2026 Best Value Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Studies Schools in the Far Western Region
[Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Studies](/majors/parks-recreation-fitness/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
For its 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 217 schools to find the best return on investment for parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies students.
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2026 Best Value Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Studies Schools in the Far Western Region
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Studies Schools
San Diego Miramar College tops our 2026 list of the best value parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies schools in the Far Western Region. Located in the city of San Diego, San Diego Miramar College is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,146, while out-of-state students pay about $10,002. Typical student debt for parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies graduates is $8,098. Soon after graduation, parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies degree recipients from San Diego Miramar College generally make around $41,038. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Moorpark College came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the best value parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies schools. Located in the suburb of Moorpark, Moorpark College is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,426, compared with $9,615 for out-of-state students. Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Studies graduates carry a median of $17,075 in student loans. Soon after graduation, parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies degree recipients from Moorpark College generally make around $105,599. Set against $17,075 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Students looking for strong value in parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies will find it at Skyline College, which ranked #3. Set in the suburb of San Bruno, Skyline College is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $1,332, compared with $9,956 for out-of-state students. Graduates go on to earn a median of $55,702 ten years after entry.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at San Diego Mesa College earned it the #4 place for parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies. Located in the city of San Diego, San Diego Mesa College is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $1,146, with out-of-state students paying around $10,002. Students borrow a median of $6,999 to complete the parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies program here. Early-career parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies graduates make about $29,852. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Oxnard College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies, landing the #5 spot this year. Located in the city of Oxnard, Oxnard College is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $1,426, compared with $9,615 for out-of-state students. Median earnings reach $41,393 ten years out.
Cerritos College placed #6 among the best values for parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies. Located in the suburb of Norwalk, Cerritos College is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $1,364, while out-of-state students pay about $12,004. Typical student debt for parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies graduates is $11,306. Soon after graduation, parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies degree recipients from Cerritos College generally make around $29,495. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
College Of San Mateo landed the #7 spot for parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies value this year. Located in the city of San Mateo, College Of San Mateo is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $1,332, with out-of-state students paying around $11,428. Typical student debt for parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies graduates is $12,831. Median earnings reach $54,172 ten years out. That is a strong return on a $12,831 median debt.
Fresno City College earned the #8 position for value in parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies this year. Fresno City College is a very large public school located in the city of Fresno. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,378, with out-of-state students paying around $8,638. Typical student debt for parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies graduates is $7,234. Soon after graduation, parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies degree recipients from Fresno City College generally make around $37,470. That is a strong return on a $7,234 median debt.
College Of The Canyons came in at #9 for value in parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies this year. Located in the suburb of Santa Clarita, College Of The Canyons is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $1,166 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $10,958. Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Studies graduates carry a median of $9,776 in student loans. Soon after graduation, parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies degree recipients from College Of The Canyons generally make around $51,913. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Pasadena City College earned the #10 position for value in parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies this year. Set in the city of Pasadena, Pasadena City College is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $1,180 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $10,924. Typical student debt for parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies graduates is $9,191. Early-career parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies graduates make about $38,841. Set against $9,191 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
College Of The Sequoias ranked #11 on our 2026 list of the best value parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies schools. Located in the city of Visalia, College Of The Sequoias is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $1,394 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $9,038. Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Studies graduates carry a median of $10,288 in student loans. Soon after graduation, parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies degree recipients from College Of The Sequoias generally make around $37,749. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
West Valley College earned the #12 position for value in parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies this year. Located in the suburb of Saratoga, West Valley College is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $0, with out-of-state students paying around $9,320. Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Studies graduates carry a median of $14,308 in student loans. Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Studies graduates of West Valley College earn a median of $25,378 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Shasta College earned the #13 position for value in parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies this year. Shasta College is a large public school located in the suburb of Redding. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $1,197, while out-of-state students pay about $8,853. Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Studies graduates carry a median of $12,275 in student loans. Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Studies graduates of Shasta College earn a median of $50,330 early in their careers. Set against $12,275 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Moreno Valley College earned the #14 position for value in parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies this year. Set in the suburb of Moreno Valley, Moreno Valley College is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $1,428 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $12,498. Students borrow a median of $12,643 to complete the parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies program here. Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Studies graduates of Moreno Valley College earn a median of $45,515 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $12,643 median debt.
Saddleback College placed #15 among the best values for parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies. Located in the suburb of Mission Viejo, Saddleback College is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $1,432, with out-of-state students paying around $14,812. Typical student debt for parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies graduates is $5,707. Soon after graduation, parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies degree recipients from Saddleback College generally make around $15,890. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Reedley College ranked #16 on our 2026 list of the best value parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies schools. Reedley College is a large public school located in the town of Reedley. Students from in state pay about $1,378 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $8,638. Students borrow a median of $6,500 to complete the parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies program here. Soon after graduation, parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies degree recipients from Reedley College generally make around $30,520. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Mt San Antonio College ranked #17 on our 2026 list of the best value parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies schools. Located in the suburb of Walnut, Mt San Antonio College is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $1,364, compared with $10,464 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies graduates is $6,865. Early-career parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies graduates make about $19,869. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Golden West College landed the #18 spot for parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies value this year. Set in the suburb of Huntington Beach, Golden West College is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $1,380 in tuition and fees, compared with $11,628 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $21,500 to complete the parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies program here. Early-career parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies graduates make about $82,984. Set against $21,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Ventura College landed the #19 spot for parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies value this year. Located in the city of Ventura, Ventura College is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $1,426, compared with $9,615 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $20,250 to complete the parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies program here. Early-career parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies graduates make about $99,778. That is a strong return on a $20,250 median debt.
Norco College earned the #20 position for value in parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies this year. Norco College is a large public school located in the suburb of Norco. Students from in state pay about $1,428 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $12,498. Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Studies graduates carry a median of $8,203 in student loans. Graduates go on to earn a median of $51,206 ten years after entry. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Santiago Canyon College landed the #21 spot for parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies value this year. Santiago Canyon College is a large public school located in the city of Orange. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,164, with out-of-state students paying around $9,612. Students borrow a median of $5,500 to complete the parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies program here. Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Studies graduates of Santiago Canyon College earn a median of $34,100 early in their careers. Set against $5,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
California State University Los Angeles placed #22 among the best values for parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies. Set in the city of Los Angeles, California State University Los Angeles is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $7,164, with out-of-state students paying around $19,764. Typical student debt for parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies graduates is $13,750. Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Studies graduates of California State University Los Angeles earn a median of $28,687 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. California State University Los Angeles admits about 91% of applicants.
California State University Dominguez Hills ranked #23 on our 2026 list of the best value parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies schools. Set in the city of Carson, California State University Dominguez Hills is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $7,454, compared with $20,054 for out-of-state students. Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Studies graduates carry a median of $17,318 in student loans. Early-career parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies graduates make about $25,349. That is a strong return on a $17,318 median debt. The acceptance rate is 93%.
Grossmont College placed #24 among the best values for parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies. Located in the suburb of El Cajon, Grossmont College is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $1,332, with out-of-state students paying around $10,628. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $40,309.
Citrus College placed #25 among the best values for parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies. Located in the suburb of Glendora, Citrus College is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $1,204, compared with $10,636 for out-of-state students. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $42,065.
Rest of the Top 50 Best Value Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Studies Schools
Not far behind, these schools also offered excellent value in parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies:
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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 · 217 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 51 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.
