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Best Value Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Schools in South Carolina

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2023 Best Value Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Schools in South Carolina

Highlighting Quality Schools With More Affordable Pricing

11 Colleges
$19,268 Avg Tuition & Fees*
$29,805 Avg Salary

Finding the Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies School for You

In 2020-2021, 1,339 degrees and certificates were awarded to parks, recreation, leisure, and fitness studies students who went to a South Carolina college or university. This makes it the #12 most popular major in the state.

It's not easy to decide which program to enroll in when you have so many options available. With more and more schools offering online options, you could even register for a great program on the other side of the country. On top of that, there are a considerable number of trade schools that offer fast-track entry to many fields.

To assist you in seeing some of the education options that are available to you, Course Advisor has created its Best Value Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Schools in South Carolina ranking. This report analyzed 11 schools in South Carolina to see which ones offered the best value 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. 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.

In our regional and nationwide rankings, out-of-state tution and fees are used in our calculations. For statewide rankings, we use average in-state tuition and fees.

2023 Best Value Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Schools in South Carolina

The colleges and universities below are the best value schools for parks and rec majors pursuing a .

Top 10 Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Schools

$12,570 Average Tuition & Fees

Our analysis found Citadel Military College of South Carolina to be the best value school for parks, recreation, leisure, and fitness studies students who want to pursue a degree in South Carolina. Located in the midsize city of Charleston, The Citadel is a public school with a small student population.

The Citadel undergraduate students pay an average of $12,570 in in-state tuition and fees each year. After completing their degree, parks and rec graduates from The Citadel carry an average student debtload of $19,790. For students who choose a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly student loan payment is $426.

The Citadel also took the #5 spot in our Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Schools in South Carolina rankings.

Full Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Citadel Military College of South Carolina Report

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around you if you attend University of South Carolina - Columbia. The school came in at #2 on this year’s Best Value Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Schools in South Carolina list. Located in the city of Columbia, UofSC is a public college with a very large student population.

In-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at UofSC are $12,688 per year. On average, parks and rec graduates from UofSC take out $26,000 in student loans while working on their degree. For students who choose a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly student loan payment is $426.

UofSC excels when it comes to quality. It’s ranked in the top 15% of all schools on our Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Schools in South Carolina list.

Full Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at University of South Carolina - Columbia Report

#3

Clemson University

Clemson, SC

Out of the 11 schools in South Carolina that were part of this year’s ranking, Clemson University landed the # 3 spot on the list. Clemson is a fairly large public school located in the large suburb of Clemson.

Clemson undergraduate students pay an average of $15,558 in in-state tuition and fees each year. While working on their degree, parks and rec majors at Clemson accumulate an average of around $21,780 in student debt. Assuming that a graduate chooses a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly loan payment is $391.

Clemson did well in our overall quality rankings, too. It placed #2 on our Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Schools in South Carolina list.

Read full report on Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Clemson University

The excellent programs at Coastal Carolina University helped the school earn the #4 place on this year’s ranking of the best parks, recreation, leisure, and fitness studies schools in South Carolina. Coastal Carolina University is a large public school located in the city of Conway.

The average tuition and fees for an in-state undergraduate at Coastal Carolina University are $11,640 a year. Parks & Rec majors at Coastal Carolina University take out an average of $27,000 in student loans while working on their egree. When it comes time to repay the loan, graduates who are on a 10-year repayment plan pay an average monthly payment of $513.

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#5

Winthrop University

Rock Hill, SC

The excellent programs at Winthrop University helped the school earn the #5 place on this year’s ranking of the best parks, recreation, leisure, and fitness studies schools in South Carolina. Winthrop is a medium-sized public school located in the city of Rock Hill.

The average tuition and fees for an in-state undergraduate at Winthrop are $15,846 a year. The average amount in student loans that parks and rec majors at Winthrop take out is $29,500. When it comes time to repay the loan, graduates who are on a 10-year repayment plan pay an average monthly payment of $321.

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#6

Bob Jones University

Greenville, SC
$21,062 Average Tuition & Fees

Bob Jones University came in at #6 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Schools in South Carolina ranking. Bob Jones University is a small private not-for-profit school located in the city of Greenville.

Bob Jones University undergraduate students pay an average of $21,062 in in-state tuition and fees each year. After completing their degree, parks and rec graduates from Bob Jones University carry an average student debtload of $22,250.

Full Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Bob Jones University Report

#7

North Greenville University

Tigerville, SC

North Greenville University ranked #7 on this year’s Best Value Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Schools in South Carolina list. Located in the rural area of Tigerville, North Greenville is a private not-for-profit school with a small student population.

The average tuition and fees for an in-state undergraduate at North Greenville are $22,470 a year. On average, parks and rec graduates from North Greenville take out $25,697 in student loans while working on their degree. Assuming that a graduate chooses a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly loan payment is $333.

Read full report on Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at North Greenville University

#8

Newberry College

Newberry, SC

Newberry College landed the #8 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best value parks, recreation, leisure, and fitness studies programs. Located in the distant town of Newberry, Newberry College is a private not-for-profit college with a small student population.

Newberry College undergraduate students pay an average of $28,250 in in-state tuition and fees each year. On average, parks and rec graduates from Newberry College take out $29,000 in student loans while working on their degree. Assuming that a graduate chooses a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly loan payment is $299.

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#9

Claflin University

Orangeburg, SC
$17,046 Average Tuition & Fees

Claflin University ranked #9 on this year’s Best Value Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Schools in South Carolina list. Claflin is a small private not-for-profit school located in the distant town of Orangeburg.

Claflin undergraduate students pay an average of $17,046 in in-state tuition and fees each year. Parks & Rec majors at Claflin take out an average of $38,971 in student loans while working on their egree. When it comes time to repay the loan, graduates who are on a 10-year repayment plan pay an average monthly payment of $150.

Full Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Claflin University Report

#10

Coker University

Hartsville, SC
$31,524 Average Tuition & Fees

Coker University did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best value schools for parks, recreation, leisure, and fitness studies students. It came in at #10 on the list. Coker is a small private not-for-profit school located in the town of Hartsville.

The average tuition and fees for an in-state undergraduate at Coker are $31,524 a year. While working on their degree, parks and rec majors at Coker accumulate an average of around $31,000 in student debt.

Read full report on Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Coker University

Best Value Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Colleges in the Southeast Region

Explore all the Best Value Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Schools in the Southeast Area or other specific states within that region.

State Degrees Awarded
North Carolina 3,436
West Virginia 1,238
Florida 2,340
Virginia 1,729
Arkansas 1,012
Mississippi 1,128
Tennessee 2,462
Louisiana 703
Alabama 959
Kentucky 1,141
Georgia 1,981

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 11 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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