loan payment is $402.
UARK did well in our overall quality rankings, too. It placed #1 on our Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Schools in Arkansas list.
Read full report on Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at University of Arkansas
Request Information
The excellent programs at Arkansas Tech University helped the school earn the #3 place on this year’s ranking of the best parks, recreation, leisure, and fitness studies schools in Arkansas. ATU is a moderately-sized public school located in the remote town of Russellville.
In-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at ATU are $7,900 per year. The average amount in student loans that parks and rec majors at ATU take out is $23,700.
Request Information
Out of the 6 schools in Arkansas that were part of this year’s ranking, University of Central Arkansas landed the # 4 spot on the list. Located in the small city of Conway, UCA is a public school with a large student population.
In-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at UCA are $9,563 per year. While working on their degree, parks and rec majors at UCA accumulate an average of around $25,353 in student debt. Assuming that a graduate chooses a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly loan payment is $138.
On top of its placing in our value ranking, UCA also did well on our Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Schools in Arkansas list. It’s in the top 20% of all schools reviewed in this analysis.
Request Information
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around you if you attend Henderson State University. The school came in at #5 on this year’s Best Value Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Schools in Arkansas list. Located in the distant town of Arkadelphia, Henderson State University is a public school with a small student population.
Henderson State University undergraduate students pay an average of $7,560 in in-state tuition and fees each year. After completing their degree, parks and rec graduates from Henderson State University carry an average student debtload of $26,000.
Read full report on Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Henderson State University
Request Information
With a ranking of #6, Southern Arkansas University Main Campus did quite well on this year’s best value schools for parks, recreation, leisure, and fitness studies students. Located in the remote town of Magnolia, Southern Arkansas University Main Campus is a public school with a small student population.
In-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at Southern Arkansas University Main Campus are $9,310 per year. The average amount in student loans that parks and rec majors at Southern Arkansas University Main Campus take out is $19,794.
Request InformationBest Value Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Colleges in the Southeast Region
Explore all the Best Value Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Colleges in the Southeast Area or other specific states within that 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 |
| Alabama | 959 |
| Kentucky | 1,141 |
| Georgia | 1,981 |
| Tennessee | 2,462 |
| Louisiana | 703 |
More Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Rankings in Arkansas
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 |
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 6 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.