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2023 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k

12 Ranked Colleges
444 Degrees Awarded
$11,900 Avg Net Price*
Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k

With all of the options students have for higher education today, it can be tough to choose which direction to take. College Factual has developed its “Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k” ranking as one item you can use to help make this decision.

In 2020-2021, 3,106 people earned their degree in parks, recreation and leisure studies, making the major the 218th most popular in the United States.

Across the Plains States region, there were 444 parks, recreation and leisure studies graduates with average earnings and debt of $0 and $0 respectively.

This year’s “Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k” ranking analyzed 12 colleges that offered a degree in parks, recreation and leisure studies. The schools that top this list are recognized because they have great parks, recreation and leisure studies programs and cost less that schools of similar quality.

Some of the factors we look at when determining these rankings are overall quality of the parks, recreation and leisure studies program at the school and the cost of the school after aid is awarded among other things. For more information, check out our ranking methodology.

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When choosing the right school for you, it’s important to arm yourself with all the facts you can. To that end, we’ve created a number of major-specific rankings, including this “Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k” list to help you make the college decision.

In addition to College Factual’s rankings, you may want to take a look at College Combat, our unique tool that lets you pit your favorite schools head-to-head and compare how they rate on factors that most interest you. Go ahead and give it a try, or bookmark the link so you can check it out later.

Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k

The following schools top our list of the Best Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k.

Top 12 Best Value Colleges for Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies (Income $30-$48k) in the Plains States Region

1

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of Minnesota - Twin Cities. The school came in at #1 for the Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k. This large school is located in Minneapolis, Minnesota, and it awarded 11 ’s parks and rec degrees in 2020-2021.

In addition to being on our plains states region parks & rec students whose families make $30-$48k list, UMN Twin Cities has also earned the #3 rank in our “Best Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. It costs about $8,609 for plains states region parks & rec students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend University of Minnesota - Twin Cities.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.7%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 93%.

Full University of Minnesota - Twin Cities Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies Report

2

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Northwest Missouri State University. It ranked #2 on our 2023 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. Located in Maryville, Missouri, this medium-sized public school awarded 29 degrees to qualified ’s parks and rec students in 2020-2021.

In addition to being on our plains states region parks & rec students whose families make $30-$48k list, Northwest has also earned the #6 rank in our “Best Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Northwest is $10,608 for Plains States Region Parks & Rec students whose families make $30-$48k.

Read more about Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies at Northwest Missouri State University

3
UNI crest
University of Northern Iowa
Cedar Falls, Iowa

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Northern Iowa. It ranked #3 on our 2023 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. UNI is located in Cedar Falls, Iowa and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 60 ’s parks and rec degrees to qualified students.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at UNI, the school also landed the #2 spot in our “Best Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend UNI is $13,175 for plains states region parks & rec students whose families make $30-$48k.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.8%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 86%.

Full UNI Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies Report

4

Out of the 12 schools in the Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k that were part of this year’s ranking, University of Missouri - Columbia landed the #4 spot on the list. Mizzou is a large school located in Columbia, Missouri that handed out 116 ’s parks and rec degrees in 2020-2021.

Mizzou not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #5 on our “Best Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies Schools in the Plains States Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for University of Missouri - Columbia is $11,386 for plains states region parks & rec students whose families make $30-$48k.

With a freshman retention rate of 89%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.5% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Full University of Missouri - Columbia Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies Report

5
Iowa crest
University of Iowa
Iowa City, Iowa

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of Iowa. The school came in at #5 for the Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k. This large school is located in Iowa City, Iowa, and it awarded 53 ’s parks and rec degrees in 2020-2021.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Iowa, the school also landed the #1 spot in our “Best Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. It costs about $15,508 for Plains States Region Parks & Rec students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend Iowa.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.2%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 88%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.

Full University of Iowa Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies Report

6
Winona State crest
Winona State University
Winona, Minnesota

Winona State University did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #6. This medium-sized school is located in Winona, Minnesota, and it awarded 32 ’s parks and rec degrees in 2020-2021.

In addition to being on our plains states region parks & rec students whose families make $30-$48k list, Winona State has also earned the #4 rank in our “Best Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Winona State University is $12,963 for plains states region parks & rec students whose families make $30-$48k.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.7% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Read full report on Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies at Winona State University

7

University of Minnesota - Duluth came in at #7 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. This medium-sized school is located in Duluth, Minnesota, and it awarded 21 ’s parks and rec degrees in 2020-2021.

UMN Duluth also made our “Best Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies Schools in the Plains States Region” list, coming in at #9. The yearly cost to attend University of Minnesota - Duluth is $8,697 for Plains States Region Parks & Rec students whose families make $30-$48k.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.6% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Full University of Minnesota - Duluth Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies Report

8
Pitt State crest
Pittsburg State University
Pittsburg, Kansas

Pittsburg State University did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #8. Pittsburg State University is a medium-sized school located in Pittsburg, Kansas that handed out 19 ’s parks and rec degrees in 2020-2021.

Pitt State also made our “Best Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies Schools in the Plains States Region” list, coming in at #8. It costs about $10,742 for Plains States Region Parks & Rec students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend Pittsburg State University.

Read full report on Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies at Pittsburg State University

9

University of Nebraska at Kearney landed the #9 spot on the 2023 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Kearney, Nebraska is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s parks and rec degrees to 60 students in 2020-2021.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at UNK, the school also landed the #7 spot in our “Best Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for University of Nebraska at Kearney is $14,018 for plains states region parks & rec students whose families make $30-$48k.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 3.1% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Read full report on Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies at UNK

10
Southeast Missouri State University crest
Southeast Missouri State University
Cape Girardeau, Missouri

Southeast Missouri State University ranked #10 on this year’s Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. Located in Cape Girardeau, Missouri, this medium-sized public school handed out 11 diplomas to qualified ’s parks and rec students in 2020-2021.

Southeast Missouri State University also made our “Best Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies Schools in the Plains States Region” list, coming in at #11. The estimated yearly cost for Southeast Missouri State University is $11,406 for Plains States Region Parks & Rec students whose families make $30-$48k.

Read full report on Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies at Southeast Missouri State University

11

Missouri State University - Springfield came in at #11 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Missouri State University - Springfield is a large school located in Springfield, Missouri that handed out 13 ’s parks and rec degrees in 2020-2021.

Missouri State also made our “Best Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies Schools in the Plains States Region” list, coming in at #10. It costs about $13,144 for plains states region parks & rec students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend Missouri State.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 3.9%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Full Missouri State Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies Report

12
ESU crest
Emporia State University
Emporia, Kansas

Emporia State University landed the #12 spot on the 2023 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Emporia State University is a medium-sized school located in Emporia, Kansas that handed out 8 ’s parks and rec degrees in 2020-2021.

ESU not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #12 on our “Best Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies Schools in the Plains States Region” list. The yearly cost to attend Emporia State University is $12,971 for Plains States Region Parks & Rec students whose families make $30-$48k.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 3.8%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies at ESU

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