2026 Best Value Parks, Recreation & Leisure Facilities Management Schools in Colorado

[Parks, Recreation & Leisure Facilities Management](/majors/parks-recreation-fitness/recreation-administration/parks-recreation-facilities-management/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
College Factual analyzed 4 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best value parks, recreation & leisure facilities management schools.
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2026 Best Value Parks, Recreation & Leisure Facilities Management Schools in Colorado
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in parks, recreation & leisure facilities management, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Parks, Recreation & Leisure Facilities Management Schools
Our analysis ranked Red Rocks Community College the best value for a degree in parks, recreation & leisure facilities management in Colorado. Red Rocks Community College is a large public school located in the suburb of Lakewood. In-state tuition and fees average $4,859, while out-of-state students pay about $17,459. Students borrow a median of $14,471 to complete the parks, recreation & leisure facilities management program here. Early-career parks, recreation & leisure facilities management graduates make about $76,340. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Mesa State College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in parks, recreation & leisure facilities management, landing the #2 spot this year. Mesa State College is a large public school located in the city of Grand Junction. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,927, compared with $25,124 for out-of-state students. Parks, Recreation & Leisure Facilities Management graduates carry a median of $22,310 in student loans. Parks, Recreation & Leisure Facilities Management graduates of Mesa State College earn a median of $43,617 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $22,310 median debt. Mesa State College admits about 82% of applicants.
University Of Northern Colorado is a great value for students pursuing a degree in parks, recreation & leisure facilities management, landing the #3 spot this year. Located in the city of Greeley, University Of Northern Colorado is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $11,901, while out-of-state students pay about $26,979. Parks, Recreation & Leisure Facilities Management graduates carry a median of $24,250 in student loans. Parks, Recreation & Leisure Facilities Management graduates of University Of Northern Colorado earn a median of $35,308 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $24,250 median debt. Roughly 86% of applicants are accepted.
A rank of #4 makes Colorado State University Fort Collins one of the best values for parks, recreation & leisure facilities management. Set in the city of Fort Collins, Colorado State University Fort Collins is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $13,373 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $35,061. Typical student debt for parks, recreation & leisure facilities management graduates is $19,628. Soon after graduation, parks, recreation & leisure facilities management degree recipients from Colorado State University Fort Collins generally make around $33,161. Set against $19,628 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Colorado State University Fort Collins admits about 88% of applicants.
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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 · 4 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 3 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.