2026 Best Value Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Studies Schools in California
[Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Studies](/majors/parks-recreation-fitness/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies education at a price that pays off.
For its 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 168 schools to find the best return on investment for parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies students.
What’s on this page:
2026 Best Value Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Studies Schools in California
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
Leading the list is San Diego Miramar College, our #1 best value for parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies in California. 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, compared with $10,002 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $8,098 to complete the parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies program here. Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Studies graduates of San Diego Miramar College earn a median of $41,038 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Students looking for strong value in parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies will find it at Skyline College, which ranked #2. Located in the suburb of San Bruno, Skyline College is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $1,332, compared with $9,956 for out-of-state students. Median earnings reach $55,702 ten years out.
Students looking for strong value in parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies will find it at Moorpark College, which ranked #3. Located in the suburb of Moorpark, Moorpark College is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $1,426 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $9,615. Students borrow a median of $17,075 to complete the parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies program here. Early-career parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies graduates make about $105,599. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
San Diego Mesa College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies, landing the #4 spot this year. San Diego Mesa College is a very large public school located in the city of San Diego. In-state tuition and fees average $1,146, compared with $10,002 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $6,999 to complete the parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies program here. Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Studies graduates of San Diego Mesa College earn a median of $29,852 early in their careers. Set against $6,999 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Oxnard College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies, landing the #5 spot this year. Oxnard College is a large public school located in the city of Oxnard. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,426, compared with $9,615 for out-of-state students. Median earnings reach $41,393 ten years out.
Cerritos College ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the best value parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies schools. Located in the suburb of Norwalk, Cerritos College is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $1,364 in tuition and fees, compared with $12,004 for out-of-state students. Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Studies graduates carry a median of $11,306 in student loans. Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Studies graduates of Cerritos College earn a median of $29,495 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $11,306 median debt.
College Of San Mateo placed #7 among the best values for parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies. College Of San Mateo is a large public school located in the city of San Mateo. Students from in state pay about $1,332 in tuition and fees, compared with $11,428 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies graduates is $12,831. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $54,172. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Fresno City College earned the #8 position for value in parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies this year. Set in the city of Fresno, Fresno City College is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $1,378 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $8,638. Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Studies graduates carry a median of $7,234 in student loans. Early-career parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies graduates make about $37,470. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
College Of The Sequoias came in at #9 for value in parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies this year. Set in the city of Visalia, College Of The Sequoias is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $1,394, with out-of-state students paying around $9,038. Students borrow a median of $10,288 to complete the parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies program here. Soon after graduation, parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies degree recipients from College Of The Sequoias generally make around $37,749. That is a strong return on a $10,288 median debt.
College Of The Canyons landed the #10 spot for parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies value this year. Located in the suburb of Santa Clarita, College Of The Canyons is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $1,166, with out-of-state students paying around $10,958. Typical student debt for parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies graduates is $9,776. Early-career parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies graduates make about $51,913. That is a strong return on a $9,776 median debt.
West Valley College landed the #11 spot for parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies value this year. West Valley College is a large public school located in the suburb of Saratoga. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $0, while out-of-state students pay about $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. Set against $14,308 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Pasadena City College ranked #12 on our 2026 list of the best value parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies schools. Pasadena City College is a very large public school located in the city of Pasadena. Students from in state pay about $1,180 in tuition and fees, compared with $10,924 for out-of-state students. 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.
Reedley College landed the #13 spot for parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies value this year. Located in the town of Reedley, Reedley College is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $1,378, with out-of-state students paying around $8,638. Students borrow a median of $6,500 to complete the parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies program here. Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Studies graduates of Reedley College earn a median of $30,520 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $6,500 median debt.
Moreno Valley College ranked #14 on our 2026 list of the best value parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies schools. Located in the suburb of Moreno Valley, Moreno Valley College is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $1,428, compared with $12,498 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies graduates is $12,643. Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Studies graduates of Moreno Valley College earn a median of $45,515 early in their careers. Set against $12,643 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Saddleback College ranked #15 on our 2026 list of the best value parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies schools. Set in the suburb of Mission Viejo, Saddleback College is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,432, compared with $14,812 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $5,707 to complete the parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies program here. Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Studies graduates of Saddleback College earn a median of $15,890 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $5,707 median debt.
Ventura College placed #16 among the best values for parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies. Ventura College is a large public school located in the city of Ventura. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,426, while out-of-state students pay about $9,615. Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Studies graduates carry a median of $20,250 in student loans. Soon after graduation, parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies degree recipients from Ventura College generally make around $99,778. That is a strong return on a $20,250 median debt.
Golden West College ranked #17 on our 2026 list of the best value parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies schools. Golden West College is a large public school located in the suburb of Huntington Beach. In-state tuition and fees average $1,380, while out-of-state students pay about $11,628. Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Studies graduates carry a median of $21,500 in student loans. Early-career parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies graduates make about $82,984. Set against $21,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Shasta College earned the #18 position for value in parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies this year. Located in the suburb of Redding, Shasta College is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $1,197, with out-of-state students paying around $8,853. Students borrow a median of $12,275 to complete the parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies program here. 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.
Imperial Valley College came in at #19 for value in parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies this year. Imperial Valley College is a large public school located in the rural area of Imperial. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $1,126, while out-of-state students pay about $8,830. Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Studies graduates carry a median of $6,176 in student loans. Early-career parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies graduates make about $42,617. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Mt San Antonio College placed #20 among the best values for parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies. Mt San Antonio College is a very large public school located in the suburb of Walnut. Students from in state pay about $1,364 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $10,464. Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Studies graduates carry a median of $6,865 in student loans. Soon after graduation, parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies degree recipients from Mt San Antonio College generally make around $19,869. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Norco College came in at #21 for value in parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies this year. Set in the suburb of Norco, Norco College is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,428, while out-of-state students pay about $12,498. Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Studies graduates carry a median of $8,203 in student loans. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $51,206. That is a strong return on a $8,203 median debt.
Grossmont College ranked #22 on our 2026 list of the best value parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies schools. Grossmont College is a large public school located in the suburb of El Cajon. In-state tuition and fees average $1,332, while out-of-state students pay about $10,628. Median earnings reach $40,309 ten years out.
Santiago Canyon College placed #23 among the best values for parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies. Santiago Canyon College is a large public school located in the city of Orange. In-state tuition and fees average $1,164, compared with $9,612 for out-of-state students. Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Studies graduates carry a median of $5,500 in student loans. Soon after graduation, parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies degree recipients from Santiago Canyon College generally make around $34,100. Set against $5,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
California State University Dominguez Hills earned the #24 position for value in parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies this year. Set in the city of Carson, California State University Dominguez Hills is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $7,454, with out-of-state students paying around $20,054. Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Studies graduates carry a median of $17,318 in student loans. Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Studies graduates of California State University Dominguez Hills earn a median of $25,349 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $17,318 median debt. The acceptance rate is 93%.
Hartnell College came in at #25 for value in parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies this year. Located in the city of Salinas, Hartnell College is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $1,404, compared with $10,398 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $6,000 to complete the parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies program here. Early-career parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies graduates make about $35,080. That is a strong return on a $6,000 median debt.
Rest of the Top 50 Best Value Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Studies Schools
These schools also delivered strong value for parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies this year:
More Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Studies Rankings
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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 · 168 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 36 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.
