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2023 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $48-$75k

12 Ranked Colleges
444 Degrees Awarded
Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $48-$75k

When it comes to choosing a college, students have a lot of options - but not all of them are good. 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 in the Plains States Region For Those Making $48-$75k” ranking is part of that endeavor.

In 2020-2021, 3,106 people earned their degree in parks, recreation and leisure studies, making the major the 166th most popular in the United States. 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 $48-$75k” ranking looked at 12 colleges that offer degrees in a bachelor’s 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.

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. Check out our ranking methodology for more information.

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Since picking the right college can be one of the most important decisions of your life, we’ve developed the “Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $48-$75k” ranking, along with many other major-related rankings, to help you make that decision.

You can create your own custom comparison that focuses on the factors most important to you using our tool, College Combat. 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 $48-$75k

The following schools top our list of the Best Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $48-$75k.

Top 12 Best Value Colleges for Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies (Income $48-$75k) 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 $48-$75k. UMN Twin Cities is a large public school situated in Minneapolis, Minnesota. It awarded 11 ’s parks and rec degrees in 2020-2021.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at UMN Twin Cities, the school also landed the #3 spot in our “Best Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for University of Minnesota - Twin Cities is $12,911 for plains states region parks & rec students whose families make $48-$75k.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.7% 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%. With a freshman retention rate of 93%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.

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

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 $48-$75k list. Northwest is a public institution located in Maryville, Missouri. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 29 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

Northwest did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #6 on our “Best Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies Schools in the Plains States Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for Northwest is $12,127 for plains states region parks & rec students whose families make $48-$75k.

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

3

Out of the 12 schools in the Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $48-$75k that were part of this year’s ranking, University of Missouri - Columbia landed the #3 spot on the list. This large school is located in Columbia, Missouri, and it awarded 116 ’s parks and rec degrees in 2020-2021.

Mizzou also took the #5 spot in our “Best Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Mizzou is $13,715 for Plains States Region Parks & Rec students whose families make $48-$75k.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 89%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. 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%.

Read more about Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies at University of Missouri - Columbia

4
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 #4 on our 2023 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $48-$75k list. Located in Cedar Falls, Iowa, this medium-sized public school handed out 60 degrees to qualified ’s parks and rec students in 2020-2021.

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 University of Northern Iowa is $15,287 for Plains States Region Parks & Rec students whose families make $48-$75k.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 86%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. 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%.

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

5
Winona State crest
Winona State University
Winona, Minnesota

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Winona State University. The school came in at #5 for the Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $48-$75k. Winona, Minnesota is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s parks and rec degrees to 32 students in 2020-2021.

Winona State also took the #4 spot in our “Best Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Winona State University is $15,289 for Plains States Region Parks & Rec students whose families make $48-$75k.

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

6
Iowa crest
University of Iowa
Iowa City, Iowa

University of Iowa came in at #6 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. 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.

In addition to being on our plains states region parks & rec students whose families make $48-$75k list, Iowa has also earned the #1 rank in our “Best Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. It costs about $18,026 for plains states region parks & rec students whose families make $48-$75k per year to attend Iowa.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 88%. 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%.

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

7

University of Nebraska at Kearney landed the #7 spot on the 2023 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. University of Nebraska at Kearney is a medium-sized public school situated in Kearney, Nebraska. It awarded 60 ’s parks and rec degrees in 2020-2021.

UNK not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #7 on our “Best Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies Schools in the Plains States Region” list. The yearly cost to attend University of Nebraska at Kearney is $16,311 for plains states region parks & rec students whose families make $48-$75k.

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

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 $48-$75k ranking. 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. It costs about $14,800 for plains states region parks & rec students whose families make $48-$75k per year to attend Pitt State.

Full Pittsburg State University Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies Report

9

University of Minnesota - Duluth did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $48-$75k ranking, coming in at #9. Duluth, Minnesota is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s parks and rec degrees to 21 students 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 UMN Duluth is $13,364 for plains states region parks & rec students whose families make $48-$75k.

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 full report on Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies at University of Minnesota - Duluth

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

Southeast Missouri State University did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $48-$75k ranking, coming in at #10. Southeast Missouri State University is a medium-sized school located in Cape Girardeau, Missouri that handed out 11 ’s parks and rec degrees in 2020-2021.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Southeast Missouri State University, the school also landed the #11 spot in our “Best Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Southeast Missouri State University is $13,157 for Plains States Region Parks & Rec students whose families make $48-$75k.

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

11

Missouri State University - Springfield did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $48-$75k ranking, coming in at #11. Located in Springfield, Missouri, this large public school handed out 13 diplomas to qualified ’s parks and rec students 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 estimated yearly cost for Missouri State is $15,950 for plains states region parks & rec students whose families make $48-$75k.

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

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 $48-$75k list. Emporia State University is a medium-sized public school situated in Emporia, Kansas. It awarded 8 ’s parks and rec degrees in 2020-2021.

ESU did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #12 on our “Best Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies Schools in the Plains States Region” list. It costs about $15,070 for plains states region parks & rec students whose families make $48-$75k per year to attend Emporia State University.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 3.8%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Full ESU Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies Report

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