2026 Best Value Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Studies Schools in New Mexico
[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.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 8 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies students.
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2026 Best Value Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Studies Schools in New Mexico
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
Leading the list is Central New Mexico Community College, our #1 best value for parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies in New Mexico. Set in the city of Albuquerque, Central New Mexico Community College is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $2,060 in tuition and fees, compared with $8,684 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $10,112 to complete the parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies program here. Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Studies graduates of Central New Mexico Community College earn a median of $34,751 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $10,112 median debt.
New Mexico State University Main Campus came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the best value parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies schools. Set in the suburb of Las Cruces, New Mexico State University Main Campus is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $8,183, compared with $25,307 for out-of-state students. Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Studies graduates carry a median of $20,500 in student loans. Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Studies graduates of New Mexico State University Main Campus earn a median of $23,701 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $20,500 median debt. The acceptance rate is 89%.
Western New Mexico University came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the best value parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies schools. Set in the town of Silver City, Western New Mexico University is a mid-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $7,855, compared with $14,341 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies graduates is $27,425. Soon after graduation, parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies degree recipients from Western New Mexico University generally make around $48,366. Set against $27,425 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Students looking for strong value in parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies will find it at University Of The Southwest, which ranked #4. University Of The Southwest is a small private not-for-profit school located in the town of Hobbs. In-state tuition and fees average $16,670. Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Studies graduates carry a median of $28,011 in student loans. Early-career parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies graduates make about $43,873. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
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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 · 8 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.
