2023 Best Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies Colleges for Veterans in the Great Lakes Region
8
Ranked Colleges
475
Degrees Awarded
$27,600
Avg Cost*
Veterans have lots of options to chooose from today when trying to decide which college to attend. Our mission at College Factual is to arm you with as much information as we can to help you make that decision. Our “Most Veteran Friendly in the Great Lakes Region for Parks & Rec” ranking is one tool we have developed to help in this regard.
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 Great Lakes region, there were 475 parks, recreation and leisure studies graduates with average earnings and debt of $33,140 and $23,596 respectively.
This year’s “Most Veteran Friendly in the Great Lakes Region for Parks & Rec” ranking looked at 8 colleges that offer degrees in a bachelor’s in parks, recreation and leisure studies. This ranking identifies schools with high-quality parks, recreation and leisure studies programs as well as strong veteran support.
To come up with these rankings, we looked at factors such as veteran satisfaction, veteran affordability, and overall quality of the parks, recreation and leisure studies program at the school. For more information, check out our ranking methodology.
More Ways to Rank Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies Schools
Since the program you select can have a significant impact on your future, we’ve developed a number of rankings, including this “Most Veteran Friendly in the Great Lakes Region for Parks & Rec” list, to help you choose the best school for you.
In addition to College Factual’s rankings, you may want to take a look at College Combat, our unique tool that lets you pit your favorite schools head-to-head and compare how they rate on factors that most interest you. Test it out when you get a chance! You may also want to bookmark the link and share it with others who are trying to make the college decision.
Most Veteran Friendly in the Great Lakes Region for Parks & Rec
The following schools top our list of the Best “Most Veteran Friendly in the Great Lakes Region for Parks & Rec”.
Top 8 Best Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies Colleges for Veterans in the Great Lakes Region
Out of the 8 schools in the Most Veteran Friendly in the Great Lakes Region for Parks & Rec that were part of this year’s ranking, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign landed the #1 spot on the list. UIUC is a public institution located in Champaign, Illinois. The school has a large population, and it awarded 142 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
In addition to being on our great lakes region vets studying parks & rec list, UIUC has also earned the #[COLLEGE_QUALITY_RANK_ALL_LEVELS] rank in our “[COLLEGE_QUALITY_NAME_ALL_LEVELS]” ranking.Our most recent data shows that 10 of the 52,679 students enrolled at University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign were GI Bill® students, of which 0 were Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients. The average tuition and fees award for the Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients was $0. In addition to receiving other benefits, 0 students received funds through the Yellow Ribbon Program. Students may be able to receive credit for their military training, depending on their background.
The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 94%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The low undergrad student loan default rate of [DEFAULT_RATE_STRING]% 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 Illinois at Urbana-Champaign Veteran Student Life Report
Out of the 8 schools in the Most Veteran Friendly in the Great Lakes Region for Parks & Rec that were part of this year’s ranking, Indiana University - Bloomington landed the #2 spot on the list. Indiana University - Bloomington is located in Bloomington, Indiana and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 160 ’s parks and rec degrees to qualified students.
IU Bloomington also took the #[COLLEGE_QUALITY_RANK_ALL_LEVELS] spot in our “[COLLEGE_QUALITY_NAME_ALL_LEVELS]” ranking.Our most recent data shows that 1 of the 43,064 students enrolled at Indiana University - Bloomington were GI Bill® students, of which 0 were Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients. The average tuition and fees award for the Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients was $0. During this same period, 0 students qualified for the Yellow Ribbon Program. Indiana University - Bloomington does offer credit for military training for eligible students.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is [DEFAULT_RATE_STRING]%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 91%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.
[Read full report on veteran student life at Indiana University - Bloomington]](/colleges/indiana-university-bloomington/student-life/veterans/)
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Southern Illinois University Carbondale. It ranked #3 on our 2023 Most Veteran Friendly in the Great Lakes Region for Parks & Rec list. Located in Carbondale, Illinois, this fairly large public school handed out 44 diplomas to qualified ’s parks and rec students in 2020-2021.
SIUC also made our “[COLLEGE_QUALITY_NAME_ALL_LEVELS]” list, coming in at #[COLLEGE_QUALITY_RANK_ALL_LEVELS].Of the 11,366 students enrolled at Southern Illinois University Carbondale, 1 were GI Bill® students, according to our most recent data. Out of that number, 0 were Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients. The average tuition and fees award for the Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients was $0. On top of their other funding sources, 0 students qualified for the Yellow Ribbon Program. Eligible students may be able to receive credit for their military training.
