2023 Best Value Colleges for Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies (Income $75-$110k) in the Plains States Region
12
Ranked Colleges
444
Degrees Awarded
$18,200
Avg Net Price*
It’s not easy to decide which college to attend when there so many options available for students. College Factual has developed its “Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $75-$110k” ranking as one item you can use to help make this 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 $75-$110k” ranking analyzed 12 colleges that offered a degree 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.
When determining these rankings, we looked at things such as overall quality of the parks, recreation and leisure studies program at the school and the cost to attend the school once aid has been awarded. Check out our ranking methodology for more information.
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 in the Plains States Region For Those Making $75-$110k” 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. When you have some time, check it out - you may want to bookmark the link so you don’t forget it.
Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $75-$110k
The colleges and universities below are the best for plains states region parks & rec students whose families make $75-$110k.
Top 12 Best Value Colleges for Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies (Income $75-$110k) in the Plains States Region
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Northwest Missouri State University. It ranked #1 on our 2023 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $75-$110k list. Northwest Missouri State University is a medium-sized school located in Maryville, Missouri that handed out 29 ’s parks and rec degrees 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 $14,894 for Plains States Region Parks & Rec students whose families make $75-$110k per year to attend Northwest Missouri State University.
Full Northwest Missouri State University Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies Report
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of Northern Iowa. The school came in at #2 for the Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $75-$110k. University of Northern Iowa is a medium-sized school located in Cedar Falls, Iowa that handed out 60 ’s parks and rec degrees in 2020-2021.
UNI also took the #2 spot in our “Best Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. It costs about $18,318 for Plains States Region Parks & Rec students whose families make $75-$110k per year to attend University of Northern Iowa.
Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 86%. 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%.
Full University of Northern Iowa Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies Report
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Winona State University. It ranked #3 on our 2023 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $75-$110k list. Winona State University is a medium-sized public school situated in Winona, Minnesota. It awarded 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 University is $18,902 for plains states region parks & rec students whose families make $75-$110k.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.7%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Full Winona State University Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies Report
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of Iowa. The school came in at #4 for the Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $75-$110k. University of Iowa is a large public school situated in Iowa City, Iowa. It awarded 53 ’s parks and rec degrees in 2020-2021.
Iowa also took the #1 spot in our “Best Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend University of Iowa is $20,719 for plains states region parks & rec students whose families make $75-$110k.
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 more about Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies at University of Iowa
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Pittsburg State University. It ranked #5 on our 2023 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $75-$110k list. Pitt State is a public institution located in Pittsburg, Kansas. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 19 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Pitt State did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #8 on our “Best Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies Schools in the Plains States Region” list. It costs about $17,269 for plains states region parks & rec students whose families make $75-$110k per year to attend Pitt State.
Read more about Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies at Pittsburg State University
University of Minnesota - Twin Cities did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $75-$110k ranking, coming in at #6. This large school is located in Minneapolis, Minnesota, and it awarded 11 ’s parks and rec degrees in 2020-2021.
UMN Twin Cities also took 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 $18,938 for Plains States Region Parks & Rec students whose families make $75-$110k.
Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 93%. 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%.
Full University of Minnesota - Twin Cities Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies Report
University of Nebraska at Kearney ranked #7 on this year’s Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $75-$110k list. 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.
In addition to being on our plains states region parks & rec students whose families make $75-$110k list, UNK has also earned the #7 rank in our “Best Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for UNK is $19,463 for plains states region parks & rec students whose families make $75-$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
University of Missouri - Columbia landed the #8 spot on the 2023 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $75-$110k ranking. Mizzou is a public institution located in Columbia, Missouri. The school has a large population, and it awarded 116 ’s 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. It costs about $19,956 for Plains States Region Parks & Rec students whose families make $75-$110k per year to attend University of Missouri - Columbia.
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%.
Read full report on Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies at University of Missouri - Columbia
With a ranking of #9, Southeast Missouri State University did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $75-$110k list. Cape Girardeau, Missouri is the setting for this medium-sized 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 $75-$110k 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. It costs about $16,624 for plains states region parks & rec students whose families make $75-$110k per year to attend Southeast Missouri State University.
Read full report on Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies at Southeast Missouri State University
Missouri State University - Springfield came in at #10 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $75-$110k ranking. Missouri State 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. The estimated yearly cost for Missouri State University - Springfield is $17,994 for plains states region parks & rec students whose families make $75-$110k.
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 Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies Report
