College Factual  by our College Data Analytics Team
       Unbiased Factual Guarantee

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

When it comes to choosing a college, students have a lot of options - but not all of them are good. One of our goals at College Factual is to give you as much information as we can - such as our “Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k” ranking - to help you make that decision.

Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies is the 166th most popular major in the country with 3,106 degrees awarded in 2020-2021. In 2019-2020, parks, recreation and leisure studies graduates who were awarded their degree in 2017-2019, earned an average of $31,801 and had an average of $23,333 in loans still to pay off.

Across the Plains States region, there were 444 parks, recreation and leisure studies graduates with average earnings and debt of $31,508 and $23,752 respectively.

This year’s “Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k” 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.

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. Check out our ranking methodology for more information.

One Size Does Not Fit All

Rankings by Degree Other Award Levels
Rankings by Location Check Out Other Locales
More Parks & Rec Rankings Other Ranking Categories

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.

We’ve created a tool called College Combat that lets you create your own customized comparisons based on the factors that matter the most 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 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 be in good company if you decide to attend University of Minnesota - Twin Cities. It ranked #1 on our 2023 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. 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.

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. The estimated yearly cost for UMN Twin Cities is $8,609 for plains states region parks & rec students whose families make $30-$48k.

With a freshman retention rate of 93%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. 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%.

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

2

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Northwest Missouri State University. The school came in at #2 for the Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k. Located in Maryville, Missouri, this medium-sized public school handed out 29 diplomas to qualified ’s parks and rec students in 2020-2021.

Northwest also made our “Best Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies Schools in the Plains States Region” list, coming in at #6. It costs about $10,608 for Plains States Region Parks & Rec students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend Northwest Missouri State University.

Full Northwest Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies Report

3
UNI crest
University of Northern Iowa
Cedar Falls, Iowa

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of Northern Iowa. The school came in at #3 for the Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k. University of Northern Iowa 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.

UNI also made our “Best Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies Schools in the Plains States Region” list, coming in at #2. 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%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 86%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

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. University of Missouri - Columbia is located in Columbia, Missouri and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 116 ’s parks and rec degrees to qualified students.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Mizzou, the school also landed the #5 spot in our “Best Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Mizzou is $11,386 for Plains States Region Parks & Rec students whose families make $30-$48k.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 89%. 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%.

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

5
Iowa crest
University of Iowa
Iowa City, Iowa

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Iowa. It ranked #5 on our 2023 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. University of Iowa is a large public school situated in Iowa City, Iowa. It awarded 53 ’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, Iowa has also earned the #1 rank in our “Best Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend University of Iowa is $15,508 for Plains States Region Parks & Rec students whose families make $30-$48k.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 88%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. 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%.

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

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. Located in Winona, Minnesota, this medium-sized public school handed out 32 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, Winona State has also earned the #4 rank in our “Best Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. It costs about $12,963 for Plains States Region Parks & Rec students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend Winona State University.

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%.

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

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. University of Minnesota - Duluth is a medium-sized school located in Duluth, Minnesota that handed out 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 estimated yearly cost for UMN 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%.

Read more about Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies at University of Minnesota - Duluth

8
Pitt State crest
Pittsburg State University
Pittsburg, Kansas

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

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Pitt State, the school also landed the #8 spot in our “Best Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Pitt State is $10,742 for plains states region parks & rec students whose families make $30-$48k.

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

9

University of Nebraska at Kearney came in at #9 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. University of Nebraska at Kearney is a public institution located in Kearney, Nebraska. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 60 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

UNK also made our “Best Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies Schools in the Plains States Region” list, coming in at #7. The yearly cost to attend UNK is $14,018 for Plains States Region Parks & Rec students whose families make $30-$48k.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 3.1%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies at University of Nebraska at Kearney

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

With a ranking of #10, Southeast Missouri State University did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. Southeast Missouri State University is a medium-sized public school situated in Cape Girardeau, Missouri. 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, Southeast Missouri State University has also earned the #11 rank in our “Best Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Southeast Missouri State University is $11,406 for plains states region parks & rec students whose families make $30-$48k.

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

11

Missouri State University - Springfield 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 #11. 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 took the #10 spot in our “Best Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Missouri State University - Springfield is $13,144 for plains states region parks & rec students whose families make $30-$48k.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 3.9%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Full Missouri State University - Springfield Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies Report

12
ESU crest
Emporia State University
Emporia, Kansas

With a ranking of #12, Emporia State University did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. Emporia State University is located in Emporia, Kansas and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 8 ’s parks and rec degrees to qualified students.

In addition to being on our plains states region parks & rec students whose families make $30-$48k list, ESU has also earned the #12 rank in our “Best Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. It costs about $12,971 for plains states region parks & rec students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend Emporia State University.

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

Switch to a Different Ranking Method

Notes and References

References

Read more about our data sources and methodologies

Footnotes

Popular Reports

College Rankings
Best by Location
Degree Guides by Major
Graduate Programs

Compare Your School Options