Full Southern Illinois University Carbondale Veteran Student Life Report
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Ohio University - Athens Campus. The school came in at #4 for the Most Veteran Friendly in the Great Lakes Region for Parks & Rec. This large school is located in Athens, Ohio, and it awarded 35 ’s parks and rec degrees in 2020-2021.
OHIO Athens not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #[COLLEGE_QUALITY_RANK_ALL_LEVELS] on our “[COLLEGE_QUALITY_NAME_ALL_LEVELS]” list.Among the 25,714 students enrolled at Ohio University - Athens Campus, 726 are GI Bill® students, according to our most recent data. Out of that number, 324 were Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients. The average tuition and fees award for the Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients was $6,725. During this same period, 10 students received funds through the Yellow Ribbon Program. Students may be able to receive credit for their military training, depending on their background.
[Read full report on veteran student life at Ohio University - Athens Campus]](/colleges/ohio-university-main-campus/student-life/veterans/)
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Bowling Green State University - Main Campus. The school came in at #5 for the Most Veteran Friendly in the Great Lakes Region for Parks & Rec. BGSU is a public institution located in Bowling Green, Ohio. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 45 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
BGSU not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #[COLLEGE_QUALITY_RANK_ALL_LEVELS] on our “[COLLEGE_QUALITY_NAME_ALL_LEVELS]” list.Our most recent data shows that 577 of the 18,142 students enrolled at Bowling Green State University - Main Campus were GI Bill® students, of which 258 were Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients. The average tuition and fees award for the Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients was $6,808. To help with additional expenses, 3 students received scholarships through the Yellow Ribbon Program. Eligible students may be able to receive credit for their military training.
Full BGSU Veteran Student Life Report
University of Toledo landed the #6 spot on the 2023 Most Veteran Friendly in the Great Lakes Region for Parks & Rec ranking. Located in Toledo, Ohio, this fairly large public school handed out 14 degrees to qualified ’s parks and rec students in 2020-2021.
In addition to being on our great lakes region vets studying parks & rec list, University of Toledo has also earned the #[COLLEGE_QUALITY_RANK_ALL_LEVELS] rank in our “[COLLEGE_QUALITY_NAME_ALL_LEVELS]” ranking.Our most recent data shows that 510 of the 18,319 students enrolled at University of Toledo were GI Bill® students, of which 232 were Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients. The average Post-9/11 GI Bill® award for tuition and fees at the school was $6,784. To help with additional expenses, 11 students received scholarships through the Yellow Ribbon Program. University of Toledo offers credit for military training for eligible students.
Full University of Toledo Veteran Student Life Report
Northern Michigan University ranked #7 on this year’s Most Veteran Friendly in the Great Lakes Region for Parks & Rec list. Northern Michigan University is a public institution located in Marquette, Michigan. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 16 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Northern Michigan University not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #[COLLEGE_QUALITY_RANK_ALL_LEVELS] on our “[COLLEGE_QUALITY_NAME_ALL_LEVELS]” list.Our most recent data shows that 337 of the 7,368 students enrolled at Northern Michigan University were GI Bill® students, of which 136 were Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients. The average tuition and fees award for the Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients was $8,630. On top of their other funding sources, 0 students qualified for the Yellow Ribbon Program. Students may be able to receive credit for their military training, depending on their background.
Full Northern Michigan University Veteran Student Life Report
Olivet Nazarene University came in at #8 in this year’s edition of the Most Veteran Friendly in the Great Lakes Region for Parks & Rec ranking. Olivet Nazarene is a small school located in Bourbonnais, Illinois that handed out 6 ’s parks and rec degrees in 2020-2021.
Olivet Nazarene not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #[COLLEGE_QUALITY_RANK_ALL_LEVELS] on our “[COLLEGE_QUALITY_NAME_ALL_LEVELS]” list.According to our most recent data, Olivet Nazarene supports 3,764 students, and 57 of those are GI Bill® students, of which 35 are Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients. The average Post-9/11 GI Bill® award for tuition and fees at the school was $12,334. To help with additional expenses, 11 students qualified for the Yellow Ribbon Program. Olivet Nazarene does offer credit for military training for eligible students.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only [DEFAULT_RATE_STRING]%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
[Read full report on veteran student life at Olivet Nazarene]](/colleges/olivet-nazarene-university/student-life/veterans/)
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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).
- Veteran-specific data can be found at the U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs.
- 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
- *Avg Salary and Avg 4-Year Grad Rate are for the top schools only.
- **GI Bill® student total includes all chapters of the GI Bill® program (e.g., Post-9/11, Montgomery GI Bill, Reserve Education Assistance Program, and Veteran Readiness and Employment)
- 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.
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