2026 Best Value Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Studies Schools in Alabama
[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 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 Alabama
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
University Of North Alabama earned the #1 spot for value among parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies schools in Alabama. Located in the city of Florence, University Of North Alabama is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $12,120 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $22,320. Students borrow a median of $23,250 to complete the parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies program here. Early-career parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies graduates make about $29,717. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 87% of applicants are accepted.
Students looking for strong value in parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies will find it at University Of West Alabama, which ranked #2. Located in the rural area of Livingston, University Of West Alabama is a moderately-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $10,990 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $20,090. Students borrow a median of $31,894 to complete the parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies program here. Early-career parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies graduates make about $53,270. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 43%.
Troy University is a great value for students pursuing a degree in parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies, landing the #3 spot this year. Set in the town of Troy, Troy University is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $10,176 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $20,352. Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Studies graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Studies graduates of Troy University earn a median of $45,064 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Troy University admits about 96% of applicants.
A rank of #4 makes Auburn University At Montgomery one of the best values for parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies. Auburn University At Montgomery is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Montgomery. In-state tuition and fees average $9,700, while out-of-state students pay about $20,668. Typical student debt for parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies graduates is $26,500. Soon after graduation, parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies degree recipients from Auburn University At Montgomery generally make around $46,152. Set against $26,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Auburn University At Montgomery admits about 92% of applicants.
Jacksonville State University came in at #5 on our 2026 list of the best value parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies schools. Located in the suburb of Jacksonville, Jacksonville State University is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $12,894, with out-of-state students paying around $23,334. 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 $31,303. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Jacksonville State University admits about 78% of applicants.
Alabama A And M University came in at #6 for value in parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies this year. Set in the city of Normal, Alabama A And M University is a moderately-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $10,024, while out-of-state students pay about $18,634. Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Studies graduates carry a median of $36,000 in student loans. Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Studies graduates of Alabama A And M University earn a median of $27,568 early in their careers. Set against $36,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 58%.
University Of South Alabama landed the #7 spot for parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies value this year. Located in the city of Mobile, University Of South Alabama is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $10,116, with out-of-state students paying around $19,092. Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Studies graduates carry a median of $26,750 in student loans. Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Studies graduates of University Of South Alabama earn a median of $34,476 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $26,750 median debt. University Of South Alabama admits about 71% of applicants.
University Of Montevallo ranked #8 on our 2026 list of the best value parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies schools. Located in the town of Montevallo, University Of Montevallo is a mid-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $13,948, with out-of-state students paying around $26,968. Typical student debt for parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies graduates is $25,000. Soon after graduation, parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies degree recipients from University Of Montevallo generally make around $30,250. That is a strong return on a $25,000 median debt. University Of Montevallo admits about 54% of applicants.
University Of Mobile landed the #9 spot for parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies value this year. University Of Mobile is a small private not-for-profit school located in the rural area of Mobile. In-state tuition and fees average $26,910. Students borrow a median of $26,000 to complete the parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies program here. Soon after graduation, parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies degree recipients from University Of Mobile generally make around $26,785. Set against $26,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 78% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Alabama At Huntsville landed the #10 spot for parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies value this year. University Of Alabama At Huntsville is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Huntsville. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $12,132, with out-of-state students paying around $26,408. Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Studies graduates carry a median of $24,250 in student loans. Soon after graduation, parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies degree recipients from University Of Alabama At Huntsville generally make around $27,788. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 69% of applicants are accepted.
Faulkner University placed #11 among the best values for parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies. Faulkner University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Montgomery. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $23,920. Typical student debt for parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies graduates is $34,658. Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Studies graduates of Faulkner University earn a median of $25,710 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 73% of applicants are accepted.
Huntingdon College ranked #12 on our 2026 list of the best value parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies schools. Set in the city of Montgomery, Huntingdon College is a small private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $29,070. Students borrow a median of $26,798 to complete the parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies program here. Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Studies graduates of Huntingdon College earn a median of $28,469 early in their careers. Set against $26,798 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Huntingdon College admits about 70% of applicants.
The University Of Alabama came in at #13 for value in parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies this year. The University Of Alabama is a very large public school located in the city of Tuscaloosa. In-state tuition and fees average $12,180, with out-of-state students paying around $34,172. Typical student debt for parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies graduates is $24,496. Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Studies graduates of The University Of Alabama earn a median of $50,740 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The University Of Alabama admits about 77% of applicants.
Samford University ranked #14 on our 2026 list of the best value parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies schools. Samford University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Birmingham. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $40,150. Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Studies graduates carry a median of $21,039 in student loans. Soon after graduation, parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies degree recipients from Samford University generally make around $64,132. That is a strong return on a $21,039 median debt. The acceptance rate is 82%.
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Notes and References
The ranking above is published 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 11 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.
