2026 Best Value Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Studies Schools in Rhode Island
[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.
College Factual analyzed 7 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 Rhode Island
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 Rhode Island College, our #1 best value for parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies in Rhode Island. Set in the suburb of Providence, Rhode Island College is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $11,300, with out-of-state students paying around $27,299. Typical student debt for parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies graduates is $23,394. Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Studies graduates of Rhode Island College earn a median of $45,088 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $23,394 median debt. Rhode Island College admits about 92% of applicants.
Students looking for strong value in parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies will find it at University Of Rhode Island, which ranked #2. Located in the suburb of Kingston, University Of Rhode Island is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $16,942, while out-of-state students pay about $37,146. Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Studies graduates carry a median of $23,432 in student loans. Soon after graduation, parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies degree recipients from University Of Rhode Island generally make around $52,821. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 72% of applicants are accepted.
Johnson And Wales University Online is a great value for students pursuing a degree in parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies, landing the #3 spot this year. Johnson And Wales University Online is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Providence. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $13,365. 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 Johnson And Wales University Online generally make around $30,963. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. The acceptance rate is 91%.
Johnson And Wales University Providence is a great value for students pursuing a degree in parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies, landing the #4 spot this year. Set in the city of Providence, Johnson And Wales University Providence is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $41,982. Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Studies graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Studies graduates of Johnson And Wales University Providence earn a median of $30,963 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. The acceptance rate is 88%.
Providence College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies, landing the #5 spot this year. Set in the city of Providence, Providence College is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $63,550. Typical student debt for parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies graduates is $26,833. Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Studies graduates of Providence College earn a median of $53,208 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $26,833 median debt. Providence College admits about 51% 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 · 7 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 1 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.
