2022 Best Value Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies (Income $0-$30k) in Illinois
When it comes to choosing a college, students have a lot of options - but not all of them are good. At College Factual, we’re committed to helping you make that decision by providing information such as that found in our “Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Bachelor’s in Illinois For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking.
Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies is the 15th most popular major in the country with 72,122 degrees awarded in 2019-2020. In 2017-2018, parks, recreation, leisure, and fitness studies graduates who were awarded their degree in 2015-2017, earned an average of $29,823 and had an average of $24,576 in loans still to pay off.
Across Illinois, there were 2,352 parks, recreation, leisure, and fitness studies graduates with average earnings and debt of $31,766 and $23,636 respectively. At the bachelor’s degree level specifically, there were 1,555 parks, recreation, leisure, and fitness studies graduates with average earnings and debt of $38,319 and $24,183 respectively.
This year’s “Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Bachelor’s in Illinois For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking analyzed 21 colleges that offered a degree in parks, recreation, leisure, and fitness studies. Not only do the schools that top this list have excellent parks, recreation, leisure, and fitness 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, leisure, and fitness studies program at the school and the cost of the school after aid is awarded among other things. See our ranking methodology to learn more.
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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 for a Bachelor’s in Illinois For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking, along with many other major-related rankings, to help you make that decision.
In addition to our rankings, you can take two colleges and compare them based on the criteria that matters most to you in our unique tool, College Combat. We encourage you to try it out and pit your favorite colleges and universities head to head! If you don’t have time right now, you can bookmark it for later.
Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Bachelor’s in Illinois For Those Making $0-$30k
The colleges and universities below are the best for illinois bachelor’s degree parks & rec students whose families make $0-$30k.
Top 21 Best Value Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies (Income $0-$30k) in Illinois
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. The school came in at #1 for the Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Bachelor’s in Illinois For Those Making $0-$30k. Located in Champaign, Illinois, this large public school awarded 278 diplomas to qualified bachelors’s parks and rec students in 2019-2020.
UIUC not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #1 on our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Illinois” list. The yearly cost to attend UIUC is $5,477 for illinois bachelor’s degree parks & rec students whose families make $0-$30k.
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 school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 2.4%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Full UIUC Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Report
Out of the 21 schools in the Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Bachelor’s in Illinois For Those Making $0-$30k that were part of this year’s ranking, Southern Illinois University Edwardsville landed the #2 spot on the list. Southern Illinois University Edwardsville is a fairly large public school situated in Edwardsville, Illinois. It awarded 89 bachelors’s parks and rec degrees in 2019-2020.
SIUE also took the #11 spot in our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Illinois” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Southern Illinois University Edwardsville is $8,055 for Illinois Bachelor’s Degree Parks & Rec students whose families make $0-$30k.
Read full report on Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at SIUE
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Illinois at Chicago. It ranked #3 on our 2022 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Bachelor’s in Illinois For Those Making $0-$30k list. This large school is located in Chicago, Illinois, and it awarded 160 bachelors’s parks and rec degrees in 2019-2020.
UIC also took the #3 spot in our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Illinois” ranking. It costs about $10,648 for illinois bachelor’s degree parks & rec students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend University of Illinois at Chicago.
The student loan default rate at the school is 3.4%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Illinois State University. It ranked #4 on our 2022 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Bachelor’s in Illinois For Those Making $0-$30k list. Located in Normal, Illinois, this large public school awarded 162 degrees to qualified bachelors’s parks and rec students in 2019-2020.
In addition to being on our illinois bachelor’s degree parks & rec students whose families make $0-$30k list, Illinois State has also earned the #2 rank in our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Illinois” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Illinois State is $14,470 for illinois bachelor’s degree parks & rec students whose families make $0-$30k.
