2022 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Getting Aid
With all of the options students have for higher education today, it can be tough to choose which direction to take. Our mission at College Factual is to arm you with as much information as we can to help you make that decision. Our “Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Getting Aid” ranking is one tool we have developed to help in this regard.
Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies is the 152nd most popular major in the country with 3,224 degrees awarded in 2019-2020. In 2017-2018, parks, recreation and leisure studies graduates who were awarded their degree in 2015-2017, earned an average of $29,957 and had an average of $22,487 in loans still to pay off.
Across the Plains States region, there were 521 parks, recreation and leisure studies graduates with average earnings and debt of $29,750 and $23,096 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.
For this year’s “Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Getting Aid” ranking, we looked at 15 colleges that offer 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.
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.
Featured schools near , edit
One Size Does Not Fit All
The parks & rec school you choose to invest your time and money in matters. To help you make the decision that is right for you, we’ve developed a number of major-specific rankings, including this list of “Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Getting Aid”.
To further help you make the college decision, we’ve developed a unique tool called College Combat that allows you to compare schools based on the factors that matter the most to you. Test it out by comparing your favorite schools against others you are considering, or bookmark the tool so you can experiment with it later.
Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Getting Aid
The colleges and universities below are the best for plains states region bachelor’s degree parks & rec students with aid.
Top 15 Best Value Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies in the Plains States Region (With Aid)
Out of the 15 schools in the Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Getting Aid that were part of this year’s ranking, University of Missouri - Columbia landed the #1 spot on the list. Columbia, Missouri is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s parks and rec degrees to 126 students in 2019-2020.
Mizzou did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #1 on our “Best Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list. The yearly cost to attend Mizzou is $16,001 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Parks & Rec students with aid.
The student loan default rate at the school is 3.6%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 89%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.
Out of the 15 schools in the Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Getting Aid that were part of this year’s ranking, University of Northern Iowa landed the #2 spot on the list. UNI is a medium-sized school located in Cedar Falls, Iowa that handed out 48 bachelors’s parks and rec degrees in 2019-2020.
UNI also made our “Best Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list, coming in at #4. It costs about $15,620 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Parks & Rec students with aid per year to attend University of Northern Iowa.
The low student loan default rate of 3.6% 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%. 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 University of Northern Iowa 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 #3 for the Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Getting Aid. University of Iowa is a large public school situated in Iowa City, Iowa. It awarded 67 bachelors’s parks and rec degrees in 2019-2020.
Iowa did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #2 on our “Best Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for University of Iowa is $19,145 for plains states region bachelor’s degree parks & rec students with aid.
Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 88%. 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%.
Read full report on Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies at Iowa
Out of the 15 schools in the Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Getting Aid that were part of this year’s ranking, University of Minnesota - Twin Cities landed the #4 spot on the list. This large school is located in Minneapolis, Minnesota, and it awarded 26 bachelors’s parks and rec degrees in 2019-2020.
In addition to being on our plains states region bachelor’s degree parks & rec students with aid list, UMN Twin Cities has also earned the #3 rank in our “Best Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend University of Minnesota - Twin Cities is $17,740 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Parks & Rec students with aid.
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%. With a freshman retention rate of 93%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students.
Read more about Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies at University of Minnesota - Twin Cities
Out of the 15 schools in the Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Getting Aid that were part of this year’s ranking, University of Nebraska at Kearney landed the #5 spot on the list. University of Nebraska at Kearney is located in Kearney, Nebraska and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 57 bachelors’s parks and rec degrees to qualified students.
In addition to being on our plains states region bachelor’s degree parks & rec students with aid 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. The estimated yearly cost for University of Nebraska at Kearney is $16,017 for plains states region bachelor’s degree parks & rec students with aid.
The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 4.3%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Read full report on Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies at UNK
Winona State University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #6. Located in Winona, Minnesota, this medium-sized public school awarded 38 diplomas to qualified bachelors’s parks and rec students in 2019-2020.
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 is $17,656 for plains states region bachelor’s degree parks & rec students with aid.
The low student loan default rate of 3.4% 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 Winona State
Northwest Missouri State University came in at #7 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Getting Aid ranking. Northwest Missouri State University is a medium-sized public school situated in Maryville, Missouri. It awarded 43 bachelors’s parks and rec degrees in 2019-2020.
Northwest did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #10 on our “Best Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for Northwest is $12,354 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Parks & Rec students with aid.
Read more about Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies at Northwest
University of Nebraska at Omaha ranked #8 on this year’s Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Getting Aid list. Located in Omaha, Nebraska, this fairly large public school handed out 8 degrees to qualified bachelors’s parks and rec students in 2019-2020.
UNOMAHA did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #12 on our “Best Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for UNOMAHA is $14,040 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Parks & Rec students with aid.
With a ranking of #9, Pittsburg State University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Getting Aid list. This medium-sized school is located in Pittsburg, Kansas, and it awarded 23 bachelors’s parks and rec degrees in 2019-2020.
Pitt State not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #11 on our “Best Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list. It costs about $14,436 for plains states region bachelor’s degree parks & rec students with aid per year to attend Pitt State.
Read more about Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies at Pittsburg State University
Emporia State University landed the #10 spot on the 2022 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Getting Aid ranking. Located in Emporia, Kansas, this medium-sized public school handed out 7 diplomas to qualified bachelors’s parks and rec students in 2019-2020.
ESU also took the #8 spot in our “Best Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. It costs about $14,822 for plains states region bachelor’s degree parks & rec students with aid per year to attend Emporia State University.
