2026 Best Value Other Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies Schools
[Other Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies](/majors/parks-recreation-fitness/other-parks-recreation-fitness/parks-recreation-leisure-and-fitness-studies-other/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong other parks, recreation & leisure studies education at a price that pays off.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 28 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for other parks, recreation & leisure studies students.
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Finding the Best Value Other Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies School for You
Where you study other parks, recreation & leisure studies affects both what you pay and what you earn. To help, we created our Best Value Other Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies Schools ranking. We score each school on the balance of tuition, student debt, and post-graduation earnings to surface the best value.
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One Size Does Not Fit All
We offer a number of rankings, including this Best Value Other Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies Schools list, to help you decide. More interested in schools in a specific area of the country? Filter this list by region or state.
Want to compare schools head to head? Try our College Combat tool to weigh the factors that matter most to you.
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2026 Best Value Other Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies Schools in the United States
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in other parks, recreation & leisure studies, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Other Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies Schools
For return on investment in other parks, recreation & leisure studies, no school beat Utah Valley University this year. Located in the city of Orem, Utah Valley University is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,507, while out-of-state students pay about $18,489. Other Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies graduates carry a median of $16,478 in student loans. Soon after graduation, other parks, recreation & leisure studies degree recipients from Utah Valley University generally make around $51,242. That is a strong return on a $16,478 median debt.
Students looking for strong value in other parks, recreation & leisure studies will find it at The Community College Of Baltimore County, which ranked #2. Set in the suburb of Baltimore, The Community College Of Baltimore County is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $4,110, compared with $10,182 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $18,038 to complete the other parks, recreation & leisure studies program here. Soon after graduation, other parks, recreation & leisure studies degree recipients from The Community College Of Baltimore County generally make around $52,440. That is a strong return on a $18,038 median debt.
A rank of #3 makes Northwestern Oklahoma State University one of the best values for other parks, recreation & leisure studies. Located in the town of Alva, Northwestern Oklahoma State University is a mid-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,970, with out-of-state students paying around $11,664. Students borrow a median of $20,418 to complete the other parks, recreation & leisure studies program here. Early-career other parks, recreation & leisure studies graduates make about $29,807. Set against $20,418 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 66% of applicants are accepted.
Students looking for strong value in other parks, recreation & leisure studies will find it at Chadron State College, which ranked #4. Set in the town of Chadron, Chadron State College is a mid-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $8,294. Typical student debt for other parks, recreation & leisure studies graduates is $26,117. Soon after graduation, other parks, recreation & leisure studies degree recipients from Chadron State College generally make around $27,129. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Plymouth State University earned it the #5 place for other parks, recreation & leisure studies. Plymouth State University is a mid-sized public school located in the town of Plymouth. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $14,626, with out-of-state students paying around $25,566. Typical student debt for other parks, recreation & leisure studies graduates is $26,972. Early-career other parks, recreation & leisure studies graduates make about $45,528. That is a strong return on a $26,972 median debt. Roughly 88% of applicants are accepted.
National Personal Training Institute Winter Park landed the #6 spot for other parks, recreation & leisure studies value this year. Set in the suburb of Orlando, National Personal Training Institute Winter Park is a small private for-profit institution. Other Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies graduates carry a median of $6,333 in student loans. Early-career other parks, recreation & leisure studies graduates make about $18,641.
Howard University came in at #7 for value in other parks, recreation & leisure studies this year. Howard University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Washington. In-state tuition and fees average $35,810. Typical student debt for other parks, recreation & leisure studies graduates is $25,498. Early-career other parks, recreation & leisure studies graduates make about $58,495. That is a strong return on a $25,498 median debt. Howard University admits about 41% of applicants.
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Notes and References
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. The methodology weighs the cost of a degree against the earnings graduates go on to achieve, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 28 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 6 ranked 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 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).
More about our data sources and methodologies.
