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2023 Best Value Colleges for Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies (Income Over $110k) in the Plains States Region

12 Ranked Colleges
444 Degrees Awarded
$20,300 Avg Net Price*
Best Vallue Parks & Rec Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making Over $110k

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 Vallue Parks & Rec Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making Over $110k” 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 Vallue Parks & Rec Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making Over $110k” ranking looked at 12 colleges that offer degrees in a bachelor’s in parks, recreation and leisure studies. Not only do the schools that top this list have excellent parks, recreation and leisure studies programs, but they also cost less that schools of similar quality.

To come up with these rankings, we looked at factors such as the cost to attend the school after aid is awarded and overall quality of the parks, recreation and leisure studies program at the school. See our ranking methodology to learn more.

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Since the program you select can have a significant impact on your future, we’ve developed a number of rankings, including this “Best Vallue Parks & Rec Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making Over $110k” list, to help you choose the best school for you.

You can create your own custom comparison that focuses on the factors most important to you using our tool, College Combat. When you have some time, check it out - you may want to bookmark the link so you don’t forget it.

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Best Vallue Parks & Rec Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making Over $110k

The following schools top our list of the Best Best Vallue Parks & Rec Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making Over $110k.

Top 12 Best Value Colleges for Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies (Income Over $110k) in the Plains States Region

1
UNI crest
University of Northern Iowa
Cedar Falls, Iowa

Out of the 12 schools in the Best Vallue Parks & Rec Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making Over $110k that were part of this year’s ranking, University of Northern Iowa landed the #1 spot on the list. Cedar Falls, Iowa 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.

In addition to being on our plains states region parks & rec students whose families make more than $110k list, UNI has also earned the #2 rank in our “Best Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for University of Northern Iowa is $16,438 for Plains States Region Parks & Rec students whose families make more than $110k.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 86%. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.8%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies at University of Northern Iowa

2

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Northwest Missouri State University. It ranked #2 on our 2023 Best Vallue Parks & Rec Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making Over $110k list. Northwest Missouri State University is located in Maryville, Missouri and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 29 ’s parks and rec degrees to qualified students.

Northwest also made our “Best Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies Schools in the Plains States Region” list, coming in at #6. The estimated yearly cost for Northwest Missouri State University is $12,925 for plains states region parks & rec students whose families make more than $110k.

Full Northwest Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies Report

3
Iowa crest
University of Iowa
Iowa City, Iowa

Out of the 12 schools in the Best Vallue Parks & Rec Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making Over $110k that were part of this year’s ranking, University of Iowa landed the #3 spot on the list. University of Iowa is located in Iowa City, Iowa and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 53 ’s parks and rec degrees to qualified students.

Iowa did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #1 on our “Best Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies Schools in the Plains States Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for University of Iowa is $19,401 for plains states region parks & rec students whose families make more than $110k.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.2%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 88%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Full Iowa Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies Report

4
Pitt State crest
Pittsburg State University
Pittsburg, Kansas

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Pittsburg State University. It ranked #4 on our 2023 Best Vallue Parks & Rec Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making Over $110k list. This medium-sized school is located in Pittsburg, Kansas, and it awarded 19 ’s parks and rec degrees in 2020-2021.

Pitt State not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #8 on our “Best Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies Schools in the Plains States Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for Pitt State is $14,575 for Plains States Region Parks & Rec students whose families make more than $110k.

Full Pitt State Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies Report

5
Winona State crest
Winona State University
Winona, Minnesota

Out of the 12 schools in the Best Vallue Parks & Rec Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making Over $110k that were part of this year’s ranking, Winona State University landed the #5 spot on the list. Winona State University is a medium-sized school located in Winona, Minnesota that handed out 32 ’s parks and rec degrees in 2020-2021.

Winona State not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #4 on our “Best Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies Schools in the Plains States Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for Winona State is $17,634 for plains states region parks & rec students whose families make more than $110k.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.7%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Full Winona State University Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies Report

6

University of Nebraska at Kearney did quite well in the 2023 Best Vallue Parks & Rec Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making Over $110k ranking, coming in at #6. UNK is located in Kearney, Nebraska and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 60 ’s parks and rec degrees to qualified students.

UNK did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #7 on our “Best Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies Schools in the Plains States Region” list. The yearly cost to attend UNK is $17,099 for Plains States Region Parks & Rec students whose families make more than $110k.

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

Read full report on Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies at University of Nebraska at Kearney

7

With a ranking of #7, University of Missouri - Columbia did quite well on the 2023 Best Vallue Parks & Rec Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making Over $110k list. Mizzou is a large school located in Columbia, Missouri that handed out 116 ’s parks and rec degrees in 2020-2021.

Mizzou did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #5 on our “Best Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies Schools in the Plains States Region” list. It costs about $16,559 for Plains States Region Parks & Rec students whose families make more than $110k per year to attend Mizzou.

With a freshman retention rate of 89%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.5%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Full Mizzou Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies Report

8

University of Minnesota - Twin Cities did quite well in the 2023 Best Vallue Parks & Rec Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making Over $110k ranking, coming in at #8. Minneapolis, Minnesota is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s parks and rec degrees to 11 students in 2020-2021.

UMN Twin Cities also made our “Best Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies Schools in the Plains States Region” list, coming in at #3. The estimated yearly cost for UMN Twin Cities is $17,878 for Plains States Region Parks & Rec students whose families make more than $110k.

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%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 93%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Read more about Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies at UMN Twin Cities

9
Southeast Missouri State University crest
Southeast Missouri State University
Cape Girardeau, Missouri

Southeast Missouri State University ranked #9 on this year’s Best Vallue Parks & Rec Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making Over $110k list. Southeast Missouri State University is located in Cape Girardeau, Missouri and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 11 ’s parks and rec degrees to qualified students.

Southeast Missouri State University also made our “Best Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies Schools in the Plains States Region” list, coming in at #11. The yearly cost to attend Southeast Missouri State University is $13,568 for Plains States Region Parks & Rec students whose families make more than $110k.

Full Southeast Missouri State University Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies Report

10

With a ranking of #10, Missouri State University - Springfield did quite well on the 2023 Best Vallue Parks & Rec Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making Over $110k list. Missouri State University - Springfield is a large public school situated in Springfield, Missouri. It awarded 13 ’s parks and rec degrees in 2020-2021.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Missouri State, the school also landed the #10 spot in our “Best Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. It costs about $16,718 for Plains States Region Parks & Rec students whose families make more than $110k per year to attend Missouri State.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 3.9% 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 Missouri State University - Springfield Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies Report

11
ESU crest
Emporia State University
Emporia, Kansas

Emporia State University did quite well in the 2023 Best Vallue Parks & Rec Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making Over $110k ranking, coming in at #11. Emporia State University is a medium-sized public school situated in Emporia, Kansas. It awarded 8 ’s parks and rec degrees in 2020-2021.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at ESU, the school also landed the #12 spot in our “Best Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. It costs about $14,794 for plains states region parks & rec students whose families make more than $110k per year to attend ESU.

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

12

With a ranking of #12, University of Minnesota - Duluth did quite well on the 2023 Best Vallue Parks & Rec Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making Over $110k list. UMN Duluth is located in Duluth, Minnesota and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 21 ’s parks and rec degrees to qualified students.

In addition to being on our plains states region parks & rec students whose families make more than $110k list, UMN Duluth has also earned the #9 rank in our “Best Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for University of Minnesota - Duluth is $18,505 for plains states region parks & rec students whose families make more than $110k.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.6%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Full UMN Duluth Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies Report

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References

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