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

[Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Studies](/majors/parks-recreation-fitness/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
College Factual analyzed 22 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 Colorado
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
Red Rocks Community College earned the #1 spot for value among parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies schools in Colorado. Set in the suburb of Lakewood, Red Rocks Community College is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,859, with out-of-state students paying around $17,459. Students borrow a median of $14,471 to complete the parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies program here. Early-career parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies graduates make about $76,340. Set against $14,471 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Students looking for strong value in parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies will find it at Adams State College, which ranked #2. Adams State College is a mid-sized public school located in the town of Alamosa. In-state tuition and fees average $9,824, while out-of-state students pay about $21,944. Students borrow a median of $21,451 to complete the parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies program here. Soon after graduation, parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies degree recipients from Adams State College generally make around $30,045. That is a strong return on a $21,451 median debt.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Metropolitan State College Of Denver earned it the #3 place for parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies. Located in the city of Denver, Metropolitan State College Of Denver is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $11,124, compared with $30,684 for out-of-state students. Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Studies graduates carry a median of $22,292 in student loans. Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Studies graduates of Metropolitan State College Of Denver earn a median of $41,162 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 99%.
Colorado State University Pueblo is a great value for students pursuing a degree in parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies, landing the #4 spot this year. Located in the city of Pueblo, Colorado State University Pueblo is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $9,720 in tuition and fees, compared with $17,944 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies graduates is $26,117. Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Studies graduates of Colorado State University Pueblo earn a median of $34,865 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $26,117 median debt. Roughly 95% of applicants are accepted.
A rank of #5 makes Mesa State College one of the best values for parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies. Set in the city of Grand Junction, Mesa State College is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $9,927, with out-of-state students paying around $25,124. Typical student debt for parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies graduates is $25,900. Soon after graduation, parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies degree recipients from Mesa State College generally make around $31,253. That is a strong return on a $25,900 median debt. The acceptance rate is 82%.
Western State College Of Colorado earned the #6 position for value in parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies this year. Western State College Of Colorado is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Gunnison. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $11,318, while out-of-state students pay about $24,434. Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Studies graduates carry a median of $24,900 in student loans. Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Studies graduates of Western State College Of Colorado earn a median of $21,136 early in their careers. Set against $24,900 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 100%.
Fort Lewis College earned the #7 position for value in parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies this year. Located in the town of Durango, Fort Lewis College is a mid-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,958, compared with $21,526 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $15,000 to complete the parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies program here. Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Studies graduates of Fort Lewis College earn a median of $24,431 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $15,000 median debt. Fort Lewis College admits about 77% of applicants.
University Of Northern Colorado landed the #8 spot for parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies value this year. University Of Northern Colorado is a large public school located in the city of Greeley. Students from in state pay about $11,901 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $26,979. Students borrow a median of $24,450 to complete the parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies program here. Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Studies graduates of University Of Northern Colorado earn a median of $40,463 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 86%.
Colorado State University Fort Collins landed the #9 spot for parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies value this year. Located in the city of Fort Collins, Colorado State University Fort Collins is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $13,373, while out-of-state students pay about $35,061. Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Studies graduates carry a median of $21,526 in student loans. Early-career parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies graduates make about $35,171. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 88% of applicants are accepted.
Regis University landed the #10 spot for parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies value this year. Set in the city of Denver, Regis University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $28,140. Students borrow a median of $31,773 to complete the parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies program here. Soon after graduation, parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies degree recipients from Regis University generally make around $72,028. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 86% of applicants are accepted.
Colorado Christian University earned the #11 position for value in parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies this year. Located in the suburb of Lakewood, Colorado Christian University is a large private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $28,846. Students borrow a median of $36,092 to complete the parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies program here. Soon after graduation, parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies degree recipients from Colorado Christian University generally make around $47,333. Set against $36,092 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
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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 · 22 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 7 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.