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2022 Best Value Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies (Income $75-$110k) in the Plains States Region

15 Ranked Colleges
506 Degrees Awarded
$18,600 Avg Net Price*
Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Bachelor's in the Plains States Region For Those Making $75-$110k

When pursuing a degree in today’s world, students have many different options to choose from. College Factual was founded, in part, to help students make the decision as to what would be the best school for them. Our “Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $75-$110k” ranking is part of that endeavor.

In 2019-2020, 3,224 people earned their degree in parks, recreation and leisure studies, making the major the 191st most popular in the United States.

Across the Plains States region, there were 521 parks, recreation and leisure studies graduates with average earnings and debt of $0 and $0 respectively. At the bachelor’s degree level specifically, there were 506 parks, recreation and leisure studies graduates with average earnings and debt of $39,786 and $25,576 respectively.

This year’s “Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $75-$110k” ranking analyzed 15 colleges that offered a degree in parks, recreation and leisure studies. This ranking identifies schools with high-quality parks, recreation and leisure studies programs that also have a lower cost than 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.

One Size Does Not Fit All

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 for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $75-$110k” list to help you make the college decision.

One of our other unique offerings is College Combat. This tool lets you build your own customized comparisons utilizing the factors that are most important to you. Go ahead and give it a try, or bookmark the link so you can check it out later.

Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $75-$110k

The colleges and universities below are the best for plains states region bachelor’s degree parks & rec students whose families make $75-$110k.

Top 15 Best Value Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies (Income $75-$110k) in the Plains States Region

#1

University of Northern Iowa

Cedar Falls, Iowa
#4 in overall quality

Out of the 15 schools in the Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $75-$110k that were part of this year’s ranking, University of Northern Iowa landed the #1 spot on the list. University of Northern Iowa is located in Cedar Falls, Iowa and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 48 bachelors’s parks and rec degrees to qualified students.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at UNI, the school also landed the #4 spot in our “Best Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. It costs about $17,467 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Parks & Rec students whose families make $75-$110k per year to attend UNI.

The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 3.6%, 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 86%.

Read more about Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies at UNI

#2

University of Minnesota - Twin Cities

Minneapolis, Minnesota
#3 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Minnesota - Twin Cities. It ranked #2 on our 2022 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $75-$110k list. UMN Twin Cities is located in Minneapolis, Minnesota and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 26 bachelors’s parks and rec degrees to qualified students.

UMN Twin Cities did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #3 on our “Best Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for UMN Twin Cities is $19,942 for plains states region bachelor’s degree parks & rec students whose families make $75-$110k.

The low student loan default rate of 2.2% 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%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 93%.

Read full report on Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies at UMN Twin Cities

#10 in overall quality

Out of the 15 schools in the Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $75-$110k that were part of this year’s ranking, Northwest Missouri State University landed the #3 spot on the list. Located in Maryville, Missouri, this medium-sized public school handed out 43 degrees to qualified bachelors’s parks and rec students in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Northwest, the school also landed the #10 spot in our “Best Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Northwest Missouri State University is $14,385 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Parks & Rec students whose families make $75-$110k.

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

#1 in overall quality

Out of the 15 schools in the Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $75-$110k that were part of this year’s ranking, University of Missouri - Columbia landed the #4 spot on the list. This large school is located in Columbia, Missouri, and it awarded 126 bachelors’s parks and rec degrees in 2019-2020.

Mizzou also took the #1 spot in our “Best Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. It costs about $19,595 for plains states region bachelor’s degree parks & rec students whose families make $75-$110k per year to attend University of Missouri - Columbia.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 89%. The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 3.6%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

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

#5

Winona State University

Winona, Minnesota
#5 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Winona State University. It ranked #5 on our 2022 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $75-$110k list. Winona State is located in Winona, Minnesota and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 38 bachelors’s parks and rec degrees to qualified students.

Winona State did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #5 on our “Best Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for Winona State University is $18,682 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Parks & Rec students whose families make $75-$110k.

The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 3.4%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies at Winona State

#6

University of Iowa

Iowa City, Iowa
#2 in overall quality

University of Iowa did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $75-$110k ranking, coming in at #6. Iowa is located in Iowa City, Iowa and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 67 bachelors’s parks and rec degrees to qualified students.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Iowa, the school also landed the #2 spot in our “Best Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. It costs about $20,738 for plains states region bachelor’s degree parks & rec students whose families make $75-$110k per year to attend University of Iowa.

