2026 Best Value Parks Recreation Fitness Undergraduate Certificate Degree Schools
Looking for the best-value Parks Recreation Fitness undergraduate certificate degree programs in the United States? Our ranking highlights 1489 institutions by value — the balance of cost and student outcomes, using our 2026 methodology. Each school below is scored on factors such as tuition, student debt, and post-graduation earnings to surface the strongest return on investment.
To arm you with the information you need, Course Advisor evaluated schools to produce 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 Undergraduate Certificate Degree Schools in the United States
Explore the best-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. In-state tuition and fees run about $15,265. The median Parks Recreation Fitness program debt is $12,917. Get the full International Sports Sciences Association report
A rank of #2 makes Missouri Southern State University one of the best values in the United States. This public school is set in Joplin, MO. In-state tuition and fees average $9,600, while out-of-state students pay about $18,300. The median Parks Recreation Fitness program debt is $24,947. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $42,620. Set against $24,947 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. About 97% of those who apply are admitted. Get the full Missouri Southern State University report
You'll get strong value at Miami University Oxford, which ranked #3 this year. Based in Oxford, OH, Miami University Oxford is a public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $17,519, with out-of-state students paying around $38,965. Students borrow a median of $25,000 to complete their Parks Recreation Fitness program here. Graduates go on to earn a median of $55,076 ten years after entry. Set against $25,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Miami University Oxford has an acceptance rate of 75%. Read more about Miami University Oxford
You'll get strong value at The University Of Montana, which ranked #4 this year. The University Of Montana is a public school based in Missoula, MT. Students from in state pay about $8,552 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $33,671. Graduates carry a median of $24,342 in student loans. Graduates go on to earn a median of $44,511 ten years after entry. Set against $24,342 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The University Of Montana admits about 96% of applicants. Get the full The University Of Montana report
Mesa State College came in at #5 on this year's best-value Parks Recreation Fitness ranking in the United States. Set in Grand Junction, CO, Mesa State College is a public institution. Students from in state pay about $9,927 in tuition and fees, compared with $25,124 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $25,900 to complete their Parks Recreation Fitness program here. A decade after starting, students earn a median of $45,823. That is a strong return on a $25,900 median debt. Mesa State College has an acceptance rate of 82%. See the full Mesa State College profile
Southern California Health Institute landed the #6 spot for value in the United States this year. This private for-profit school is set in North Hollywood, CA. The median Parks Recreation Fitness program debt is $9,500. Graduates go on to earn a median of $34,558 ten years after entry. That is a strong return on a $9,500 median debt. Read more about Southern California Health Institute
College Of The Sequoias offered strong value this year, earning the #7 position. Get the full College Of The Sequoias report
Free Will Baptist Bible College offered strong value this year, earning the #8 position. See the full Free Will Baptist Bible College profile
Montclair State University placed #9 among the best-value Parks Recreation Fitness schools in the United States. More on Montclair State University
Pierce College At Fort Steilacoom landed the #10 spot for value in the United States this year. Read more about Pierce College At Fort Steilacoom
Copiah Lincoln Community College came in at #11 in this year's value ranking. Read more about Copiah Lincoln Community College
Friends University placed #12 among the best-value Parks Recreation Fitness schools in the United States. Read the full report on Friends University
Slippery Rock University Of Pennsylvania landed the #13 spot for value in the United States this year. More on Slippery Rock University Of Pennsylvania
South Texas College ranked #14 on our 2026 list of the best-value Parks Recreation Fitness schools. Read more about South Texas College
Central Washington University offered strong value this year, earning the #15 position. Read the full report on Central Washington University
Hampton University came in at #16 in this year's value ranking. Read the full report on Hampton University
Indiana University Kokomo landed the #17 spot for value in the United States this year. Get the full Indiana University Kokomo report
Inver Hills Community College placed #18 among the best-value Parks Recreation Fitness schools in the United States. Read more about Inver Hills Community College
