2026 Best Value Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Studies Schools in Maryland

[Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Studies](/majors/parks-recreation-fitness/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
College Factual analyzed 23 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best value parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies schools.
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2026 Best Value Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Studies Schools in Maryland
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Studies Schools
For return on investment in parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies, no school beat The Community College Of Baltimore County this year. Set in the suburb of Baltimore, The Community College Of Baltimore County is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,110, with out-of-state students paying around $10,182. Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Studies graduates carry a median of $18,038 in student loans. Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Studies graduates of The Community College Of Baltimore County earn a median of $52,440 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $18,038 median debt.
Students looking for strong value in parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies will find it at Hagerstown Community College, which ranked #2. Hagerstown Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the suburb of Hagerstown. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,320, while out-of-state students pay about $8,190. Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Studies graduates carry a median of $15,126 in student loans. Soon after graduation, parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies degree recipients from Hagerstown Community College generally make around $46,478. Set against $15,126 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Harford Community College came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the best value parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies schools. Set in the rural area of Bel Air, Harford Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,032, while out-of-state students pay about $8,832. Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Studies graduates carry a median of $12,624 in student loans. Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Studies graduates of Harford Community College earn a median of $50,636 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
University Of Maryland College Park is a great value for students pursuing a degree in parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies, landing the #4 spot this year. Located in the suburb of College Park, University Of Maryland College Park is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $11,809, with out-of-state students paying around $41,186. Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Studies graduates carry a median of $23,138 in student loans. Early-career parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies graduates make about $31,403. That is a strong return on a $23,138 median debt. The acceptance rate is 45%.
University Of Maryland Eastern Shore came in at #5 on our 2026 list of the best value parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies schools. University Of Maryland Eastern Shore is a mid-sized public school located in the town of Princess Anne. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,076, compared with $20,122 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies program here. Soon after graduation, parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies degree recipients from University Of Maryland Eastern Shore generally make around $30,407. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 96%.
Frostburg State University came in at #6 for value in parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies this year. Located in the town of Frostburg, Frostburg State University is a mid-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $10,220, with out-of-state students paying around $25,814. Typical student debt for parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies graduates is $26,500. Early-career parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies graduates make about $23,791. Set against $26,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 89% of applicants are accepted.
Anne Arundel Community College landed the #7 spot for parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies value this year. Located in the suburb of Arnold, Anne Arundel Community College is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,322, compared with $11,522 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies graduates is $13,947. Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Studies graduates of Anne Arundel Community College earn a median of $59,894 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $13,947 median debt.
Salisbury University came in at #8 for value in parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies this year. Salisbury University is a moderately-sized public school located in the suburb of Salisbury. Students from in state pay about $11,084 in tuition and fees, compared with $22,174 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies graduates is $25,000. Early-career parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies graduates make about $29,344. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 88% of applicants are accepted.
Towson University placed #9 among the best values for parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies. Located in the city of Towson, Towson University is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $11,728 in tuition and fees, compared with $29,820 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies graduates is $22,250. Early-career parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies graduates make about $32,101. Set against $22,250 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Towson University admits about 82% of applicants.
Bowie State University came in at #10 for value in parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies this year. Located in the suburb of Bowie, Bowie State University is a moderately-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,218, while out-of-state students pay about $19,938. Students borrow a median of $26,250 to complete the parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies program here. Early-career parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies graduates make about $36,381. Set against $26,250 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 72%.
Mcdaniel College landed the #11 spot for parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies value this year. Mcdaniel College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the town of Westminster. In-state tuition and fees average $52,081. Students borrow a median of $25,697 to complete the parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies program here. Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Studies graduates of Mcdaniel College earn a median of $38,122 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 78%.
Mount St Marys University came in at #12 for value in parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies this year. Set in the rural area of Emmitsburg, Mount St Marys University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $48,630. Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Studies graduates carry a median of $23,539 in student loans. Soon after graduation, parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies degree recipients from Mount St Marys University generally make around $50,657. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 74% of applicants are accepted.
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Notes and References
This ranking is produced 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 · 23 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.