With a freshman retention rate of 88%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students. The low student loan default rate of 3.5% 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 Iowa Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies Report

#6 in overall quality

University of Nebraska at Kearney did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $75-$110k ranking, coming in at #7. Kearney, Nebraska is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s parks and rec degrees to 57 students in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our plains states region bachelor’s degree parks & rec students whose families make $75-$110k list, UNK has also earned the #6 rank in our “Best Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. It costs about $18,669 for plains states region bachelor’s degree parks & rec students whose families make $75-$110k per year to attend UNK.

The low student loan default rate of 4.3% 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 University of Nebraska at Kearney

#8

Emporia State University

Emporia, Kansas
#8 in overall quality

Emporia State University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $75-$110k ranking, coming in at #8. ESU is a medium-sized school located in Emporia, Kansas that handed out 7 bachelors’s parks and rec degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our plains states region bachelor’s degree parks & rec students whose families make $75-$110k list, ESU has also earned the #8 rank in our “Best Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for ESU is $16,515 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Parks & Rec students whose families make $75-$110k.

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

#9

Pittsburg State University

Pittsburg, Kansas
#11 in overall quality

Pittsburg State University ranked #9 on this year’s Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $75-$110k list. Pittsburg State University is a medium-sized public school situated in Pittsburg, Kansas. It awarded 23 bachelors’s parks and rec degrees in 2019-2020.

Pitt State also took the #11 spot in our “Best Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Pitt State is $16,826 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Parks & Rec students whose families make $75-$110k.

Read more about Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies at Pitt State

#12 in overall quality

With a ranking of #10, University of Nebraska at Omaha did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $75-$110k list. University of Nebraska at Omaha is located in Omaha, Nebraska and, has a fairly large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 8 bachelors’s parks and rec degrees to qualified students.

UNOMAHA also made our “Best Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list, coming in at #12. It costs about $17,400 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Parks & Rec students whose families make $75-$110k per year to attend UNOMAHA.

Full UNOMAHA Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies Report

#11

Southeast Missouri State University

Cape Girardeau, Missouri
#15 in overall quality

Southeast Missouri State University ranked #11 on this year’s Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $75-$110k list. Cape Girardeau, Missouri is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s parks and rec degrees to 13 students in 2019-2020.

Southeast Missouri State University also took the #15 spot in our “Best Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. It costs about $15,985 for plains states region bachelor’s degree parks & rec students whose families make $75-$110k per year to attend Southeast Missouri State University.

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

#9 in overall quality

Missouri State University - Springfield came in at #12 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $75-$110k ranking. Missouri State University - Springfield is a public institution located in Springfield, Missouri. The school has a large population, and it awarded 30 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

Missouri State also made our “Best Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list, coming in at #9. It costs about $18,298 for plains states region bachelor’s degree parks & rec students whose families make $75-$110k per year to attend Missouri State.

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

#7 in overall quality

University of Minnesota - Duluth ranked #13 on this year’s Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $75-$110k list. Located in Duluth, Minnesota, this fairly large public school awarded 10 degrees to qualified bachelors’s parks and rec students in 2019-2020.

UMN Duluth also took the #7 spot in our “Best Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend UMN Duluth is $19,042 for plains states region bachelor’s degree parks & rec students whose families make $75-$110k.

The student loan default rate at the school is 3.1%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

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

#14

Lindenwood University

Saint Charles, Missouri
#14 in overall quality

Lindenwood University came in at #14 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $75-$110k ranking. Lindenwood University is a medium-sized school located in Saint Charles, Missouri that handed out 7 bachelors’s parks and rec degrees in 2019-2020.

Lindenwood University also made our “Best Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list, coming in at #14. The yearly cost to attend Lindenwood University is $19,268 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Parks & Rec students whose families make $75-$110k.

The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 4.8%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Full Lindenwood University Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies Report

#15

Baker University

Baldwin City, Kansas
#13 in overall quality

Baker University landed the #15 spot on the 2022 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $75-$110k ranking. This small school is located in Baldwin City, Kansas, and it awarded 2 bachelors’s parks and rec degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Baker, the school also landed the #13 spot in our “Best Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. It costs about $25,852 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Parks & Rec students whose families make $75-$110k per year to attend Baker.

The student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one.

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

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Notes and References

References

  • 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).
  • Information about the national average student loan default rate is from the U.S. Department of Education and refers to data about the 2016 borrower cohort tracking period for which the cohort default rate (CDR) was 10.1%.

Read more about our data sources and methodologies

Footnotes

  • *Average salary, average net price, and average tuition and fees are for the top schools only.
  • Some schools otherwise deserving of recognition may have been removed from this ranking in the event that new data identified post-publication warranted it, or at the request of the school.

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