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2022 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Bachelor’s in Wisconsin For Those Making $0-$30k

15 Ranked Colleges
909 Degrees Awarded
$14,100 Avg Net Price*
Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Bachelor's in Wisconsin For Those Making $0-$30k

It’s not easy to decide which college to attend when there so many options available for students. 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 Wisconsin For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking.

In 2019-2020, 72,122 people earned their degree in parks, recreation, leisure, and fitness studies, making the major the 15th most popular in the United States. 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 Wisconsin, there were 1,044 parks, recreation, leisure, and fitness studies graduates with average earnings and debt of $0 and $0 respectively. At the bachelor’s degree level specifically, there were 909 parks, recreation, leisure, and fitness studies graduates with average earnings and debt of $0 and $0 respectively.

This year’s “Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Bachelor’s in Wisconsin For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking looked at 15 colleges that offer degrees in a bachelor’s in parks, recreation, leisure, and fitness studies. This ranking identifies schools with high-quality parks, recreation, leisure, and fitness studies programs that also have a lower cost than 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. Check out our ranking methodology for more information.

More Ways to Rank Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Schools

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 Wisconsin For Those Making $0-$30k”.

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. If you’re torn between two schools, you can use it to help you see how they stack up against one another. Bookmark it so you can compare any new schools that might interest you.

Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Bachelor’s in Wisconsin For Those Making $0-$30k

The colleges and universities below are the best for wisconsin bachelor’s degree parks & rec students whose families make $0-$30k.

Top 15 Best Value Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies (Income $0-$30k) in Wisconsin

#2 in overall quality

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of Wisconsin - Madison. The school came in at #1 for the Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Bachelor’s in Wisconsin For Those Making $0-$30k. UW - Madison is a large public school situated in Madison, Wisconsin. It awarded 98 bachelors’s parks and rec degrees in 2019-2020.

UW - Madison did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #2 on our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Wisconsin” list. It costs about $4,367 for Wisconsin Bachelor’s Degree Parks & Rec students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend UW - Madison.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 95%. The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 0.8%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at University of Wisconsin - Madison

#1 in overall quality

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of Wisconsin - La Crosse. The school came in at #2 for the Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Bachelor’s in Wisconsin For Those Making $0-$30k. Located in La Crosse, Wisconsin, this fairly large public school handed out 219 diplomas to qualified bachelors’s parks and rec students in 2019-2020.

UW - La Crosse also took the #1 spot in our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Wisconsin” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for UW - La Crosse is $7,939 for Wisconsin Bachelor’s Degree Parks & Rec students whose families make $0-$30k.

The low student loan default rate of 1.6% 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.

Read full report on Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at University of Wisconsin - La Crosse

#3 in overall quality

Out of the 15 schools in the Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Bachelor’s in Wisconsin For Those Making $0-$30k that were part of this year’s ranking, University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire landed the #3 spot on the list. UW - Eau Claire is a fairly large school located in Eau Claire, Wisconsin that handed out 117 bachelors’s parks and rec degrees in 2019-2020.

UW - Eau Claire did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #3 on our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Wisconsin” list. The yearly cost to attend UW - Eau Claire is $11,528 for Wisconsin Bachelor’s Degree Parks & Rec students whose families make $0-$30k.

Full University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Report

#11 in overall quality

Out of the 15 schools in the Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Bachelor’s in Wisconsin For Those Making $0-$30k that were part of this year’s ranking, University of Wisconsin - Parkside landed the #4 spot on the list. Kenosha, Wisconsin is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s parks and rec degrees to 32 students in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at UW - Parkside, the school also landed the #11 spot in our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Wisconsin” ranking. It costs about $6,652 for Wisconsin Bachelor’s Degree Parks & Rec students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend UW - Parkside.

Full UW - Parkside Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Report

#5

University of Wisconsin - Stevens Point

Stevens Point, Wisconsin
#6 in overall quality

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of Wisconsin - Stevens Point. The school came in at #5 for the Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Bachelor’s in Wisconsin For Those Making $0-$30k. This medium-sized school is located in Stevens Point, Wisconsin, and it awarded 47 bachelors’s parks and rec degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our wisconsin bachelor’s degree parks & rec students whose families make $0-$30k list, UW - Stevens Point has also earned the #6 rank in our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Wisconsin” ranking. It costs about $11,446 for wisconsin bachelor’s degree parks & rec students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend UW - Stevens Point.

Read full report on Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at UW - Stevens Point

#9 in overall quality

University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Bachelor’s in Wisconsin For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #6. This large school is located in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and it awarded 67 bachelors’s parks and rec degrees in 2019-2020.

UWM not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #9 on our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Wisconsin” list. The estimated yearly cost for University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee is $13,222 for Wisconsin Bachelor’s Degree Parks & Rec students whose families make $0-$30k.