The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 4.4%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Read full report on Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Illinois State
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Northern Illinois University. The school came in at #5 for the Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Bachelor’s in Illinois For Those Making $0-$30k. Northern Illinois University is a fairly large public school situated in Dekalb, Illinois. It awarded 62 bachelors’s parks and rec degrees in 2019-2020.
NIU did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #10 on our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Illinois” list. The yearly cost to attend NIU is $15,281 for illinois bachelor’s degree parks & rec students whose families make $0-$30k.
Full NIU Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Report
Eastern Illinois University came in at #6 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Bachelor’s in Illinois For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. This medium-sized school is located in Charleston, Illinois, and it awarded 100 bachelors’s parks and rec degrees in 2019-2020.
EIU also made our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Illinois” list, coming in at #8. The yearly cost to attend Eastern Illinois University is $12,350 for illinois bachelor’s degree parks & rec students whose families make $0-$30k.
Read more about Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at EIU
With a ranking of #7, Southern Illinois University Carbondale did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Bachelor’s in Illinois For Those Making $0-$30k list. Southern Illinois University Carbondale is a public institution located in Carbondale, Illinois. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 94 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.
SIUC not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #9 on our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Illinois” list. The estimated yearly cost for Southern Illinois University Carbondale is $13,658 for illinois bachelor’s degree parks & rec students whose families make $0-$30k.
Read full report on Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at SIUC
Monmouth College ranked #8 on this year’s Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Bachelor’s in Illinois For Those Making $0-$30k list. Monmouth is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Monmouth, Illinois. It awarded 23 bachelors’s parks and rec degrees in 2019-2020.
Monmouth also made our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Illinois” list, coming in at #4. The estimated yearly cost for Monmouth College is $13,231 for illinois bachelor’s degree parks & rec students whose families make $0-$30k.
With a student-to-faculty ratio of 9 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed. The student loan default rate at the school is 4.5%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Read full report on Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Monmouth
University of St Francis came in at #9 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Bachelor’s in Illinois For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Joliet, Illinois is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out bachelors’s parks and rec degrees to 6 students in 2019-2020.
In addition to being on our illinois bachelor’s degree parks & rec students whose families make $0-$30k list, University of Saint Francis has also earned the #5 rank in our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Illinois” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for University of St Francis is $15,847 for illinois bachelor’s degree parks & rec students whose families make $0-$30k.
The low student loan default rate of 3.3% 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 Saint Francis Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Report
Western Illinois University came in at #10 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Bachelor’s in Illinois For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Western Illinois University is a medium-sized public school situated in Macomb, Illinois. It awarded 83 bachelors’s parks and rec degrees in 2019-2020.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at WIU, the school also landed the #15 spot in our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Illinois” ranking. It costs about $13,942 for Illinois Bachelor’s Degree Parks & Rec students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Western Illinois University.
Full WIU Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Report
Elmhurst University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Bachelor’s in Illinois For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #11. Elmhurst is a private not-for-profit institution located in Elmhurst, Illinois. The school has a small population, and it awarded 28 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.
Elmhurst also made our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Illinois” list, coming in at #7. The estimated yearly cost for Elmhurst is $16,903 for illinois bachelor’s degree parks & rec students whose families make $0-$30k.
The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 3.0%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Read full report on Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Elmhurst
With a ranking of #12, Lewis University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Bachelor’s in Illinois For Those Making $0-$30k list. Lewis University is a medium-sized private not-for-profit school situated in Romeoville, Illinois. It awarded 31 bachelors’s parks and rec degrees in 2019-2020.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at Lewis, the school also landed the #17 spot in our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Illinois” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Lewis is $12,821 for Illinois Bachelor’s Degree Parks & Rec students whose families make $0-$30k.
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%.
Read more about Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Lewis University
Aurora University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Bachelor’s in Illinois For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #13. Aurora University is a medium-sized school located in Aurora, Illinois that handed out 60 bachelors’s parks and rec degrees in 2019-2020.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at Aurora, the school also landed the #18 spot in our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Illinois” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Aurora is $14,103 for Illinois Bachelor’s Degree Parks & Rec students whose families make $0-$30k.