Los Angeles Mission College landed the #19 spot for value in the United States this year. Get the full Los Angeles Mission College report
Los Angeles Trade Technical College ranked #20 on our 2026 list of the best-value Parks Recreation Fitness schools. Get the full Los Angeles Trade Technical College report
Lyon College
Lyon College placed #21 among the best-value Parks Recreation Fitness schools in the United States. More on Lyon College
Miracosta College offered strong value this year, earning the #22 position. Read more about Miracosta College
Missouri State University Springfield ranked #23 on our 2026 list of the best-value Parks Recreation Fitness schools. Read the full report on Missouri State University Springfield
Northern Michigan University ranked #24 on our 2026 list of the best-value Parks Recreation Fitness schools. Get the full Northern Michigan University report
Pima Community College ranked #25 on our 2026 list of the best-value Parks Recreation Fitness schools. More on Pima Community College
Rest of the Top 50 Best-Value Parks Recreation Fitness Undergraduate Certificate Degree Schools in the United States
Not far behind, these schools also offered excellent value:
Southeastern Oklahoma State University came in at #26 in this year's value ranking. Get the full Southeastern Oklahoma State University report
Winthrop University ranked #27 on our 2026 list of the best-value Parks Recreation Fitness schools. Read the full report on Winthrop University
Carroll University landed the #28 spot for value in the United States this year. More on Carroll University
Citadel Military College Of South Carolina landed the #29 spot for value in the United States this year. More on Citadel Military College Of South Carolina
Cumberland University placed #30 among the best-value Parks Recreation Fitness schools in the United States. Get the full Cumberland University report
El Camino College Compton Center offered strong value this year, earning the #31 position. See the full El Camino College Compton Center profile
Georgia College And State University offered strong value this year, earning the #32 position. See the full Georgia College And State University profile
Lubbock Christian University placed #33 among the best-value Parks Recreation Fitness schools in the United States. More on Lubbock Christian University
Luzerne County Community College ranked #34 on our 2026 list of the best-value Parks Recreation Fitness schools. More on Luzerne County Community College
Onondaga Community College landed the #35 spot for value in the United States this year. Get the full Onondaga Community College report
Shelton State Community College placed #36 among the best-value Parks Recreation Fitness schools in the United States. Read more about Shelton State Community College
Warner University placed #37 among the best-value Parks Recreation Fitness schools in the United States. More on Warner University
Warren County Community College ranked #38 on our 2026 list of the best-value Parks Recreation Fitness schools. More on Warren County Community College
William Penn University came in at #39 in this year's value ranking. Get the full William Penn University report
Clarendon College landed the #40 spot for value in the United States this year. See the full Clarendon College profile
Florida State University placed #41 among the best-value Parks Recreation Fitness schools in the United States. Read the full report on Florida State University
Lamar Community College placed #42 among the best-value Parks Recreation Fitness schools in the United States. Get the full Lamar Community College report
Marion Technical College ranked #43 on our 2026 list of the best-value Parks Recreation Fitness schools. Read the full report on Marion Technical College
University Of South Carolina Aiken offered strong value this year, earning the #44 position. See the full University Of South Carolina Aiken profile
Abilene Christian University Undergraduate Online came in at #45 in this year's value ranking. Read the full report on Abilene Christian University Undergraduate Online
Auburn University At Montgomery ranked #46 on our 2026 list of the best-value Parks Recreation Fitness schools. Get the full Auburn University At Montgomery report
Bay Mills Community College offered strong value this year, earning the #47 position. More on Bay Mills Community College
California State University San Bernardino came in at #48 in this year's value ranking. See the full California State University San Bernardino profile
Cuny Bronx Community College placed #49 among the best-value Parks Recreation Fitness schools in the United States. See the full Cuny Bronx Community College profile
Faulkner University landed the #50 spot for value in the United States this year. More on Faulkner University
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 Associate’s 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
The ranking above is published 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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