Full Emporia State University Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies Report
Southeast Missouri State University came in at #11 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Getting Aid ranking. Southeast Missouri State University is a fairly large school located in Cape Girardeau, Missouri that handed out 13 bachelors’s parks and rec degrees in 2019-2020.
Southeast Missouri State University did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #15 on our “Best Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for Southeast Missouri State University is $12,774 for plains states region bachelor’s degree parks & rec students with aid.
Read more about Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies at Southeast Missouri State University
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 Getting Aid ranking. This large school is located in Springfield, Missouri, and it awarded 30 bachelors’s parks and rec degrees in 2019-2020.
Missouri State not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #9 on our “Best Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list. It costs about $16,725 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Parks & Rec students with aid per year to attend Missouri State University - Springfield.
Read full report on Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies at Missouri State University - Springfield
University of Minnesota - Duluth landed the #13 spot on the 2022 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Getting Aid ranking. UMN Duluth is a fairly large public school situated in Duluth, Minnesota. It awarded 10 bachelors’s parks and rec degrees in 2019-2020.
UMN Duluth not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #7 on our “Best Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for University of Minnesota - Duluth is $17,067 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Parks & Rec students with aid.
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%.
Read full report on Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies at University of Minnesota - Duluth
Lindenwood University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #14. This medium-sized school is located in Saint Charles, Missouri, and it awarded 7 bachelors’s parks and rec degrees in 2019-2020.
Lindenwood University not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #14 on our “Best Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for Lindenwood University is $17,491 for plains states region bachelor’s degree parks & rec students with aid.
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%.
Read full report on Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies at Lindenwood University
Baker University came in at #15 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Getting Aid ranking. Baker University is a small school located in Baldwin City, Kansas that handed out 2 bachelors’s parks and rec degrees in 2019-2020.
In addition to being on our plains states region bachelor’s degree parks & rec students with aid list, Baker has also earned the #13 rank in our “Best Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Baker is $22,879 for plains states region bachelor’s degree parks & rec students with aid.
Since the school has a student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors.
Full Baker University Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies Report
Narrow Results by Region
Southeast
Best Value Bachelor's Degree Colleges for Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies in the Southeast Region (With Aid)
Rocky Mountains
Best Value Bachelor's Degree Colleges for Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies in the Rocky Mountains Region (With Aid)
Middle Atlantic
Best Value Bachelor's Degree Colleges for Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies in the Middle Atlantic Region (With Aid)
Southwest
Best Value Bachelor's Degree Colleges for Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies in the Southwest Region (With Aid)
New England
Best Value Bachelor's Degree Colleges for Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies in the New England Region (With Aid)
Plains States
Best Value Bachelor's Degree Colleges for Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies in the Plains States Region (With Aid)
Far Western US
Best Value Bachelor's Degree Colleges for Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies in the Far Western US Region (With Aid)
Great Lakes
Best Value Bachelor's Degree Colleges for Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies in the Great Lakes Region (With Aid)
Narrow Results by State
Kansas
Best Value Bachelor's Degree Colleges for Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies in Kansas (With Aid)
Iowa
Best Value Bachelor's Degree Colleges for Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies in Iowa (With Aid)
Nebraska
Best Value Bachelor's Degree Colleges for Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies in Nebraska (With Aid)
Switch to a Similar Major
Recreation Administration
Best Value Bachelor's Degree Colleges for Recreation Administration in the Plains States Region (With Aid)
Outdoor Education
Best Value Bachelor's Degree Colleges for Outdoor Education in the Plains States Region (With Aid)
Health & Physical Education
Best Value Bachelor's Degree Colleges for Health & Physical Education in the Plains States Region (With Aid)
Other Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies
Best Value Bachelor's Degree Colleges for Other Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies in the Plains States Region (With Aid)
Switch to a Different Ranking Method
Best Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies Bachelor's Degree Schools in the Plains States Region
Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies students in the Plains States Region
Most Focused Bachelor's Degree Colleges for Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies in the Plains States Region
Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies students in the Plains States Region
Most Popular Bachelor's Degree Online Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies Schools
Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies students in the Plains States Region
Best Value Bachelor's Degree Colleges for Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies (Income $0-$30k) in the Plains States Region
Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies students with family income less than $30k in the Plains States Region
Best Value Bachelor's Degree Colleges for Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies (Income $48-$75k) in the Plains States Region
Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies students with family income $48-$75k in the Plains States Region
Best Value Bachelor's Degree Colleges for Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies (Income Over $110k) in the Plains States Region
Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies students with family income exceeding $110k in the Plains States Region
Highest Paid Bachelor's Degree Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies Graduates in the Plains States Region
Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies students in the Plains States Region
Most Popular Bachelor's Degree Colleges for Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies in the Plains States Region
Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies students in the Plains States Region
Best Value Bachelor's Degree Colleges for Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies in the Plains States Region (With Aid)
Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies students getting aid in the Plains States Region
Best Value Bachelor's Degree Colleges for Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies (Income $30-$48k) in the Plains States Region
Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies students with family income $30-$48k in the Plains States Region
Best Value Bachelor's Degree Colleges for Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies (Income $75-$110k) in the Plains States Region
Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies students with family income $75-$110k in the Plains States Region
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.
Featured Athletic Training Schools
Request Info |
Southern New Hampshire University
You have goals. Southern New Hampshire University can help you get there. Whether you need a bachelor's degree to get into a career or want a master's degree to move up in your current career, SNHU has an online program for you. Find your degree from over 200 online programs ... Learn More > |