2026 Best Value Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies Schools in the Middle Atlantic Region
[Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies](/majors/parks-recreation-fitness/parks-recreation-leisure-studies/parks-recreation-and-leisure-studies/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong parks, recreation & leisure studies education at a price that pays off.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 25 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for parks, recreation & leisure studies students.
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2026 Best Value Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies Schools in the Middle Atlantic Region
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in parks, recreation & leisure studies, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies Schools
For return on investment in parks, recreation & leisure studies, no school beat Cuny Kingsborough Community College this year. Located in the city of Brooklyn, Cuny Kingsborough Community College is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,252, while out-of-state students pay about $8,132. Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies graduates carry a median of $7,858 in student loans. Early-career parks, recreation & leisure studies graduates make about $35,562. Set against $7,858 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Suny College At Cortland came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the best value parks, recreation & leisure studies schools. Located in the town of Cortland, Suny College At Cortland is a moderately-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,874, with out-of-state students paying around $18,784. Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies graduates carry a median of $25,369 in student loans. Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies graduates of Suny College At Cortland earn a median of $38,709 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Suny College At Cortland admits about 60% of applicants.
Kutztown University Of Pennsylvania came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the best value parks, recreation & leisure studies schools. Set in the town of Kutztown, Kutztown University Of Pennsylvania is a moderately-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $11,206, with out-of-state students paying around $16,330. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the parks, recreation & leisure studies program here. Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies graduates of Kutztown University Of Pennsylvania earn a median of $36,363 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 91% of applicants are accepted.
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Notes and References
This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 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 · 25 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 3 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.