The student loan default rate at the school is 4.4%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Read full report on Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Aurora University
With a ranking of #14, Quincy University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Bachelor’s in Illinois For Those Making $0-$30k list. Quincy, Illinois is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out bachelors’s parks and rec degrees to 21 students in 2019-2020.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at Quincy U, the school also landed the #14 spot in our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Illinois” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Quincy University is $15,292 for Illinois Bachelor’s Degree Parks & Rec students whose families make $0-$30k.
Read full report on Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Quincy U
Millikin University came in at #15 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Bachelor’s in Illinois For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Millikin is a private not-for-profit institution located in Decatur, Illinois. The school has a small population, and it awarded 24 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.
Millikin also made our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Illinois” list, coming in at #12. The yearly cost to attend Millikin University is $17,656 for illinois bachelor’s degree parks & rec students whose families make $0-$30k.
The impressive student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools.
Read more about Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Millikin
Concordia University, Chicago came in at #16 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Bachelor’s in Illinois For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Concordia University, Chicago is a medium-sized school located in River Forest, Illinois that handed out 71 bachelors’s parks and rec degrees in 2019-2020.
Concordia University, Chicago did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #16 on our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Illinois” list. The yearly cost to attend Concordia University, Chicago is $14,097 for illinois bachelor’s degree parks & rec students whose families make $0-$30k.
Full Concordia University, Chicago Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Report
With a ranking of #17, McKendree University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Bachelor’s in Illinois For Those Making $0-$30k list. McKendree is a small school located in Lebanon, Illinois that handed out 28 bachelors’s parks and rec degrees in 2019-2020.
McKendree also took the #20 spot in our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Illinois” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for McKendree is $15,184 for illinois bachelor’s degree parks & rec students whose families make $0-$30k.
Read full report on Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at McKendree University
Trinity International University - Illinois ranked #18 on this year’s Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Bachelor’s in Illinois For Those Making $0-$30k list. Deerfield, Illinois is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out bachelors’s parks and rec degrees to 12 students in 2019-2020.
In addition to being on our illinois bachelor’s degree parks & rec students whose families make $0-$30k list, TIU Illinois has also earned the #13 rank in our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Illinois” ranking. The yearly cost to attend TIU Illinois is $17,405 for Illinois Bachelor’s Degree Parks & Rec students whose families make $0-$30k.
The impressive student-to-faculty ratio of 8 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools.
Read more about Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at TIU Illinois
North Central College landed the #19 spot on the 2022 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Bachelor’s in Illinois For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. North Central College is a small school located in Naperville, Illinois that handed out 55 bachelors’s parks and rec degrees in 2019-2020.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at North Central, the school also landed the #6 spot in our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Illinois” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for North Central College is $18,889 for illinois bachelor’s degree parks & rec students whose families make $0-$30k.
The student loan default rate at the school is 3.9%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Read more about Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at North Central
With a ranking of #20, Olivet Nazarene University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Bachelor’s in Illinois For Those Making $0-$30k list. Olivet Nazarene is a small school located in Bourbonnais, Illinois that handed out 30 bachelors’s parks and rec degrees in 2019-2020.
Olivet Nazarene not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #21 on our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Illinois” list. The yearly cost to attend Olivet Nazarene University is $15,806 for illinois bachelor’s degree parks & rec students whose families make $0-$30k.
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%.
Full Olivet Nazarene University Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Report
Benedictine University landed the #21 spot on the 2022 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Bachelor’s in Illinois For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Benedictine U is a private not-for-profit institution located in Lisle, Illinois. The school has a small population, and it awarded 14 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.
Benedictine U also took the #19 spot in our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Illinois” ranking. It costs about $22,862 for Illinois Bachelor’s Degree Parks & Rec students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Benedictine U.
Read more about Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Benedictine U
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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).
- 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.
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