2023 Best Value Colleges for Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies (Income $0-$30k) in the Great Lakes Region
90
Ranked Colleges
10,384
Degrees Awarded
$8,800
Avg Net Price*
When pursuing a degree in today’s world, students have many different options to choose from. 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 in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking is one tool we have developed to help in this regard.
In 2020-2021, 73,813 people earned their degree in parks, recreation, leisure, and fitness studies, making the major the 15th most popular in the United States. In 2019-2020, parks, recreation, leisure, and fitness studies graduates who were awarded their degree in 2017-2019, earned an average of $31,423 and had an average of $24,388 in loans still to pay off.
Across the Great Lakes region, there were 10,384 parks, recreation, leisure, and fitness studies graduates with average earnings and debt of $32,191 and $25,844 respectively.
This year’s “Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking looked at 90 colleges that offer degrees in a bachelor’s 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. For more information, check out our ranking methodology.
Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k
The colleges and universities below are the best for great lakes region parks & rec students whose families make $0-$30k.
Top 25 Best Value Colleges for Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies (Income $0-$30k) in the Great Lakes Region
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of Michigan - Ann Arbor. The school came in at #1 for the Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k. This large school is located in Ann Arbor, Michigan, and it awarded 326 ’s parks and rec degrees in 2020-2021.
U-M did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #1 on our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. The yearly cost to attend U-M is $2,670 for Great Lakes Region Parks & Rec students whose families make $0-$30k.
The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 96%, 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 1.3%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Full University of Michigan - Ann Arbor Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Report
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Northwestern University. The school came in at #2 for the Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k. Northwestern is located in Evanston, Illinois and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 62 ’s parks and rec degrees to qualified students.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at Northwestern, the school also landed the #2 spot in our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. It costs about $245 for Great Lakes Region Parks & Rec students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Northwestern University.
Since the school has a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 6 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 97%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 0.6% 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 Northwestern University
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Wisconsin - Madison. It ranked #3 on our 2023 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. UW - Madison is located in Madison, Wisconsin and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 148 ’s parks and rec degrees to qualified students.
UW - Madison also made our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #5. The yearly cost to attend University of Wisconsin - Madison is $3,981 for great lakes region parks & rec students whose families make $0-$30k.
With a freshman retention rate of 95%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 0.9%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Read more about Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at University of Wisconsin - Madison
Out of the 90 schools in the Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k that were part of this year’s ranking, Indiana University - Bloomington landed the #4 spot on the list. Indiana University - Bloomington is a large public school situated in Bloomington, Indiana. It awarded 643 ’s parks and rec degrees in 2020-2021.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at IU Bloomington, the school also landed the #4 spot in our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Indiana University - Bloomington is $5,752 for great lakes region parks & rec students whose families make $0-$30k.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 3.4%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 91%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.
Read more about Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at IU Bloomington
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. It ranked #5 on our 2023 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. UIUC is a public institution located in Champaign, Illinois. The school has a large population, and it awarded 317 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
In addition to being on our great lakes region parks & rec students whose families make $0-$30k list, UIUC has also earned the #6 rank in our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign is $4,858 for Great Lakes Region Parks & Rec students whose families make $0-$30k.
With a freshman retention rate of 94%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.3% 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%.
Read more about Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at UIUC
Ohio State University - Main Campus ranked #6 on this year’s Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Columbus, Ohio is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s parks and rec degrees to 248 students in 2020-2021.
Ohio State not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #7 on our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for Ohio State University - Main Campus is $7,068 for Great Lakes Region Parks & Rec students whose families make $0-$30k.
Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 94%. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 3.6%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Full Ohio State Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Report
Purdue University - Main Campus landed the #7 spot on the 2023 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Purdue is a large school located in West Lafayette, Indiana that handed out 131 ’s parks and rec degrees in 2020-2021.
Purdue did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #12 on our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. It costs about $5,995 for great lakes region parks & rec students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Purdue.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.7%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 93%.
Read full report on Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Purdue University - Main Campus
Michigan State University landed the #8 spot on the 2023 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Michigan State is located in East Lansing, Michigan and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 442 ’s parks and rec degrees to qualified students.
Michigan State also made our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #9. The yearly cost to attend Michigan State University is $6,927 for great lakes region parks & rec students whose families make $0-$30k.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.6% 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%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 91%.
Full Michigan State Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Report
University of Wisconsin - La Crosse came in at #9 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. La Crosse, Wisconsin is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s parks and rec degrees to 252 students in 2020-2021.
UW - La Crosse did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #14 on our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for University of Wisconsin - La Crosse is $7,517 for Great Lakes Region Parks & Rec students whose families make $0-$30k.
Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 86%. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.5%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Full University of Wisconsin - La Crosse Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Report
Ball State University came in at #10 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Ball State University is a large public school situated in Muncie, Indiana. It awarded 152 ’s parks and rec degrees in 2020-2021.
Ball State also took the #15 spot in our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. It costs about $8,273 for Great Lakes Region Parks & Rec students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Ball State University.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 4.2%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Read more about Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Ball State
With a ranking of #11, Indiana University - Purdue University - Indianapolis did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. IUPUI is a large public school situated in Indianapolis, Indiana. It awarded 215 ’s parks and rec degrees in 2020-2021.