Full UWM Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Report

#7

Viterbo University

La Crosse, Wisconsin
#7 in overall quality

Viterbo University landed the #7 spot on the 2022 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Bachelor’s in Wisconsin For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. This small school is located in La Crosse, Wisconsin, and it awarded 8 bachelors’s parks and rec degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our wisconsin bachelor’s degree parks & rec students whose families make $0-$30k list, Viterbo has also earned the #7 rank in our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Wisconsin” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Viterbo is $13,538 for Wisconsin Bachelor’s Degree Parks & Rec students whose families make $0-$30k.

The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 3.1%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Viterbo University

#8

Wisconsin Lutheran College

Milwaukee, Wisconsin
#10 in overall quality

Wisconsin Lutheran College landed the #8 spot on the 2022 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Bachelor’s in Wisconsin For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Milwaukee, Wisconsin 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 14 students in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at WLC, the school also landed the #10 spot in our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Wisconsin” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Wisconsin Lutheran College is $14,327 for wisconsin bachelor’s degree parks & rec students whose families make $0-$30k.

Read more about Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Wisconsin Lutheran College

#9

Carroll University

Waukesha, Wisconsin
#4 in overall quality

Carroll University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Bachelor’s in Wisconsin For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #9. This small school is located in Waukesha, Wisconsin, and it awarded 86 bachelors’s parks and rec degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Carroll U, the school also landed the #4 spot in our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Wisconsin” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Carroll U is $19,900 for Wisconsin Bachelor’s Degree Parks & Rec students whose families make $0-$30k.

The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 3.2%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Full Carroll University Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Report

#10

Ripon College

Ripon, Wisconsin
#12 in overall quality

Ripon College ranked #10 on this year’s Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Bachelor’s in Wisconsin For Those Making $0-$30k list. Ripon, Wisconsin 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 9 students in 2019-2020.

Ripon did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #12 on our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Wisconsin” list. It costs about $13,893 for Wisconsin Bachelor’s Degree Parks & Rec students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Ripon.

The student loan default rate at the school is 3.7%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Ripon

#11

Marian University

Fond Du Lac, Wisconsin
#8 in overall quality

Marian University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Bachelor’s in Wisconsin For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #11. Marian is a private not-for-profit institution located in Fond Du Lac, Wisconsin. The school has a small population, and it awarded 23 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

Marian not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #8 on our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Wisconsin” list. The estimated yearly cost for Marian is $16,114 for wisconsin bachelor’s degree parks & rec students whose families make $0-$30k.

Full Marian University Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Report

#12

Concordia University, Wisconsin

Mequon, Wisconsin
#13 in overall quality

With a ranking of #12, Concordia University, Wisconsin did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Bachelor’s in Wisconsin For Those Making $0-$30k list. Concordia University, Wisconsin is located in Mequon, Wisconsin and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 14 bachelors’s parks and rec degrees to qualified students.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Concordia University, Wisconsin, the school also landed the #13 spot in our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Wisconsin” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Concordia University, Wisconsin is $20,297 for wisconsin bachelor’s degree parks & rec students whose families make $0-$30k.

The low student loan default rate of 4.6% 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%.

Full Concordia University, Wisconsin Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Report

#13

Carthage College

Kenosha, Wisconsin
#5 in overall quality

With a ranking of #13, Carthage College did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Bachelor’s in Wisconsin For Those Making $0-$30k list. Carthage College is located in Kenosha, Wisconsin and, has a small student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 36 bachelors’s parks and rec degrees to qualified students.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Carthage, the school also landed the #5 spot in our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Wisconsin” ranking. It costs about $24,480 for Wisconsin Bachelor’s Degree Parks & Rec students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Carthage.

The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 4.7%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Full Carthage Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Report

#14

Cardinal Stritch University

Milwaukee, Wisconsin
#15 in overall quality

Cardinal Stritch University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Bachelor’s in Wisconsin For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #14. This small school is located in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and it awarded 8 bachelors’s parks and rec degrees in 2019-2020.

Cardinal Stritch also took the #15 spot in our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Wisconsin” ranking. It costs about $15,934 for Wisconsin Bachelor’s Degree Parks & Rec students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Cardinal Stritch.

Since the school has a student-to-faculty ratio of 9 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors.

Read more about Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Cardinal Stritch University

#15

Lakeland University

Plymouth, Wisconsin
#14 in overall quality

Lakeland University came in at #15 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Bachelor’s in Wisconsin For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Lakeland is a small school located in Plymouth, Wisconsin that handed out 19 bachelors’s parks and rec degrees in 2019-2020.

Lakeland did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #14 on our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Wisconsin” list. The yearly cost to attend Lakeland is $18,310 for wisconsin bachelor’s degree parks & rec students whose families make $0-$30k.

Read full report on Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Lakeland University

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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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