The estimated yearly cost for Indiana University - Purdue University - Indianapolis is $7,026 for great lakes region parks & rec students whose families make $0-$30k.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 4.2%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Read more about Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at IUPUI
Miami University - Oxford ranked #12 on this year’s Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Miami University - Oxford is a fairly large school located in Oxford, Ohio that handed out 348 ’s parks and rec degrees in 2020-2021.
Miami University - Oxford also took the #3 spot in our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Miami University - Oxford is $13,956 for Great Lakes Region Parks & Rec students whose families make $0-$30k.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 4.0%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 88%.
Read full report on Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Miami University - Oxford
With a ranking of #13, Central Michigan University did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Mount Pleasant, Michigan is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s parks and rec degrees to 292 students in 2020-2021.
Central Michigan also made our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #11. The yearly cost to attend Central Michigan is $10,805 for Great Lakes Region Parks & Rec students whose families make $0-$30k.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 4.8% 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, & Fitness Studies at Central Michigan
Grand Valley State University landed the #14 spot on the 2023 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Grand Valley State University is a large school located in Allendale, Michigan that handed out 290 ’s parks and rec degrees in 2020-2021.
GVSU not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #18 on our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. The yearly cost to attend Grand Valley State University is $10,259 for great lakes region parks & rec students whose families make $0-$30k.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.7%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Full Grand Valley State University Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Report
University of Illinois at Chicago ranked #15 on this year’s Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Located in Chicago, Illinois, this large public school awarded 155 degrees to qualified ’s parks and rec students in 2020-2021.
In addition to being on our great lakes region parks & rec students whose families make $0-$30k list, UIC has also earned the #25 rank in our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for UIC is $10,549 for great lakes region parks & rec students whose families make $0-$30k.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.5%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Full UIC Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Report
Concordia University, Chicago ranked #16 on this year’s Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. This medium-sized school is located in River Forest, Illinois, and it awarded 429 ’s parks and rec degrees in 2020-2021.
Concordia University, Chicago not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #10 on our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. The yearly cost to attend Concordia University, Chicago is $15,644 for great lakes region parks & rec students whose families make $0-$30k.
The school has an impressive undergrad 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 Concordia University, Chicago
University of Southern Indiana came in at #17 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. This medium-sized school is located in Evansville, Indiana, and it awarded 81 ’s parks and rec degrees in 2020-2021.
The estimated yearly cost for University of Southern Indiana is $7,815 for great lakes region parks & rec students whose families make $0-$30k.
The undergrad 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 USI
Southern Illinois University Edwardsville landed the #18 spot on the 2023 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. SIUE is located in Edwardsville, Illinois and, has a fairly large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 130 ’s parks and rec degrees to qualified students.
The yearly cost to attend Southern Illinois University Edwardsville is $8,047 for great lakes region parks & rec students whose families make $0-$30k.
Full Southern Illinois University Edwardsville Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Report
Valparaiso University ranked #19 on this year’s Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Valpo is located in Valparaiso, Indiana and, has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 25 ’s parks and rec degrees to qualified students.
In addition to being on our great lakes region parks & rec students whose families make $0-$30k list, Valpo has also earned the #16 rank in our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Valpo is $19,548 for Great Lakes Region Parks & Rec students whose families make $0-$30k.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 3.0%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Full Valparaiso University Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Report
University of Wisconsin - River Falls did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #20. This medium-sized school is located in River Falls, Wisconsin, and it awarded 22 ’s parks and rec degrees in 2020-2021.
It costs about $8,438 for great lakes region parks & rec students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend University of Wisconsin - River Falls.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 3.0% 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, & Fitness Studies at University of Wisconsin - River Falls
Western Michigan University landed the #21 spot on the 2023 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Western Michigan University is located in Kalamazoo, Michigan and, has a fairly large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 137 ’s parks and rec degrees to qualified students.
WMU also made our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #20. The yearly cost to attend Western Michigan University is $13,112 for Great Lakes Region Parks & Rec students whose families make $0-$30k.
Read full report on Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at WMU
Indiana State University landed the #22 spot on the 2023 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Indiana State is located in Terre Haute, Indiana and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 145 ’s parks and rec degrees to qualified students.
The estimated yearly cost for Indiana State is $10,104 for great lakes region parks & rec students whose families make $0-$30k.
Read full report on Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Indiana State
Northern Michigan University landed the #23 spot on the 2023 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Marquette, Michigan is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s parks and rec degrees to 65 students in 2020-2021.
The estimated yearly cost for Northern Michigan University is $8,958 for Great Lakes Region Parks & Rec students whose families make $0-$30k.
Read full report on Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Northern Michigan University
University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire came in at #24 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. This fairly large school is located in Eau Claire, Wisconsin, and it awarded 53 ’s parks and rec degrees in 2020-2021.
The yearly cost to attend University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire is $9,547 for great lakes region parks & rec students whose families make $0-$30k.
Read more about Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire
With a ranking of #25, University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Located in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, this large public school awarded 87 degrees to qualified ’s parks and rec students in 2020-2021.
The estimated yearly cost for University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee is $11,973 for great lakes region parks & rec students whose families make $0-$30k.
Read full report on Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee
